Current WBA middleweight champion Felix Sturm 34-2-1 (14) is a wanted man. He is
being pursued by Arena Box Promotions and the rumour is that Arena's CEO Ahmet Ohner
has offered Sturm the massive amount of $25 million dollars to sign a 6 fight deal
including a whopping $3.5 million dollar signing on bonus.
However, this is where things get interesting. Universum box promotions believe they still have a contract with Sturm which doesnt expire until 2012! Already Universum have contacted every tv company and promotional outfit based in Germany warning them that if they sign Sturm or show one of his fights to expect a legal suit issued to them.
Sturm for his part has stated that he will retire before fighting under the Universum box promotions banner again. To this writer, there seems to be only place that this sorry mess will end up and that is in court.
Arena Box Promotions are becoming a big time promotional outfit now and certainly have the financial clout to take over as the biggest German promoters, taking over from the established Universum. The amount of money offered to Sturm seems incredibly high to me but Ohner is clever and has just signed a co-promotional tie in with Top Rank with several of his fighters ( including Solis, Gamboa ) fighting this weekend.
By JIMMY LAST
