The five-time world champion is retiring after 35 years. In the podcast “Die Deutschen,” Felix Sturm offers moving insights.
On July 11, the Porsche Arena will host more than just another boxing match. It will mark the end of an extraordinary career. After 35 years in competitive sports, Felix Sturm (45 wins, 6 losses, 3 draws) will step into the ring one last time. His opponent: Granit Stein from Ingolstadt (20 wins, 2 losses, 1 draw). For the former world champion, this decision is no longer a spontaneous impulse, but rather the result of a long internal process. “It hurts my heart,” Sturm says candidly on the podcast “Die Deutschen.” “Boxing has been my whole life. I started when I was twelve, and today I’m 47. That’s 35 years full of training, competitions, highs, and lows. At some point, the moment comes when you have to be honest with yourself.”
While many athletes are forced to end their careers because their bodies won’t let them continue, Sturm wants to decide for himself when it’s over. “I’m saying goodbye to boxing—not boxing saying goodbye to me. That was important to me. I never wanted to be in a situation where others eventually decide it’s over. I wanted to make that decision myself. Of course, I could probably still fight. But at some point, it’s no longer about whether you can still do it, but whether you recognize the right time. I’ve found that time for myself.”
An Extraordinary Career
When “The Fighter” Sturm looks back on his career, he realizes just how extraordinary it has been. From his first amateur fights to his Olympic debut, world championships in multiple weight classes, millions of television viewers, and legendary bouts against world-class international boxers such as Oscar De La Hoya—hardly any other German boxer has shaped the sport over such a long period of time.
“35 years is really like two careers. I’ve been fortunate enough to experience so much. I’ve had the chance to box against the world’s best, become a world champion, and live my dream. I’m infinitely grateful for that.” Sturm sees the fact that his final fight is taking place in Germany, of all places, as a special gift. “I’ve celebrated my greatest successes with German fans. That’s why I wanted to say goodbye here—where people have supported me for decades.”
Nothing can replace boxing
Although the decision was a conscious one, Sturm makes no secret of how difficult this step is for him. “There will be moments when I’ll miss it. The adrenaline, the atmosphere, the walk to the dressing room, the ring walk, the first bell. Nothing else can replace that.”
It is precisely this honesty that sets his farewell apart from many others. In the podcast, he doesn’t talk about turning his back on boxing. Rather, he describes his last fight as a deliberate transition into a new chapter of his life. “Boxing will always be a part of my life. But at some point, a new chapter begins. I’m looking forward to that just as much.”
As he’s gotten older, his priorities have changed, Sturm explains. In the past, almost everything took a back seat to sports. Training camps, travel, weight training, and competitions defined his daily life. Today, he sees many things from a different perspective: “Family is becoming more and more important. I used to miss out on a lot because sports always came first. Now I want to spend more time with the people who have supported me my whole life.” It was precisely this realization that further reinforced his decision. “There’s a right time for everything. And I believe that time has come now.”
Gratitude Instead of Sadness
On July 11, therefore, the focus should not be on sadness, but on gratitude. Sturm doesn’t want a melancholic farewell, but rather a boxing night that brings back memories of his career: “I want people to have a wonderful evening. I want them to see great fights and celebrate 35 years of boxing with me. That’s what I hope for.”
So when the opening bell finally rings at the Porsche Arena, there will be far more at stake than just victory or defeat. It will be the final bout for a boxer who has shaped German professional boxing for decades and who wants to bid farewell in the same way he has lived his career: on his own terms.
The fight night will be broadcast live in Germany exclusively on BILDplus, in Bosnia exclusively on FACE TV, and in the rest of the world on DAZN. If you want to experience this special evening live, don’t wait too long. Demand is high, and many of the tickets have already been sold. Be there when boxing history is made and one of the greatest careers in German boxing comes to an emotional close. Tickets are available at: https://www.easyticket.de/veranstaltung/felix-sturm-one-last-dance/105756
Text: Press Release / Sturm Boxing Promotion