Former WBO super middleweight world champion Arthur Abraham (44-5, 29 KOs) returns to the ring on July 16 at the Max-Schmeling-Halle in Berlin, Germany, on the undercard of Tyron Zeuge’s WBA super middleweight title challenge against Giovanni De Carolis. “King Arthur” says he’s ready to defy his critics and get back on the World title trail following his defeat to Gilberto Ramirez.
“I’m not ready to say goodbye to the sport I love so much,” said the 36-year-old. “The fight with Ramirez did not go as planned, but I promise this will not happen again. I will show that I can do better and that I can become world champion again – that is my greatest wish!”
Abraham will be joined by his long-time coach and mentor Ulli Wegner, who following crisis talks after Abraham’s world title defeat, has agreed to give his star pupil one last chance.
“I was not happy with Arthur’s performance against Ramirez, but I have decided to give the boy another chance,” said the 73-year-old coach. “He did not do enough in Las Vegas to retain his title and call himself a champion. Now, he must work harder and show that this was just a blip in his character.”
Promoter Kalle Sauerland believes Abraham can bounce back from his world title defeat and prove he is ready for another shot at world honors.
“Arthur has overcome many obstacles in his career – fighting through a broken jaw to defend his middleweight title against Edison Miranda and suffering defeat in the Super Six on his way to becoming a two-weight World Champion,” said Sauerland. “He has come back from defeat before and we’re sure he can do it again. It’s now about his legacy and how he wants to be remembered as a boxer. He must show that the fire still burns and that he’s willing to put in the work to become world champion again.”
Article courtesy of Fightnews