German veteran Felix Sturm (44-6-3, 19 KOs) is set to return to the ring at the Ratiopharm Arena in Neu-Ulm. The 45-year-old former two-division beltholder has not fought since December 2023, when he stopped Sukru Altay in nine rounds. Sturm, once famously denied the verdict against Oscar De La Hoya in 2004, aims to work his way toward one final world title shot.
Felix's opponent is Benjamin Blindert (14-1-2, 10 KOs), a 38-year-old pro since 2016 who suffered his sole loss last June to Alexander Rigas. Blindert previously battled Siarhei Huliakevich twice, both ending in draws. Even at 45, Sturm represents a sizable jump in class for Blindert, who has yet to beat anyone at world level.
In the co-feature, former IBF middleweight champion Vincenzo Gualtieri (23-1-1, 8 KOs) faces Alexander Pavlov (22-4, 16 KOs) in a rematch of their 2020 majority-decision tussle. Pavlov has pulled off upsets against Markos Nader and Thoms Piccirillo, though he was stopped in three by Etinosa Oliha in September.
Fight card:
▪️Felix Sturm vs. Benjamin Blindert, 10 rounds, light heavyweight
▪️Vincenzo Gualtieri vs. Alexander Pavlov, 12 rounds, for the vacant WBO European middleweight title
▪️Hamsat Shadalov vs. Eduardo Bajak, 10 rounds, for the vacant BDB International super featherweight title
▪️Hamza Salahudin vs. Wilmer Baron, 8 rounds, light heavyweight
▪️Paul Wall vs. Joshua Riccardo, 8 rounds, super welterweight
▪️Mert Caliskan vs. Jampier Oses, 6 rounds, super lightweight
▪️Malek Semmo vs. Gabor Gorbics, 4 rounds, middleweight
