In less than a week, Arthur Abraham wants to defend his WBO Crown against Nikola Sjekloca. In this interview, the prodigy of coach Ulli Wegner talks about his quick return to the squared circle and what he thinks about a possible fourth match up with compatriot Robert Stieglitz.

Only two months ago, you won back the WBO Super Middleweight World Championship from Robert Stieglitz. You will defend that title on May 3. Do you have something to prove?

Arthur Abraham: No. I do not have to prove anything to anyone, except myself. I want to show that I am still hungry for success and also want to conserve my current shape by staying active. I can take a break when I am 40 years old – being retired for good.

Before you beat Stieglitz for the WBO Title, a lot of fans and experts said that you have had enough. Was your answer inside the ring also an answer to your critics?

Arthur Abraham: I also had good tactics at hand in the rematch with Stieglitz, but his “lucky punch” rendered them void. I had the same kind of preparation for our rubber match and you saw what happened there. If I would have a lack of motivation I would have hang the gloves up rather today than tomorrow. I do not give a damn about what the critics say about it.

What about a fourth meeting with Stieglitz in the future?

Arthur Abraham: We have given the fans an action-packed fight recently and I can envision that we can still give them another good fight. However, if it will come this far – I do not now. First, Stieglitz has to earn the chance to make it happen. Maybe he has to go up against someone like Tyron Zeuge, who might be too much for Stieglitz to overcome.

Next up for you is a title defense against Nikola Sjekloca. What are your thoughts on him?

Arthur Abraham: He is physical strong and has only lost once to current world champion Sakio Bika. His technique is also respectable but it still will not be enough to beat me.

When you first met Sjekloca at the kick-off press conference earlier this month, he talked more about a possible unification with Bika than about fighting you. Does he lack the proper respect for you?

Arthur Abraham: I do not care for his future plans. And by the way: who is the world champion – him or me? Before it gets tough inside the ring, a lot of fighters can talk a good game but cannot follow up their words with action. Watch my fight on May 3 to see this happen again.

Moreover, how do you want to earn Sjekloca’s respect?

Arthur Abraham: With my punching power. When my first hard punch lands precisely, Sjekloca will know what he is up against. Then it will show what he is made of.

Your coach Ulli Wegner said that you are still progressing as a boxer. How long do you want to go on with your career?

Arthur Abraham: I hope for at least another 2-3 years. I am feeling that I still have the potential to fight against the world’s best. I am still aiming to take revenge for some of my losses, like against Andre Ward. But now, it is all about beating Sjekloca on May 3.

Tickets for the fight night at the Velodrom in Berlin, Germany are available via www.eventim.de.

Ahead of his world title challenge against WBO Super Middleweight World Champion Arthur Abraham on May 3, Nikola Sjekloca took a time out from his training to discuss his chances at the Velodrom in Berlin Germany. Here’s what he had to say…

Nikola, please give us your opinion on the fighter that is Arthur Abraham…

Nikola Sjekloca: He was a real champion with a big heart – I repeat: He was! As a middleweight, he made it to the top of the division and was a world-class operator. However, those days are long gone. Abraham is not quite as strong at the limit of 168 pounds.

…and you think you are better than he is at super middleweight?

Nikola Sjekloca: Yes, I do! I am taller and my hand speed is better than his is. On top of all this, my ring skills are just superior to Abraham’s.

You are a quite confident, Nikola – although, you have never won a world title. In your biggest fight to date, you lost to current WBC Champion Sakio Bika in a world title eliminator…

Nikola Sjekloca: That was a great experience. Because of this fight, I know that I am able to beat Abraham come May 3. Until having fought Bika, I did not know what I am capable of and this lack of knowledge cost me the win back then. Now I am pretty sure: I have the potential to be a world champion!

Were you impressed by Abraham’s performance as he recaptured the WBO Belt from Robert Stieglitz back in March?

Nikola Sjekloca: No, not really. He just made his game plan work for the whole twelve rounds as Stieglitz made some tactical mistakes from round nine on, which cost him the fight. So in my opinion, Abraham just profited from Stieglitz lapses.

What will be your key to victory?

Nikola Sjekloca: I will not give you any specifics on my tactics. The only thing I can tell you is that I am close to the camp of Floyd Mayweather. Their instructions in addition to hard workouts with my coach Milivoje Basic are the perfect package to become a world champion.

Is there any other reason to believe that you will leave the Velodrom with a win?

Nikola Sjekloca: I have never lost to an Armenian-born boxer. I knocked out two of them while being an amateur. In 2011, I fought in Germany for the first time and beat former world title challenger Khoren Gevor decisively on points. Abraham will be number four on my list. My dream will come true!

Tickets for the fight night at the Velodrom in Berlin, Germany are available via www.eventim.de.

Here are the main quotes from today’s kick-off press conference ahead of the fight between WBO Super-Middleweight World Champion Arthur Abraham and Nikola Sjekloca on May 3 at the Velodrom Berlin, Germany, which will host its first ever world title fight.

Nikola Sjekloca: “I am going to dethrone the ‘King’ Arthur and take his title away. Last year, I had a competitive fight against Sakio Bika, who went on to win the WBC Belt. Now I want to win the WBO Title and unify against Bika in a rematch. I do not underestimate Abraham as I am following his career since he had his first world championship fight. I studied his style in detail and know how to beat him.”

Arthur Abraham: “To study my style by watching videos is one thing, to step into the ring against me the other. I am leaving for training camp tomorrow morning. I know for a fact that my coach Ulli Wegner will come up with the right game plan for me to be victorious on May 3. I am really looking forward to defend the WBO World Championship in my hometown of Berlin.”

Tickets for the fight night at the Velodrom Berlin, Germany are available via www.eventim.de.

Having regained his WBO Super Middleweight crown from Robert Stieglitz, ‘’King’’ Arthur Abraham (39-4, 28 KOs) will make his first title defense against Nikola Sjekloca (26-1, 8 KOs) on May 3rd at the Velodrom in Berlin, Germany.

‘’Finally, I have the WBO belt back around my waist and I don’t plan on giving it up anytime soon,’’ said Abraham, who following a short break is back in training . ‘’I gave so much blood, sweat and tears for my last fight – and it made me a world champion again. I will need to do the same to prepare for Sjekloca on May 3rd.’’

Coach Ulli Wegner: ‘’Sjekloca, has a good jab and tries to be very active. In his fight against Sakio Bika he also showed that he can take a punch, so Arthur cannot rely only on his power.

‘’If Arthur is able to put in another performance like he did against Stieglitz, he will prove that he is one of the best super middleweights in the world. He has clearly shown me that he is still ready to progress as a boxer.’’

The announcement of the world championship fight will come as good news for boxing fans in Berlin. Particularly, as it follows the postponement and cancellation of recent shows in the German capital due to illness and injury suffered by world cruiserweight champions Yoan Pablo Hernandez and Marco Huck.

‘’Following these recent developments, it was important for us to stage this world championship fight in Berlin,’’ said Chris Meyer, Managing Director of Sauerland Event. ‘’As the saying goes: the third time’s a charm.’’

Tickets for the WBO World Championship fight at the Velodrom in Berlin on May 3rd go on sale today and are available via eventim.de.

Arthur Abraham (39-4, 28 KOs) regained the WBO Super Middleweight title with a split decision victory over Robert Stieglitz (46-4, 26 KOs) tonight in Magdeburg.

Abraham looked close to forcing the stoppage, dropping the defending champion in the final round. However Stieglitz was able to hold on and take the fight to the judges’ scorecards.

The judges scored the fight 114-111, 115-110, and 112-113 in favor of ‘’The King’’, who avenged the loss he suffered to Stieglitz last year and became a world champion for a third time.

Abraham will return to action on May 31st, when he will make the first defense of his newly won title. The opponent and venue will be announced shortly.

ESPN3 will present exclusive live coverage in the U.S. of the 12-round WBO Super Middleweight title bout between defending titleholder Robert Stieglitz (46-3, 26 KOs) and former titlist Arthur Abraham (38-4, 28 KOs) Saturday, March 1, at 5 p.m. ET. The fight, from the GETEC Arena in Magdeburg, Germany, will be the third meeting between the two boxers. Abraham won a unanimous decision over Stieglitz in their first fight in 2012 to win Stieglitz’s belt. Stieglitz scored a fourth-round TKO victory in their second meeting in 2013 to regain the title.

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According to Dan Rafael of espn.com, Robert Stieglitz will meet Arthur Abraham for a 3rd tim on March 1st as Stieglitz will defend his WBO Super Middleweight title after his promoter, SES won a purse bid.

Steinforth, who promotes Stieglitz, bid $3,135,000 to easily beat the only other offer, which was $1,541,414 by Abraham promoter Sauerland Event at the WBO purse bid. The minimum bid was $300,000.

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“Of course, I am happy that we won the purse bid, but especially for Robert, my SES team and our [German] TV partner SAT.1,” Steinforth said. “I am happy because there is more planning certainty for us.”

As the titleholder, Stieglitz is entitled to 75 percent of the winning bid ($2,351,250) while Abraham will get the remaining 25 percent challenger’s share ($783,750).

“That’s good job by my promoter Ulf Steinforth,” Stieglitz said of his winning the purse bid. “Now I can concentrate on the preparation and on the fight against Arthur. I am also happy for my fans in Germany and especially for Magdeburg.”

Ulli Wegner’s eagerness to succeed has not waned just yet. The 71-year-old signed a contract extension with Team Sauerland on Tuesday, which binds him until early 2016. Wegner lead fighters like Sven Ottke, Markus Beyer, Arthur Abraham, Marco Huck, Yoan Pablo Hernandez and Cecilia Braekhus to world title honors after joining the professional ranks in 1996.

“I want to provide clarity, especially to my prodigies,” said the man who was named German “Trainer of the Year” annually for the last decade. “I want to point the way that I am far from done working as a corner man – I have still a lot to give and will lead them to success.”

“Ulli Wegner not only is a corner stone of our promotion, but a shining light of the whole German boxing scene. I cannot imagine our team without him. We are all happy that he extended his contract,” said Kalle Sauerland.

Wegner currently stays at the German Olympic Center in Kienbaum to prepare IBF Champion Yoan Pablo Hernandez for his mandatory title defense against Alexander Alekseev as well as light heavyweight contender Eduard Gutknecht, who has an IBF Semi-Eliminator lined up against Dmitry Sukhotsky. Both fights will headline a big night of boxing at the brose Arena in Bamberg, Germany on November 23. Tickets can be purchased at www.eventim.de and www.boxen.com.

The tension is rising! There are only three days to go until Arthur Abraham (37-4, 28 KOs) can prove that he is rightfully the mandatory challenger to WBO Super Middleweight World Champion Robert Stieglitz. On October 26 at the EWE ARENA in Oldenburg, Germany the WBO Intercontinental Titlist will meet world-ranked Giovanni De Carolis (20-4, 10 KOs). And only a win can keep his dreams of a third fight against Stieglitz alive.

“I know what’s on the line,” assured the 33-year-old Abraham at today’s press conference at the Acara Hotel in Oldenburg. Asked about his ten-year-tenure as a professional boxer with coach Ulli Wegner, the former two-weight division world champion replied jokingly: “As you can see, I have no thick hair anymore. I lost nearly all of it!” But he believes that during those years the rough tone of his cornerman has helped him to be successful. “Look Arthur,” 71-year-old Wegner added. “This Saturday night I will be in your corner and not with Karo Murat in Atlantic City. That’s what our relationship means to me!”

Said Kalle Sauerland: “Only a victory counts and I believe that Arthur is going to deliver it on October 26. It’s do or die – a wins means another crack at a world title, a loss would be catastrophic.

However, Italian De Carolis wants to spoil those plans. The 29-year-old boasted a lot of confidence today: “I’m well prepared. After having studied Abraham’s last fights, my coach and I have worked out a game plan to beat him.”

Tickets for the big fight night at the EWE ARENA Oldenburg, which also sees Jack Culcay, Robert Woge and Marcos Nader fighting in title bouts, can be purchased at www.eventim.de and www.boxen.com.

Arthur Abraham (37-4, 28 KOs) feels comfortable before his upcoming fight on October 26! At today’s public workout at the Famila Einkaufsland, the biggest mall in Oldenburg, the former world champion and opponent Giovanni De Carolis (20-4, 10 KOs) showed that there will be a fight at hand this upcoming Saturday.

“It’s good to be back in Oldenburg”, said WBO Intercontinental Champion Abraham, who will not only risk his belt but also his mandatory spot to WBO Super Middleweight World Champion Robert Stieglitz. “I had my initial world title defense at middleweight at the EWE ARENA in 2006. The people here are always excited about a good fight, which I want to offer them this weekend.” With those fond memories on his mind, Abraham fired-off some quality combinations to the pads of his coach Ulli Wegner.

The people in attendance could also witness an intense workout by De Carolis. The man from Rome, Italy, who will enjoy a height advantage of nine centimeters towards Abraham, surely did not hold back today. With that kind of self-confidence, he might very well be a threat to Abraham, who wants to continue his unbeaten streak in Oldenburg.

Arthur Abraham (37-4, 28 KOs) is a man on a mission. On October 26, he defends the WBO Intercontinental Belt against Giovanni De Carolis (20-4, 10 KOs) in Oldenburg, Germany. However primarily, the 33-year-old wants to prove that he still has it in him to become again the WBO Super-Middleweight World Champion. Over a year ago, in August 2012, he won that very belt against Robert Stieglitz. But in March, he had to hand the title back to his fellow countryman due to a freakish eye injury.

Now that the score is even, Abraham is making himself ready for a third meeting with Stieglitz in 2014. He already made the first move in this direction with a victory over Willbeforce Shihepo in August to become the mandatory for Stieglitz. That would have been enough to get another crack at the world championship, but Abraham has other plans.

“I am defending my mandatory spot to stay in shape and prepare myself for a grudge match with Stieglitz,” Abraham explains. “The way I see it is that if I would not take an interim bout before fighting again for the WBO World Championship, I would risk much more.”

His upcoming opponent Giovanni De Carolis thinks he has the tools to serve as Abraham’s roadblock to another world title shot. “I know how to make it a fight,” said the 29-year-old Italian. “If my initial game plan does not work, I will try something else. Abraham on the other hand will try hard to impress. But he may bite more than he can chew.”

Nevertheless, Abraham confirms that he will not underestimate De Carolis. “At the moment I am just thinking about my next fight. I am a professional for more than ten years and know how to handle those kinds of situations.”

Tickets for the big fight night at the EWE ARENA Oldenburg, which also sees Jack Culcay, Robert Woge and Marcos Nader fighting in title bouts, can be purchased at www.eventim.de and www.boxen.com.

Giovanni De Carolis (20-4, 10 KOs) will challenge Arthur Abraham (37-4, 28 KOs) for the WBO Intercontinental Championship at the EWE ARENA in Oldenburg, Germany on October 26. Abraham´s intention is not only to defend his title but also to show that he is ready for a third clash with current world champion Robert Stieglitz.

“Finally there is clarity for me,” said Abraham, who is currently ranked as the number one contender and mandatory challenger at super middleweight by the WBO. “Now I will have to study my next opponent on tape together with my coach Ulli Wegner. With the perfect preparation and strategy there is no doubt in my mind that I will leave the ring as the winner come October 26.”

Wegner has already examined the 29-year-old from Rome, Italy carefully. “He is a good technician who likes to mix it up offensively,” stated Wegner when asked about the current WBC International Champion De Carolis. “This will be a good test for Arthur. If he wins decisively, I will be more than excited about a third fight between him and Stieglitz in early 2014.”
Tickets for the big fight night at the EWE ARENA Oldenburg can be purchased at www.eventim.de and www.boxen.com.

On October 26, Arthur Abraham (37-4, 28 KOs) wants to show the world that he is ready for another crack at the WBO Super-Middleweight Championship. In Oldenburg, Germany, Robert Stieglitz´ mandatory challenger will step into the ring against an opponent to be announced shortly.

“Stieglitz stated in the press that he will have one more fight in 2013, which will be a voluntary defense on October 19,” said Abraham. “That means to me that I won’t be able to regain the world title before 2014. But I need to stay focused and ready. That is why I am fighting on October 26.” The 33-year-old knows: “This is going to be a good chance to up my game compared to my last fight against Shihepo in August. Although I am risking my mandatory status, this challenge will give me confidence ahead of a third meeting with Stieglitz.”

Hagen Doering, Team Sauerland’s Sports Director, said: “We cannot name the opponent just yet as we are in negotiations with three ranked contenders. All I can say is that it will definitely be a true test for Abraham.”

The venue is nothing new to the former champion as he had his first-ever world title defense at the EWE ARENA Oldenburg against Australian Shannan Taylor back in 2006. “I have good memories of this place and that’s why I like to fight there again,” added Abraham, hoping for another emphatic victory.

Tickets for the big fight night on October 26 in Oldenburg, Germany will be available shortly on www.boxen.com.

Juergen Braehmer took another step towards another crack at a world title. On Saturday, the 34-year-old beat Stefano Abatangelo by unanimous decision (119:108, 119:108 and 115:111) in front of a sold-out home crowd at the Sport- und Kongresshalle Schwerin, Germany. “It was difficult to showcase my skills against Abatangelo as he has an awkward style,” said the light heavyweight contender who defended his European as well as his WBO International Title. “Still it was good for me to get some more rounds under my belt which will definitely help me in my next fight.” Braehmer is the mandatory to WBO Champion Sergey Kovalev.

Arthur Abraham had also to work hard to get his hands raised in Schwerin. Before a crowd of 5,600 spectators inside the arena, Abraham got the decision against durable Willbeforce Shihepo to win the WBO Intercontinental Title. The scores read 116:112, 116:113 and 117:111 in favor of the man from Berlin, Germany. This bout also marked the 10-year-anniversary of the former middleweight and super-middleweight champion’s professional career. “Certainly, I can’t be completely satisfied with my performance tonight,” stated Abraham at the post-fight press conference. “But this victory came against a top-10 ranked fighter in Shihepo. My tactics were to box him, not to bang with him.” With the win Abraham, currently ranked at number four by the WBO, hopes to get another crack at a world championship as soon as possible.

Somebody who already secured his chance to fight for a world title in his next fight is Kubrat Pulev. The Bulgarian outlasted Tony Thompson over twelve rounds, beating him comfortably on all three judges’ scorecards (118:110, 117:111 and 116:112). The victory for Pulev means that he will challenge the winner of the upcoming world championship fight between Wladimir Klitschko and Alexander Povetkin. “I still have a lot of work to do as I need to get better for this challenge,” said the 32-year-old, who defended his IBF International Belt against the 41-year-old man from Washington, D.C. “But I’m confident to do so. I don’t care if I have to fight Klitschko or Povetkin next. The most important thing is to win that bout and become world champion!”

Just three days to go until fight fans will witness an excellent triple-header from Schwerin, Germany! First and foremost, the event staged at the Sport- und Kongresshalle on August 24 will feature Juergen Braehmer’s (40-2, 31 KOs) EBU Title Defense against Stefano Abatangelo (17-2-1, 6 KOs). Thereby, the European Champion will have some pressure to handle – not only from his Italian opponent, but also from the crowd. “The fans as well as my own expectations are enormous – a homecoming is not always an advantage,” stated Braehmer who might very well challenge for a world title at light heavyweight, as he is the current WBO mandatory. However, this fact is not on the 34-year-old’s mind. “Currently, I just look ahead to my bout on Saturday. Afterwards I can look forward to bigger and better things.” Meanwhile, Abatangelo’s adviser Alessandro Ferrarini sees his fighter surprising the hometown favorite: “It’s like Rocky vs. Apollo Creed – Stefano is the big underdog, who has nothing to lose and that will be his chance to win!”

In contrast, Arthur Abraham (36-4, 28 KOs) has a lot to lose. Only a win against Willbeforce Shihepo (20-6, 15 KOs) will hold his chances alive to get another shot at a world title. “I must win – nothing else matters. On Saturday, I want to beat Shihepo and then look out for another chance to get my hands back at the WBO Belt. Abraham vs. Stieglitz III – that’s the fight people want to see,” said Abraham. Ulli Wegner, the coach of Abraham, still believes in his prodigy: “If not, our cooperation would not make sense anymore.”

A bunch of top-rated heavyweights did not saw any sense of facing Kubrat Pulev (17-0, 9 KOs). Therefore, it was difficult to find a proper opponent for the number one rated contender by the IBF. Finally, somebody stepped up the plate, after the charge of coach Otto Ramin beat Alexander Ustinov via KO in round eleven back in September of 2012. With Tony Thompson (38-3, 26 KOs), Pulev faces his toughest challenge to date. Still, the 32-year-old is very confident to continue his unbeaten streak in the professional ranks: “I am very concentrated and won’t let go my chance to challenge for the World Heavyweight Championship.” Thompson, who has already fought twice for world title honors, might beg to differ: “It’s good to be back again in Germany. On Saturday, you will see excitement in the ring. A KO is what you ask for and a KO will be delivered!”

Tickets for the big fight night on August 24 at the Sport- und Kongresshalle Schwerin, Germany are available at www.eventim.de.

It is fight week in Schwerin, Germany! The local fight fans are already excited and can hardly wait to see the big event at the Sport- und Kongresshalle this Saturday. On Tuesday, around 400 boxing enthusiasts along numerous media outlets turned up at the Schlosspark-Center Schwerin to make themselves an impression of the main protagonists on August 24. The open workout featured all main fighters: European Champion Juergen Braehmer (40-2, 31 KOs) along with his challenger Stefano Abatangelo (17-2-1, 6 KOs), the co-challengers for the WBO Intercontinental Championship, Arthur Abraham (36-4, 28 KOs) and Willbeforce Shihepo (20-6, 15 KOs), as well as heavyweights Kubrat Pulev (17-0, 9 KOs) and Tony Thompson (38-3, 26 KOs), who will fight it out for the IBF mandatory spot.

Most people came to see local hero Juergen Braehmer. The 34-year-old is delighted to compete again in his backyard. “My preparation for this title defense was terrific,” said the southpaw. “I am in very good shape. It’s worthy to show up early on Saturday as all fights should deliver great competition.”

His Italian opponent wants to crash Braehmer’s homecoming. “I will make it a fight,” 31-year-old Abatangelo predicts. “I am seldom the favorite, but most of the times I am winning in the end.”

Tickets for the big fight night on August 24 at the Sport- und Kongresshalle Schwerin, Germany are available at www.eventim.de.

Arthur Abraham (36-4, 28 KOs) is ready to shine again! On August 24, the former IBF Middleweight and WBO Super-Middleweight World Champion steps into the ring again. At the Sport- und Kongresshalle Schwerin, Germany, he will face-off with WBO number eight rated Willbeforce Shihepo (20-6, 15 KOs). This will be do-or-die for Abraham, because only a win over the “Black Mamba” can secure him another shot at the WBO Belt, which he lost against Robert Stieglitz earlier this year.

Abraham does not underestimate his rival. “When somebody is ranked inside the top-10 of the WBO ratings you have to think of him as being a worthy opponent. So I will not take him lightly”, said the hard-punching man from Berlin. “I have to be at my best to beat him, becoming the WBO Intercontinental Champion. Moreover, it is my chance to get another shot at Stieglitz. I want to become a world champion again!”

However, Shihepo also knows what is on the line. He is leaving no stone unturned to not only surprise the favorite but to shock him. “I have put all my effort into the preparation for this fight and been ready for more than two months”, stated the Namibian. “I am just waiting for the bout to come to put up a war!”

Nevertheless, Abraham has also a special motivation to beat Shihepo. Ten years ago, on August 16 in 2003, the 33-year-old turned pro. Therefore, a win in Schwerin would be double the pleasure.

Tickets for the big fight night on August 24 at the Sport- und Kongresshalle Schwerin, Germany are available at www.eventim.de.

Arthur Abraham (36-4, 28 KOs) is convinced that soon he will be a world champion once again. But before he can even start to think about another crack at a world title, the 33-year-old has to get past his next opponent. The prodigy of coach Ulli Wegner takes on Willbeforce Shihepo (20-6, 15 KOs) at the Sport- und Kongresshalle Schwerin, Germany on August 24.

Abraham, a former Middle- and Super-Middleweight Titlist, is currently undergoing a tense preparation under the guidance of Wegner´s assistant Georg Bramowski. “I know that I have to look ahead and train as hard as I can. Shihepo is very uncomfortable to box and varies his style during a fight. He is a brawler, so I have to be on my toes”, said the super-middleweight. To make sure that he does not take his 30-year-old foe lightly, Ulli Wegner had some warning words. “Before Mr. Wegner went on holiday, he made it clear what I have to do during his absence. Therefore, I am giving it my all.”

But even from the sunny island of Gran Canaria, Spain Wegner has some words of advice. “There is a lot on the line. Shihepo will be highly motivated ahead of this fight. Although he doesn’t possess one particular strengths, he is physical strong and difficult to predict. He tries to overpower his opponents by constantly looking for the infight. If Arthur wants to crown himself as the world champion again in the future, he has to be focused on August 24. That is the only way back to the top.”

Tickets for the big fight night at the Sport- und Kongresshalle Schwerin, Germany are available at www.eventim.de and www.boxen.com.

Arthur Abraham (36-4, 28 KOs) begins his quest back to the top. Three months ago, the 33-year-old surprisingly lost his WBO Super-Middleweight Title to Robert Stieglitz. Now the prodigy of Coach Ulli Wegner returns on August 24. The former champion will fight it out for the vacant WBO Intercontinental Title against Willbeforce Shihepo (20-6, 15 KO´s) at the Sport- und Kongresshalle Schwerin.

“Obviously I felt pretty low after losing the world championship. In the end, an injury to the left eye led to the loss. I have never experienced anything like that before. But now all I do is look ahead,” said Abraham, who is currently ranked as the number four rated contender by the WBO. The super-middleweight added: “I am excited about my fight in Schwerin. By beating Shihepo, I want to become the WBO´s mandatory challenger and fight for the championship once again.”

The fans in Schwerin also have a fight between local hero Juergen Braehmer (40-2, 31 KOs) and Stefano Abatangelo (17-2-1, 6 KOs) to look forward to.

The current European Light Heavyweight Champion from Germany is aiming to defend his EBU Title for the second time.

Tickets for the big fight night at the Sport- und Kongresshalle in Schwerin, Germany are available at www.eventim.de and www.boxen.com.

Robert Stieglitz recaptured the WBO Super Middleweight title with a stoppage over Arthur Abraham after Abraham could not continue due to his left eye being closed as the fourth round was about to commence in Magdeburg, Germany.

Stieglitz hurt Abraham in round two and almost had him out. But what he did do was cause massive swelling around the left eye of Abraham. It was more of the same in round three as Steglitz continued to pound on Abraham. Abraham, knowing he was in trouble tried to throw hayemaker punches but it was no avail as the fight was stopped by referee Michael Ortega stopped the bout due to the swelling of Abraham’s eye.

This was a rematch of last August bout that saw Abraham win a unanimous decision.

Stieglitz is now 44-3 with 25 knockouts. Abraham is now 36-4.

Heavyweight contender Robert Helenius scored a ten round unanimous decision over Michael Sprott.

Helenus looked good at times and very pedestrian at other parts of the bout as he took the first two and some of the middle rounds but was tagged on numerous occasions by Sprott.

Scores were 98-93 on two cards and 97-93 for Helenius who is now 19-0. Sprott is now 37-20

George Groves remained perfect by stopping an overmatched Baker Barakat in round two of a scheduled eight round Super Middleweight bout.

Groves was dominant and dropped Barakat in round and finished the fight with a big combination and it was stopped.

Groves is now 18-0 with 14 knockouts. Barakat is now 37-14-4.

George Groves will fight on Team Sauerland´s big show in Magdeburg, Germany
on Saturday. The unbeaten 24-year-old (17-0, 13 KOs) will take on Baker
Barakat (37-13-4, 25 KOs) in an eight-rounder. “We are delighted to have
added another highly-talented super-middleweight to the card,” promoter
Kalle Sauerland said. “He will impress the crowd with his exciting style,
which has given him many KO wins.”

In the main event of the evening, WBO Super-Middleweight Champion Arthur
Abraham faces Robert Stieglitz. Coached by Adam Booth, Groves is ranked
second by the IBF and WBO, making it a possibility that he might face either
Abraham or Stieglitz in the future.

Groves´ last fight in Germany dates back to November 2009 when he
outpointed Kanstantsin Makhankou in Nuremberg.

Tickets for the big fight night at the GETEC-Arena Magdeburg, Germany are
available at www.boxen.com, www.sesboxing.de and www.eventim.de.

The biggest shopping mall of Magdeburg played host for today´s public
workout ahead of Saturday´s big fight night at the GETEC-Arena. The main
event of the evening will see current WBO Super-Middleweight Champion Arthur
Abraham (36-3, 28 KOs) take on Robert Stieglitz (43-3, 24 KOs) in their
hotly anticipated rematch. The excitement of the fans was a close
resemblance to the fights of Sven Ottke, who celebrated some of his greatest
victories in the east of Germany. More than 1.000 people came to see the
boxers up close and were more than impressed with the skills they put on
display.

First to step into the ring inside the mall was former champion Robert
Stieglitz, who once more made his intention of getting revenge on Abraham
clear. However, the challenger was keen not to give too much away and only
went one round with his coach Dirk Dzemski while hitting the pads. “I am
ready and will bring the title back to Magdeburg,” said the 31-year-old
super-middleweight who lost the WBO Championship during the first bout
between the two Germans. Of course, Abraham will do everything he can to
destroy whatever plans Stieglitz has made. The 33-year-old demonstrated his
abilities during four stints of pad work with Ulli Wegner who made it clear
that he has an obvious favorite for the night. “My hope is that the best man
wins on March 23,” said the 70-year-old. “And that will be Arthur!”

Robert Helenius (18-0, 11 KOs) also gave the waiting fans a glimpse of what
to expect come Saturday night. The 29-year-old heavyweight will take on
Michael Sprott (37-19, 17 KOs) in the co-feature of the evening and is
looking forward to the big night. “It won’t be easy, but as long as the fans
are behind me I know that I will win.”

Tickets for the big fight night at the GETEC-Arena Magdeburg, Germany are
available at www.boxen.com, www.sesboxing.de and www.eventim.de.

There can only be one winner, and that is Arthur Abraham (36-3, 28 KOs).
That is at least the opinion of the WBO Champion himself and his team. The
world title fight between Abraham and Robert Stieglitz (43-3, 24 KOs) is
just around the corner and unsurprisingly both camps are convinced that they
have the edge over their opposition. At today’s press conference in
Magdeburg, Germany, the protagonists of the world title bout as well as
their coaches and the WBO´s current number one at heavyweight, Robert
Helenius (18-0, 11 KOs), gave their statements ahead of Saturday night.
These are the best quotes:

Arthur Abraham, WBO Super-Middleweight Champion: I am very excited to be
fighting in the city of Magdeburg. My first fight here was when Sven Ottke
retired and the atmosphere was amazing. The crowd was even doing the Mexican
wave which you normally only get during soccer games. I have never seen
anything like that outside of Magdeburg. I can only say one thing about the
fight. We won the first fight and consequently took the world championship.
Now it´s time for the rematch and we have a clear goal. We have to destroy
him and we will do everything we can to reach our goal which showed during
our preparations. We have a lot of respect for our opponents but once we
step into the ring I have to destroy him, no question.

Robert Stieglitz, challenger: Those are some big words. We will see what
happens come March 23. I am in great shape and want to take revenge. There
is a reason why I was the world champion for more than two years and I want
the crown back. It was a close decision (the first fight). I am excited to
be fighting in Magdeburg. The fans will help me to take revenge and I am
looking forward to that.

Ulli Wegner, coach of Abraham: I don’t really have to tell you what I want
to happen come Saturday. We will leave the ring as the winner. We have to be
that confident as Arthur is the reigning world champion. It will be a great
fight and in my opinion the first couple of rounds and the reaction of the
crowd could be decisive. May the best man win, and it is not a surprise that
as a coach I have faith in my guy. We did everything we could to get Arthur
into shape and we will give it our all.

Dirk Dzemski, coach of Stieglitz: Robert´s preparation has been great. I am
convinced that this will be an exciting fight, maybe even a war. I hope that
the home fans will be right behind Robert and keep pushing him throughout
the bout. I also hope that he will not make the same mistakes again. We have
been working on them for a long time. He has a good game plan and tactics
which will surprise you.

Robert Helenius, WBO #1 heavyweight: I am really looking forward to
Saturday. My opponent is great and therefore it will be a great fight. My
sparring partners have all been good and I will just do my thing. I will
keep him at distance with my jab and then get him with a hard right.

Wilfried Sauerand: I have to say that we always had great events here in
Magdeburg. I am not surprised at all that it will be a sellout crowd on
Saturday. The people here have a great knowledge of the sport and they know
when there is good boxing on display. I hope that Arthur will be as
successful here as Sven Ottke was and that the fight on Saturday will have
the same quality as their first one in Berlin.

Kalle Sauerland: I said before the first fight that it will turn out to be a
war, and that was exactly what happened. I don’t expect the rematch to be
any different. We are confident and believe that we will again turn out to
be the winners.

Tickets for the big fight night at the GETEC-Arena in Magdeburg, Germany can
be purchased at www.boxen.com as well as www.sesboxing.de and
www.eventim.de.

Robert Stieglitz (43-3, 24 KOs) feels very confident. The 31-year-old super middleweight will face off with Arthur Abraham (36-3, 28 KOs) in a world championship rematch on March 23rd. Stieglitz is hoping to avenge his loss on points back in August of last year when the pair meets up for a second time in Magdeburg, Germany. But according to Stieglitz himself, their next fight will be a whole different story and he will ensure that the WBO title finds its way back to Magdeburg.

Abraham-Stieglitz II will be televised live ringside to the U.S. from GTEC Arena in Magdeburg, Sachsen-Anhalt, Germany on This Saturday! March 23, beginning at 4:00 p.m. ET / 1:00 p.m. PT, exclusively on EPIX, the premium entertainment service. EPIX will stream the fights live on EpixHD.com and on the EPIX app on Xbox consoles and Roku players as part of a special free trial offer for boxing fans.

You lost your WBO Title against Arthur Abraham on August 25. Now you had some time to reflect on the fight. What are your thoughts?

Robert Stieglitz: I’m not the kind of person to look back and dwell on the past – I always have my sights on what lies ahead. Of course, I have mixed feelings when I reflect the happenings of that night. Although I did lose on points and consequently my title, I do believe that it was a great fight in front of a huge crowd at the o2 World in Berlin. The fans were ecstatic – hence, the big interest in the rematch. The important thing to me is that I only loaned him my title and now I want it back.

Many experts said that Abraham could only beat you by knockout. How surprised were you when he won the fight via unanimous decision?

Robert Stieglitz: First of all, I have to admit that he did better over the whole twelve rounds from a boxing point of view. However, he did not manage to knock me out and improve his KO ratio. Secondly, the cuts I suffered in rounds four and five had a big impact on my performance for the duration of the bout. I wasn’t able to pressure him as much as I wanted to and make life difficult for him towards the end of the fight. So no, I wasn’t surprised by the result. I was mostly annoyed by my own performance and the cuts.

What kind of mistakes have you discovered from your first clash with Abraham?
Did you change anything during your preparation this time round?

Robert Stieglitz: You will always have to deal with setbacks. Then it is important to sit down and find out what went wrong. You shouldn’t make the same mistakes twice. My coach Dirk Dzemski and I have been analyzing the fight. But I won’t get into too much detail about what I will do differently this time. Everyone knows, even Arthur himself, that I win fights with my technical ability, agility and work rate.

The rematch with Abraham is just around the corner. How satisfied are you with your progress?

Robert Stieglitz: Everything is going according to plan. I have gotten through a successful operation on my hand and won a buildup fight within three rounds in Barcelona in January. We have also been to training camp in the Bavarian Forest during February. We have been running through the snow and added some new elements to my training. My fitness coach Alfred Segerer has come up with a program specified to my needs. Therefore, it is all good.

Would you say that it is easier to prepare for Abraham as you have already stood inside the ring with him?

Robert Stieglitz: Yes, I believe it is, as I now know what Arthur Abraham looks like when he is in good shape. It makes it easier to adjust to his style. Of course, it is the same for him. Although I have to say that he hasn’t seen the best of Robert Stieglitz yet.

The first fight between the two of you took place in Abraham’s hometown of Berlin. Would you say that he had an advantage and do you have the advantage now that the rematch will be held in your own backyard, Magdeburg?

Robert Stieglitz: I don’t think that you can call it an advantage. What matters is that I traveled to Berlin as the world champion and now he is coming to my home as the current champion. He even said himself that he will be entering “The Lion´s Den“. That takes a lot of courage and we both have been given credit for that. I believe that the atmosphere will be even more electrifying in Magdeburg than it was in Berlin. We will see how he handles that.

How important is this fight for the future of your career? Is it an all or nothing situation for you as well as for Abraham?

Robert Stieglitz: Both of us were asked this question before our first fight and now everybody is excited about the rematch. There is no point in discussing if this is all or nothing for us. We should be happy about the fact that Germany currently has two world-class super-middleweights who will fight it out for a world championship. Both of us have the ability to get back to the top even if we should lose.

What is your prediction for March 23?

Robert Stieglitz: The winner and world champion will be Robert Stieglitz. I will take the borrowed WBO Title back to the city of Magdeburg, back to my promoter SES.

What happens if you should actually win? Will we witness Abraham vs.
Stieglitz III or are you aiming for a unification bout against the winner of Kessler vs. Froch II?

Robert Stieglitz: I don’t believe that it would be appropriate to discuss the future at this point of time. That is a topic for after March 23.

About EPIX

EPIX® is the newest premium entertainment network delivering the latest movie releases, classic library titles, plus original films, comedy, music and sports events on TV, on demand, online and on devices. Launched October 2009 as the first multiplatform premium network with online accessibility for subscribers through EpixHD.com, EPIX pioneered the development and proliferation of TV Everywhere for American consumers. EPIX was the first premium network to launch on Xbox 360®consoles, first on Android™ tablets and phones, first on Roku® players and soon to be the first to launch on PlayStation®3 (PS3™) system. EPIX is available to authenticated subscribers on hundreds of devices including Apple® iPads®, iPhones®, Kindle Fire tablets, Samsung® Smart TVs and Blu-ray™ players and more. Today EPIX remains the only premium service providing its entire monthly line-up from new Hollywood hits to original programs on all platforms and provides more movies than any other premium network.

EPIX is a joint venture between Viacom Inc. (NASDAQ: VIA and VIA.B), its Paramount Pictures unit, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc. (MGM) and Lionsgate (NYSE: LGF), available to over 30 million homes nationwide through distribution partners including Charter Communications, Cox Communications, DISH Network, Mediacom Communications, NCTC, Suddenlink Communications and Verizon FiOS.

For more information about EPIX, go to www.EpixHD.com. Follow EPIX Sports on Twitter @EPIXsports and on Facebook www.facebook.com/EPIXsports.

Robert Stieglitz (43-3, 24 KOs) feels very confident. The 31-year-old
super-middleweight will face off with Arthur Abraham (36-3, 28 KOs) in their
hotly anticipated rematch on March 23. Stieglitz is hoping to avenge his
loss on points back in August of last year when the pair meets up for a
second time at the GETEC-Arena in Magdeburg. But according to Stieglitz
himself, their next fight will be a whole different story and he will ensure
that the WBO Title finds its way back to Magdeburg.

Robert Stieglitz, you lost your WBO Title against Arthur Abraham on August
25. Now you had some time to reflect on the fight. What are your thoughts?

Robert Stieglitz: I’m not the kind of person to look back and dwell on the
past – I always have my sight on what lies ahead. Of course, I have mixed
feelings when I reflect the happenings of that night. Although I did lose on
points and consequently my title, I do believe that it was a great fight in
front of a huge crowd at the o2 World in Berlin. The fans were ecstatic –
hence, the big interest in the rematch. The important thing to me is that I
only borrowed him my title and now I want it back.

Many experts said that Abraham could only beat you by knockout. How
surprised were you when he won the fight via unanimous decision?

Robert Stieglitz: First of all, I have to admit that he did better over the
whole twelve rounds from a boxing point of view. However, he did not manage
to knock me out and improve his KO ratio. Secondly, the cuts I suffered in
rounds four and five had a big impact on my performance for the duration of
the bout. I wasn’t able to pressurize him as much as I wanted to and make
life difficult for him towards the end of the fight. So no, I wasn’t
surprised by the result. I was mostly annoyed by my own performance and the
cuts.

What kind of mistakes have you made out from your first clash with Abraham?
Did you change anything during your preparation this time round?

Robert Stieglitz: You will always have to deal with setbacks. Then it is
important to sit down and find out what went wrong. You shouldn’t make the
same mistakes twice. My coach Dirk Dzemski and I have been analyzing the
fight. But I won’t get into too much detail about what I will do differently
this time. Everyone knows, even Arthur himself, that I win fights with my
technical ability, agility and work rate.

The rematch with Abraham is just around the corner. How satisfied are you
with your progress?

Robert Stieglitz: Everything is going according to plan. I have gotten
through a successful operation on my hand and won a buildup fight within
three rounds in Barcelona in January. We have also been to training camp in
Bavarian Forest during February. We have been running through the snow and
added some new elements to my training. My fitness coach Alfred Segerer has
come up with a program specified to my needs. Therefore, it is all good.

Would you say that it is easier to prepare for Abraham as you have already
stood inside the ring with him?

Robert Stieglitz: Yes, I believe it is, as I now know what Arthur Abraham
looks like when he is in good shape. It makes it easier to adjust to his
style. Of course, it is the same for him. Although I have to say that he
hasn’t seen the best of Robert Stieglitz yet.

The first fight between the two of you took place in Abraham’s hometown of
Berlin. Would you say that he had an advantage and do you have the advantage
now that the rematch will be held in your own backyard, Magdeburg?

Robert Stieglitz: I don’t think that you can call it an advantage. What
matters is that I traveled to Berlin as the world champion and now he is
coming to my home as the current champion. He even said himself that he will
be entering “The Lion´s Den“. That takes a lot of courage and we both have
given us credit for that. I believe that the atmosphere will be even more
electrifying in Magdeburg than it was in Berlin. We will see how he handles
that.

How important is this fight for the future of your career? Is it an all or
nothing situation for you as well as for Abraham?

Robert Stieglitz: Both of us have been asked this question before our first
fight and now everybody is excited about the rematch. There is no point in
discussing if this is all or nothing for us. We should be happy about the
fact that Germany currently has two world-class super-middleweights who will
fight it out for a world championship. Both of us have the ability to get
back to the top even if we should lose.

What is your prediction for March 23?

Robert Stieglitz: The winner and world champion will be Robert Stieglitz. I
will take the borrowed WBO Title back to the city of Magdeburg, back to my
promoter SES.

What happens if you should actually win? Will we witness Abraham vs.
Stieglitz III or are you aiming for a unification bout against the winner of
Kessler vs. Froch II?

Robert Stieglitz: I don’t believe that it would be appropriate to discuss
the future at this point of time. That is a topic for after March 23.

Tickets for the big fight night at the GETEC-Arena in Magdeburg, Germany can
be purchased at www.eventim.de.

NEW YORK (March 4, 2013) — World championship boxing returns to EPIX this month. Two- division world champion “King” ARTHUR ABRAHAM will defend his WBO super middleweight crown against the former champion he dethroned, ROBERT STIEGLITZ, in a rematch of their “Fight of The Year”-contender of last summer. Abraham-Stieglitz II will be televised live ringside from GTEC Arena in Magdeburg, Sachsen-Anhalt, Germany on Saturday, March 23, beginning at 4:30 p.m. ET / 1:30 p.m. PT, exclusively on EPIX, the premium entertainment service. EPIX will stream the fights live on EpixHD.com and on the EPIX app on Xbox consoles and Roku players as part of a special free trial offer for boxing fans.

These two gladiators boast three world titles between them and a combined record of 79-6 (52 KOs) — a winning percentage of 93% and a victory by knockout ratio of 66%.

In addition to the Abraham- Stieglitz world super middleweight championship rematch, the live EPIX telecast will feature undefeated No. 1 heavyweight contender ROBERT “The Nordic Nightmare” HELENIUS, risking rank and record in the co-main event.

Abraham (36-3, 28 KOs), a native of Armenia who lives in Berlin, certainly lived up to his ring name, King Arthur, when he ruled the middleweight division as an undefeated world champion. He captured the vacant International Boxing Federation (IBF) middleweight crown in 2005, knocking out Kingsley Ikeke in the fifth round. He successfully defended his title 11 times – seven by way of knockout – during his four-year reign. The contenders he defeated as middleweight champion had a combined record of 298-18-6 when he fought them, including Shannon Taylor, Kofi Jantuah, Edison Miranda, Lajuan Simon and Raul Marquez. In search of bigger challenges, Abraham vacated his title and moved up to super middleweight to compete in the Super Six tournament in 2009. After knocking out former middleweight champion Jermain Taylor in the opening bout, he lost his next three and was eliminated from the tournament. In 2012 he righted his ship, knocking out Pablo Farias in the fifth round to claim the WBO European super middleweight title. Two fights later, he upset Stieglitz, winning an exciting 12-round unanimous decision. In his last fight, Abraham successfully defended his new title, knocking out Medhi Bouadla in the eighth round last December 15.

Stieglitz (43-3, 24 KOs), a Russian native who fights out of Magdeburg, Sachsen-Anhalt, Germany, enters his title challenge having won 12 of his last 13 bouts. Stieglitz captured the WBO super middleweight title in 2009, knocking out undefeated defending champion Karoly Balzsay in the 11th round. He successfully defended the title six times against contenders who had a combined record of 160-23-7 when he fought them during his three-year reign. He lost the title to Abraham last August 25. In his last fight, Stieglitz traveled to Barcelona, Spain and knocked out Michal Nieroda in the third round on January 26.

Helenius (18-0, 11 KOs), a native of Sweden who fights out of Berlin, Germany, boasts knockout victories over former heavyweight champions Lamon Brewster and Samuel Peter as well as top contenders Dereck Chisora, Siarhei Liakhovich, and Attila Levin en route to becoming the WBO’s No. 1 heavyweight contender. In his last fight, on November 10, 2012, he defeated Sherman Williams by unanimous decision.

About EPIX

EPIX® is the newest premium entertainment network delivering the latest movie releases, classic library titles, plus original films, comedy, music and sports events on TV, on demand, online and on devices. Launched October 2009 as the first multiplatform premium network with online accessibility for subscribers through EpixHD.com, EPIX pioneered the development and proliferation of TV Everywhere for American consumers. EPIX was the first premium network to launch on Xbox 360®consoles, first on Android™ tablets and phones, first on Roku® players and soon to be the first to launch on PlayStation®3 (PS3™) system. EPIX is available to authenticated subscribers on hundreds of devices including Apple® iPads®, iPhones®, Kindle Fire tablets, Samsung® Smart TVs and Blu-ray™ players and more. Today EPIX remains the only premium service providing its entire monthly line-up from new Hollywood hits to original programs on all platforms and provides more movies than any other premium network.

EPIX is a joint venture between Viacom Inc. (NASDAQ: VIA and VIA.B), its Paramount Pictures unit, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc. (MGM) and Lionsgate (NYSE: LGF), available to over 30 million homes nationwide through distribution partners including Charter Communications, Cox Communications, DISH Network, Mediacom Communications, NCTC, Suddenlink Communications and Verizon FiOS.

For more information about EPIX, go to www.EpixHD.com. Follow EPIX Sports on Twitter @EPIXsports and on Facebook www.facebook.com/EPIXsports.

It won´t be a walk in the park. When Arthur Abraham (36-3, 28 KOs) defends his WBO Super-Middleweight Title at the GETEC-Arena in Magdeburg, Germany on March 23, he enters the Lion´s Den. The man aiming to take King Arthur´s belt away is Robert Stieglitz (43-3, 24 KOs), who will more or less have home advantage. Abraham dethroned Stieglitz on August 25 at the o2 World in Berlin. “That fight was in my own backyard”, said Abraham. Now the pair will meet again in Stieglitz´s backyard.

The first showdown took place at today´s press conference in Magdeburg. “I didn’t lose the belt, I just borrowed it. I had a bad day back in August,” said the former champion. Of course the 31-year-old wants to use this rematch to win back the WBO Title. Abraham on the other hand displayed a very relaxed attitude but did promise the fans a real battle. “I am twice as motivated now that Robert wants to win back the title. All I will say is that this fight will turn out to be a war.” His prediction: “I will keep the belt.”

Stieglitz´s coach Dirk Dzemski is hoping that his prodigy will be able to stick to his game plan come March 23. On the other hand Abraham´s trainer Ulli Wegner is looking forward to the big fight night in Magdeburg. This is the same place where he celebrated some great victories with Sven Ottke. “It is great to be back home. The only obligation we have is to keep the title.”

Kalle Sauerland is also expecting a thrilling encounter: “The rematch might be even better and more dramatic than the first fight – we might even get to witness a KO.”

Tickets for the big fight night at the GETEC-Arena in Magdeburg, Germany can be purchased at www.eventim.de as well as www.boxen.com and www.sesboxing.de.

Arthur Abraham (36-3, 28 KOs) is putting his title on the line in Magdeburg, Germany. The 32-year-old takes on Robert Stieglitz (43-3, 24 KOs) in a rematch of their August 25 bout at the o2 World Berlin. Back then Abraham won against Stieglitz in spectacular manner by unanimous decision (116:112, 116:112 and 115:113) and consequently took the WBO Super Middleweight Title of the former champion. Now the two will meet again, this time at the GETEC-Arena in Magdeburg.

“For me it is a question of honor”, said Abraham. “Robert was brave enough to face me in my backyard. Now I am travelling to Magdeburg and have to enter ‘the Lion´s Den’ to fight him.” This will be the second time that the current WBO-Champion steps into the ring of the arena, which has a capacity of 7.000 people. ”The first time I fought in Magdeburg was only my ninth pro bout. I won against Branko Sobot by technical KO in round two. Back then the arena was still known as Boerderlandhalle and Sven Ottke won his farewell fight. The fans were fantastic.”

In order for the rematch to take place, the challenger, Robert Stieglitz, had to win his last test ahead of the title shot on Saturday night. The 31-year-old traveled to Barcelona, Spain where he won in convincing fashion against Michal Nieroda by KO in round three. After coming through the bout with no injuries he is now completely focussed on the project of wining back the title. Robert Stieglitz: “Somehow I wasn’t able to fight to my full potential during my first fight against Arthur. After I suffered cuts, I couldn’t get back into it. It just was not my day. But that will not happen again”, promised the prodigy of coach Dirk Dzemski.

Tickets for the big fight night on March 23 will be available from February 4 onwards and can be purchased at www.eventim.de as well as www.boxen.com and www.sesboxing.de.