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FELIX STURM STEALS THE SHOW!
By
Elisa Harrison
Posted: Monday, June 07, 2004
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Oscar
De La Hoya
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MIAMI, FLA.---Collision Course
may have been the catchy title given to the June 5th boxing show
by some overpaid publicist, and in many ways the name held true
to life. The collision was intended to imply that if Bernard Hopkins
could get past Robert Allen and Oscar de la Hoya could get past
Felix Sturm the two would collide later on this year. The publicist
who christened the card had no way of knowing that the real collision
would take place between Adnan Catic a.k.a. Felix Sturm and Oscar
de la Hoya, and if you ask me Oscar de la Hoya got the worst of
the impact.
It's getting to the point that judges' decisions don't matter
much to serious boxing fans anymore. Oscar de la Hoya's gift decision
over Felix Sturm is another perfect example of said premise. Oscar
de la Hoya knew he hadn't won he fight; everything about his body
language indicated it, much like Shane Mosley's did when he was
gifted a decision over Oscar de la Hoya some months ago.
I venture to say that even Oscar de la Hoya fans will remember
Felix Sturm, who in typical underdog fashion gave it his all,
traveling outside of his domain to take on the biggest draw in
the sport of boxing, demonstrating surprisingly solid boxing skills
in the process.
Sturm has one of the most effective and beautifully executed
jabs I've ever seen. It busted Oscar's nose from the opener and
with the jab alone Sturm moved Oscar around the ring at will.
De la Hoya did beautiful work to the body throughout the fight,
the problem was that Sturm also has very good defensive skills
and very long arms to boot. When Sturm would square up his defense,
Oscar's blows to the body would get picked up by Sturm's elbows
and arms, his gloves and forearms would do the same when Oscar
tried to go straight to the body or head. A lesson in futility...
Felix Sturm is a natural middleweight, in height and size; Oscar
de la Hoya is not, and that was very evident last night. Oscar
never moved or even stun Sturm; however, every time Sturm took
a shot at Oscar he would have his way with him. Sturm's arsenal
is very decent too. To compliment his powerful jab he showed beautifully
executed short hooks (either hand) which seldom missed Oscar's
head, effective uppercuts, nice footwork and great conditioning.
Felix Sturm came to fight, and fight he did, letting Oscar de
la Hoya know that he really doesn't belong in this division.
Sturm's demeanor was impressive as well; the now former champion
came out to the arena looking relaxed and enjoying the applause
of the few fans who were there to support him. Before the final
round, Sturm took a page from the other Felix's book, hitting
his chest with gloved fist as he looked around the arena, eliciting
a sound round of applause from appreciative boxing fans. That
gesture coupled with his behavior throughout the promotional tour,
the weigh in and the twelve grueling rounds against the Golden
Boy certainly seems to indicate that Felix Sturm is a classy guy.
Oscar de la Hoya did everything he could do last night, I am
not taking anything away from his performance. Oscar's body blows
would have probably put away most junior middleweights out there
and he certainly was in typically good physical condition, but
he is not a middleweight, and I hope Oscar and his advisers will
re-think their game plan. Keep in mind that Felix Sturm does have
one major flaw, lack of power, (he only has 9 knockouts to his
name), yet and still he managed to manhandle Oscar at will.
I beg to differ with Oscar when in the Merchant post-fight interview
he referred to Sturm as an ordinary fighter. I also beg to differ
with the official scoring, but no surprises there considering
the $cenario already in place for $eptember 2004. It was almost
a given that if Oscar finished the fight on his feet, he would
get the decision regardless. Could open scoring be a way to derail
the string of bogus decisions being rendered out there?
Boxing fans must have appreciated Felix Sturm and Oscar de la
Hoya's performance, two proud champions who fought a great fight.
I hope to see more of Felix Sturm; he is a courageous technician,
very entertaining to the watch. Oscar de la Hoya is the greatest
draw in boxing, and once again he showed us why. Oscar really
gives of himself, the way true champions of old were known to
do, which is more than some of his peers are willing or able to
do.
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