Sturm Ducks Abraham

Universum Box-Promotion have turned down Team Sauerland´s 2.5 million-euro offer for a unification clash between IBF middleweight champion King Arthur Abraham and WBA title-holder Felix Sturm. “We will not pick up negotiations at the time being,” Klaus-Peter Kohl stated in a press release. “For us it was not a serious offer but an ultimatum.”

Even though manager Wilfried Sauerland was not surprised by Universum´s reaction, he rejected Kohl´s remarks. “I think it is a pity that there were no actions in support of Sturm´s and Universum´s big words,” Sauerland stated. “Our offer was serious and not an ultimatum. We submitted it in writing and stressed that there could be additional time for negotiations. It was our second official offer for Sturm – the first one for 1.5 million euros has never been answered..”

Sauerland has no doubts that there are big things ahead for King Arthur. “He has a long-term contract with us and he will not move up to super-middleweight before he is the super-champion. So from our point of view there is nothing that speaks against future negotiations with Universum.”

And Sauerland managing director Chris Meyer, who is in Moscow at the time being, added: “We clearly showed which side wants to make this fight happen and which side is backing out. The only thing that is not serious is the answer from Mr. Kohl, which came by press release and not by fax to us. He is kindly invited to make a counter-offer at any time. But that cannot really be expected. For us there is no doubt that Sturm is scared of King Arthur.”

Team Sauerland wishes Universum and Felix Sturm best of luck for the negotiations with Kelly Pavlik´s promoter Bob Arum.

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