Granit Stein Retires Felix Sturm by 10 Round Split Decision in Stuttgart
By Robert Brizel, Head Real Combat Media Boxing Correspondent
Stuttgart, Germany (June 13th, 2026)– Announcing his retirement, the 25-year career of former world champion Felix Sturm ended in a sour farewell at Porsche Arena in Stuttgart, Germany, on July 11, 2026. Sturm, age 47, 45-7-3 with 20 knockouts, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany, was upset by split decision over 10 rounds by Granit Stein, a former German light heavyweight champion, age 33, 20-2-1 with 11 knockouts, from Kosovo, fighting out of Bayern, Germany.
The bout was billed as ‘The Last Dance’. However, the aging Sturm could now counter the come-forward pressure of his experienced, well-prepared, and game younger opponent, getting outworked by jabs, combinations, and body work at a rapid pace. Despite some counters, Sturm could not keep up with the punch count.
One judge had it 96-93 for Sturm, meaning Sturm won seven rounds on that scorecard. Sturm was overruled by scores of 96-95 and 95-94 for Stein. Why the two other judges did not have it 93-93 would mean one judge scored it five rounds to three with two rounds even, while the other judge scored it five rounds to three with one round even. Like trying to rationalize Sugar Ray Leonard versus Marvelous Marvin Hagler on the scorecards, scorecards can go different ways, even three different ways. In the United States and Great Britain, judges tend to avoid scoring even rounds, or you could wind up in 10 rounds situation such as Rocky Marciano versus Roland LaStarza I. In that contest, referee Jack Watson had scored it 5-5, but under New York’s supplemental scoring system at that time, referee Watson had the bout 9-6 for Marciano.
Born Asman Catic, Sturm, 47, held the WBA and IBF World Middleweight titles and the WBA World Super Middleweight title. Sturm turned pro in January 2001, winning a four-round decision over Antonio Ribeiro in Munich, Germany. A resident of Cologne, Germany, Sturm is married with two children.
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