Sturm vs Zbik

The WBA Super World Middleweight Championship

Sturm shows champion class to halt tough challenger Zbik

Reigning 33-year-old champion Felix Sturm delights his home town crowd to retain his WBA Super World Middleweight Championship against fellow German Sebastian Zbik.

Challenger Zbik started the fight encouragingly, and it looked like he might have a chance of upsetting the odds, but from round three onwards, Sturm exerted his class.

And, though Zbik was still competing hard, it wasn't until the end of the ninth round that the challenger's corner threw in the towel and called an early end to the fight.

All German clash between Sturm and Zbik

Two experienced German middleweights enter the ring as Felix Sturm defends his WBA Super World Middleweight Championship LIVE from Cologne, Germany, against Sebastian Zbik.

Felix Sturm

Felix "Leonidas" Sturm, 33, is a 36 - 2 - 2 fighter who has held the WBA World - and then Super World - title since 2007.

Sturm was born in Leverkusen but now calls Cologne home, and will look to put on an impressive performance in what would be a fifth successful defence of his Super World Championship.

Sebastian Zbik

30-year-old Sebastian Zbik is the former WBO Intercontinental and WBC Interim Middleweight Champion, but has never held a full world title.

In his last outing - June 2011 - he lost a WBC World Middleweight Championship challenge against Julio Cesar Chavez Jr., who took a narrow majority decision.

Undercards

The undercards of the night feature:

Denis Boystov vs. Dominick Guinn (Heavyweight)

and Nadia Raoui vs Eileen Olszewski (Flyweight)