Jul 5, 2008 - 9:38 AM
0 shoutsHALLE, Germany (Ticker) -- WBA middleweight champion Felix Sturm is eager to set the record straight when he takes on Randy Griffin for the second time in nine months.
After 12 entertaining rounds in October 2007, the American challenger Griffin surprisingly earned a draw against the German title-holder, with the judges scoring it 117-114, 114-114 and 114-115.
The duo will now battle it out again in Halle on Saturday night.
"I have looked at the fight from last year a few times," Sturm said. "Nobody can be content with a draw, especially not me. That is why I immediately asked for a rematch.
"I want to get past this. I am enormously motivated because this fight is all important for me. ... In the past few months I have become stronger and have learned from my mistakes. From the beginning I will set the tempo and throw many more punches."
Sturm (29-2, 13 KOs) is coming off a seventh-round stoppage of Australia's Jamie Pittman, while Griffin (24-1, 12 KOs) has not been in the ring since their first meeting.
Yet the American is extremely confident he will get the better of his opponent this time out, even predicting a knockout victory.
"I feel I am in very good condition and have prepared myself very well," Griffin said. "I owe Felix the chance of a rematch. I have closely analyzed the last fight and know I can stop Felix - I predict the 10th or 11th round."
Griffin also vowed to win the title for his family following his father's death.
"I think a lot about my family because my father passed away on Christmas Eve," he said. "This is additional motivation for me."
Whoever wins has 120 days to defend the title against mandatory challenger Sebastian Sylvester. The European middleweight champion earned the world title shot by knocking out former champion Javier Castillejo, who lost the title to Sturm in the 12th round during their April 2007 clash.
The fight which previously topped the bill in Halle, the rematch between WBA heavyweight champion Ruslan Chagaev and Nikolai Valuev, was called off last week after Chagaev ruptured his Achilles tendon in practice.
