In the third part of the exclusive BOXSPORT interview, Felix Sturm reveals what’s next for him after “One Last Dance.”
Click here for the first part of the interview. You can find part two of the interview here.
Who was the best boxer you’ve ever fought?
Oscar de la Hoya. His left hand was as hard as a horse’s kick. And he could box, too. He unleashed powerful combinations, was versatile, had power, and had experience. There were other very good boxers in the mix as well, including some tough fighters—no question about it. But overall, Oscar was the best.
Is there a fight you would have liked to have had but that never happened?
Bernard Hopkins would, of course, have been a possibility. I fought de la Hoya, but a fight against Hopkins wasn’t guaranteed. For some reason, it just didn’t happen. I was also asked time and again why I didn’t box in the U.S. more often. It’s relatively simple: I boxed under the German flag, and Americans want American world champions, American champions, American heroes. Becoming a pay-per-view star in the U.S. as a German is a tough sell.
When you’ve been boxing as long as you have, what changes more—your view of your opponents or your view of yourself?
First and foremost, I always focused on myself. Of course, you look at your opponent. You have to know how he boxes, what his strengths are, and what his weaknesses are. But in my case, opponents often adjusted their strategy to counter me. They tried to adapt to my double jab and avoid certain things.
In the end, it always comes down to this question: Who can impose their fighting style on whom? I tried to build a lot of my strategy around the jab and applying pressure. But there were also boxers who hit extremely hard, like Masoe or Castillejo. That’s when I knew: I have to box more, use my jab, throw combinations, and keep moving. I can’t apply too much pressure, because otherwise I might get caught on the counter. You have to adjust individually from fight to fight. But basically, the focus was always on me. You’ve also gone through tough times outside the ring and were convicted. What did you learn from that?
My advice to everyone: In Germany, you need to hire top-notch lawyers and seek their advice. That’s the best money you can invest. If you have a top law firm and a top lawyer who are well-versed in business matters, you’re in a completely different position. If I’d had the law firm and the lawyer I have by my side today ten or 15 years ago, things would have turned out very differently. But what’s done is done. I’m grateful to have them by my side today.
Every cloud has a silver lining. For me, this whole thing is behind me now. Personally, everyone learns something from phases like this. But the most important thing is: If you’re a public figure, you need people by your side who are knowledgeable about these issues. That’s money very well spent. Lawyers, law firms, people who look out for your interests—and, ideally, keep your finances in order. Then you know you’re on the safe side.
A lot of things might not even cross other people’s minds, for various reasons. My case did cross my mind. But we mustn’t forget: In the end, only 6.8 percent of the original tax evasion allegation remained. Ten million turned into 680,000 euros. That’s a staggering difference that hardly anyone has written or spoken about. It was also said on the day of the trial: If the issue had been addressed beforehand the way it was addressed in court, the situation that ultimately arose probably would never have happened.
After the final bell: Who is Felix Sturm in the world of boxing—a coach, mentor, promoter, gym owner, or talent scout? Or do you want to take a step back for now?
First, vacation. I’ll be on vacation with my family. After that, there will be a few opportunities, and I also have my own projects that I’ll be pursuing. I can see myself working as a consultant. But becoming a full-time coach or full-time mentor right now? No. I don’t want that. Everything on a manageable scale. Not to the point where I have to fly somewhere every weekend or be somewhere all the time. I definitely won’t do that.
Everything that happens from now on has to stay within reasonable limits. Besides, there are other things in my life besides boxing. You’ll see me at the ring every now and then. It’s not like I’m completely gone. I know how to build a boxing stable and how to tackle something like that. There are ways to do it, but everything takes time. Promoters and managers need to understand that. Some want to rush their boxing stable to the top as quickly as possible so they can rake in their cut. But that’s not how this game works.
Some things take time. The guys need time to settle in; they have to develop. Not everything will go smoothly. It didn’t go smoothly for me, it didn’t for the Klitschkos, and it doesn’t for anyone. There are injuries, setbacks, and problems. There’s no such thing as a smooth career. You have to stay calm.
Is there something about Felix Sturm that the public has never really understood?
Everyone sees in me what they want to see. That’s something I’ve learned over the decades in sports. I was at the very top when I was young, and not everyone liked that. I was celebrated 98 percent of the time. There are always one or two percent of people who, for whatever reason, don’t celebrate you, don’t think highly of you, or judge you negatively. That’s just part of it. It’s not just me—it’s the same for many athletes and public figures.
Sometimes I was pigeonholed in a way that didn’t reflect who I really was. People would say, “He’s weird,” or “He’s arrogant.” But I’ve always been more reserved—always a quiet guy. I’m not the type who constantly needs to draw attention to myself, rush to every red carpet event, or have an opinion on everything. I’m also not the type to post anything on social media three times a day.
I have my people—the ones I enjoy spending time with and talking to. I spend a lot of time with my son. He’s a big young man now—taller than I am. I have my family—the guys in my family. Salih, Chris (Mohr; Editor’s note), and I get along really well outside of work, too, and spend a lot of time together.
I think some people wanted to see something in me that I’m not, never was, and never will be. Everyone who knows and appreciates me knows what kind of person I am. I’m a laid-back, easygoing guy. Even when people I don’t know come up to me and ask: “How’s it going? Everything okay? Can we take a picture?” I take the time to do it. But you can’t please everyone. If you take a picture with a hundred people and don’t give one of them a copy, you’re instantly an idiot. That’s just how it is. In the end, I can’t please everyone—and I don’t even want to. That’s what I tell the guys, too: Don’t hide yourselves—just be authentic. If you watch my interviews or anything on YouTube, you’ll see: I am who I am. I speak my mind. If someone says they see it differently, that’s okay.
You have to be clear and straightforward in life. I stand my ground, and I’ve always stood my ground. I’ve seen things through, even when things went wrong. People feel free to judge me, so I’m free to judge others, too. I say things transparently and clearly as they are. That’s how you get the farthest in life—not by just going around in circles and never actually reaching your goal in the end.