Photo: Peter McDermont
By Ray Wheatley — World of Boxing
IBF #1 Sam Soliman will travel to Germany to clash with former WBA middleweight champion Felix Sturm on February 2nd for the right to challenge the winner of the Daniel Geale vs. Anthony Mundine fight on January 30 in Sydney, Australia. The IBF have told both Geale and Mundine they must defend against the #1 contender. The IBF have allowed Geale to defend against Mundine, who defeated him via disputed split decision three years ago, instead of IBF #1 Soliman. “The stakes are incredibly high as is the challenge,” said Soliman. “I am going to Germany on a mission, to beat Sturm. I have no control over what happens in the Mundine and Geale fight.” Soliman and Sturm have boxed a common opponent in Giovanni Lorenzo, whom they both defeated over twelve rounds. Soliman did it in 2012. Sturm won in 2010.
