Former world champion Felix Sturm is wrapping up his final preparations for his farewell gala at the gym in 40-degree heat “One Last Dance” on July 11 in Stuttgart.
While Germany is reeling from the current heat wave, preparations for Felix Sturm’s farewell fight are also in full swing—and under extreme conditions. Temperatures in the gym are such that coach Sali Yildirim sums it up perfectly. “It feels like 50 degrees. It’s really unbelievably hot,” says the coach. “Still, we have to train and get ready for July 11.”
“Right in the middle of the sparring phase”
With about a week and a half to go before the former five-time world champion’s final professional fight , the team is in the decisive phase of its preparation. The focus is now entirely on competition-simulation training sessions. “We’re in the middle of the sparring phase. We spar three days a week and have now reached eight rounds. Training is now almost exclusively competition-oriented: with sparring, partner drills, pad work, and everything else required in a fight,” explains Yildirim.
To cope with the extreme heat as best as possible, the team has adjusted its training schedule. The intense sparring sessions now take place in the morning, before the afternoon heat reaches its peak. In the evening, there’s another, much lighter session. “We try to avoid the strongest sun. That way, we can better manage the physical strain.”
Heat as an Additional Source of Stress
Still, the weather poses an additional challenge. “The high temperatures naturally make preparation more difficult. Recovery, in particular, suffers as a result. It puts extra stress on the body. But we’re professionals and we make the best of the conditions,” said the experienced coach, who also trains undercard boxers Malek Semmo, Gianni Dedic, and Mert Caliskan.
A well-planned workout is especially crucial when temperatures exceed 30 degrees. Yildirim advises: “Many people make the mistake of skipping the warm-up. But that’s exactly what’s important. On top of that, you need to stay well-hydrated, replenish electrolytes, and you should never train on an empty stomach. We also deliberately focus on shorter training sessions rather than unnecessarily long workouts.”
The coach is extremely pleased with his protégé’s performance level. “Felix is in really good shape. We’ve already come a long way in terms of athleticism and boxing skills. He’s getting through the eight sparring rounds cleanly, the pad work is going great, his punches are explosive and precise, and his footwork has improved significantly as well. All in all, we’re almost ready.”
Putting the Finishing Touches on Things During Fight Week
However, the work isn’t quite finished yet. This week brings the final major test: ten intense sparring rounds against three different—and therefore constantly fresh—sparring partners. “This is going to be really tough again. That’s where we’ll put everything we’ve planned for the fight to the test. We want to see if our tactical strategies work just as planned against our opponent. If everything goes well, we’ll be 100 percent ready.”
During the subsequent Fight Week, the intensity is significantly reduced. Sparring is no longer part of the schedule. Instead, the focus is on pad work, technique, and fine-tuning before Felix Sturm steps into the ring one last time as a professional boxer on July 11 at the Porsche Arena in Stuttgart to face Granit Stein from Ingolstadt.
The fight card will be broadcast live in Germany exclusively on “BILD plus,” in Bosnia exclusively on “Face TV,” and in the rest of the world on DAZN.
Text: Press Release / Sturm Boxing