Former five-time world champion Felix Sturm retires after controversial points loss to Granit Stein

End of career with head held low, but also a bitter aftertaste. Former world champion Felix Sturm (47) had to admit defeat to his opponent Granit Stein (33) in his last fight due to a controversial decision.

Felix Sturm (47) loses narrowly on points to Ingolstadt's Granit Stein (33). Only judge Adrian Laschescu saw the German-Bosnian boxer ahead after ten rounds (96:93). The other two jurors had Stein (96:95, 95:94). Controversial!

Felix Sturm (47/l.) landed the clearer punches against Granit Stein (33). Photo: picture alliance/Eibner-Pressefoto

Although Stein was the more active boxer, his punches often landed on Sturm's good defense. Moreover, Stein frequently fought dirty, for which he was penalized with a warning and a point deduction for a headbutt (6th round).

Judge Shrugs His Shoulders

Judge Laschescu shrugged his shoulders after the verdict was announced and told BILD: "I saw Felix Sturm ahead." Sturm's jabs (straights) almost always hit their target. Additionally, the veteran operated from the center of the ring.

Experienced matchmaker Hagen Döring (Sauerland, Agon) as a guest at ringside: "Sturm was more active and punched more accurately, so he also won for me." Sturm's manager Roland Bebak saw it the same way: "For me, Felix won the fight. He had the clearer hits."

Sturm: "You wish for a different exit, but that's life. I had a great career." That's an understatement. He was world champion five times in the middleweight and super middleweight divisions, fighting all the big stars in these weight classes. Among them Oscar de la Hoya (53), against whom he suffered his first professional defeat in June 2004. He last won the world title in February 2016 against Fedor Chudinov.

Fair applause from Sturm (l.) after the verdict announcement. Photo: picture alliance/Baumann/Julia Rahn

With Sturm, the last star of a "golden generation" in German boxing, alongside Arthur Abraham (46), Sven Ottke (59), or Marco Huck (41), who hasn't quite given up the dream of a comeback, departs. Despite party-crasher Stein, it was a conciliatory end to the career for Leverkusen-born Sturm.