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BoxingInsider.com
Aug 24 2012
King Arthur Looks To Regain His Kingdom
by Johnny Walker
In the weekend's most interesting boxing matchup, `King' Arthur
Abraham (34-3, 27 KOs), an Armenian fighting out of Germany, squares
off with current WBO Champion Robert Stieglitz (42-2, 23 KOs) at the
o2 World in Berlin in a showdown that will have a major impact on the
talent-laden super middleweight division.
Abraham, you many recall, was picked by many boxing experts to run
away with Showtime's Super Six tournament when he knocked Jermain
Taylor cold in 2009. But since that time, the Armenian star's crown
has become tarnished, with losses to Andre Dirrell, Carl Froch, and
Andre Ward throwing Abraham's boxing fortunes into a tailspin.
Since his loss to Ward, Abraham has gone back to the basics and ground
out two workmanlike wins over mid-level opposition.
But now comes the real test: can King Arthur force his way back into
the super middleweight picture by grabbing a major title? Or will he
be consigned to history as a fighter who couldn't make the leap from
middleweight to super middle?
Abraham knows just what is on the line on Saturday: `From this point
onwards, every fight is going to be a last chance for me,' he said at
the fight's final press conference. `But I will grab it with both
hands. No matter if the fight goes the distance or not - I will prove
a point on Saturday.'
Stieglitz is not widely known in North America, and carries the rep of
being a slick boxer who has faced mostly B-level opposition. The
Russian-born fighter's coach, Dirk Dzemski, says his man is going to
prove too wily for King Arthur: `We are going to keep the belt. We
detected a lot of weaknesses while watching Abraham and we will take
full advantage of them,' says the trainer.
There is no doubt, however, that Abraham, who no matter what
shortcomings he has as a boxer-his peek-a-boo defensive style and
tendency to throw wide punches can be used against him- is a man who
possesses tremendous power, and is a big step up for the WBO champ.
Abraham's trainer Ulli Wegner, for one, thinks his man will prove to
be far too much for Stieglitz: `We are going to wipe the floor with
them and that's the end of the story,' he predicts.
The end of one story, perhaps, but also the start of another chapter
in the legend of King Arthur.
http://www.boxinginsider.com/headlines/king-arthur-looks-to-regain-his-kingdom/
Aug 24 2012
King Arthur Looks To Regain His Kingdom
by Johnny Walker
In the weekend's most interesting boxing matchup, `King' Arthur
Abraham (34-3, 27 KOs), an Armenian fighting out of Germany, squares
off with current WBO Champion Robert Stieglitz (42-2, 23 KOs) at the
o2 World in Berlin in a showdown that will have a major impact on the
talent-laden super middleweight division.
Abraham, you many recall, was picked by many boxing experts to run
away with Showtime's Super Six tournament when he knocked Jermain
Taylor cold in 2009. But since that time, the Armenian star's crown
has become tarnished, with losses to Andre Dirrell, Carl Froch, and
Andre Ward throwing Abraham's boxing fortunes into a tailspin.
Since his loss to Ward, Abraham has gone back to the basics and ground
out two workmanlike wins over mid-level opposition.
But now comes the real test: can King Arthur force his way back into
the super middleweight picture by grabbing a major title? Or will he
be consigned to history as a fighter who couldn't make the leap from
middleweight to super middle?
Abraham knows just what is on the line on Saturday: `From this point
onwards, every fight is going to be a last chance for me,' he said at
the fight's final press conference. `But I will grab it with both
hands. No matter if the fight goes the distance or not - I will prove
a point on Saturday.'
Stieglitz is not widely known in North America, and carries the rep of
being a slick boxer who has faced mostly B-level opposition. The
Russian-born fighter's coach, Dirk Dzemski, says his man is going to
prove too wily for King Arthur: `We are going to keep the belt. We
detected a lot of weaknesses while watching Abraham and we will take
full advantage of them,' says the trainer.
There is no doubt, however, that Abraham, who no matter what
shortcomings he has as a boxer-his peek-a-boo defensive style and
tendency to throw wide punches can be used against him- is a man who
possesses tremendous power, and is a big step up for the WBO champ.
Abraham's trainer Ulli Wegner, for one, thinks his man will prove to
be far too much for Stieglitz: `We are going to wipe the floor with
them and that's the end of the story,' he predicts.
The end of one story, perhaps, but also the start of another chapter
in the legend of King Arthur.
http://www.boxinginsider.com/headlines/king-arthur-looks-to-regain-his-kingdom/