Felix Sturm returns against Istvan Szili in IBO Title eliminator on March 26

Felix Sturm vs. Istvan Szili

Westfallenhalle, Dortmund, Germany – 26 March 2022

The current IBO Intercontinental and WBO Oriental Super Middleweight Champion ISTVAN SZILI (25 wins, 2 losses, 2 draws) will box on March 26th, 2022 in the Westfallenhalle, Dortmund, in the IBO World Championship elimination match against five-time boxing world champion Felix Sturm.

The 38-year-old Istvan Szili, who lives in Switzerland, was once one of the best amateur boxers in Europe. He played 253 amateur fights, boxed at the 2005 World Cup in China, became European champion in 2006, boxed at the 2007 World Cup in the USA and in 2008 at the European Championship in England before moving to the pros in 2009. After 19 unbeaten professional fights in Europe, Szili signed a contract with the US broadcaster Showtime in 2015, but in the same year suffered his first bitter defeat in the US state of New York against the undefeated American Antoine Douglas.

After many Szili had already written off for the great success, the ex-middleweight experienced the second spring of his career after switching to super middleweight: Contrary to expectations, he defeated the huge favorite Jayde Mitchell (20 wins – 1 loss) in February last year his homeland Melbourne, Australia and made it into the top 15 of the world association WBO. In December he impressively defeated the unbeaten, ten years younger Istvan Kiss (17 wins – 0 defeats) by knockout and secured the IBO Intercontinental Belt. The world federation then started the World Cup eliminator against Felix Sturm, who was three years older than him: the biggest fight in Szili’s long boxing career.

“I’m so happy. Felix is ​​a great champion. We both bring a lot of experience and quality to the boxing ring. I’m on the better run than him at the moment, came as an underdog in my last two fights and won. I know I can beat Felix. I expect a great fight on March 26 in Dortmund” says Istvan Szili, who has already begun his training camp in the boxing academy in Basel, Switzerland.

Szili has strong support from his influential manager Benedikt Poelchau, who was recently named “Boxing Manager of the Year” in Las Vegas and who works with superstar Tyson Fury, among others.

“This World Cup eliminator is an exciting 50-50 duel. Istvan will be optimally prepared for this fight. I’m sure both boxers will surpass themselves, because the winner will secure the golden ticket to the World Cup final. For Istvan this fight against storm is the ‘fight of his life'” says Poelchau.

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