Felix Sturm, 45, returns to the ring again in February against Benjamin Blindert

German veteran Felix Sturm, 45, is scheduled to return to the ring on February 15. Facing the former middle and super middleweight beltholder inside the Ratiopharm Arena in Neu-Ulm, Germany, will be Benjamin Blindert.

It is almost 20 years since Sturm, 44-6-3 (19 KOs), came to worldwide prominence when he was unlucky not to get the verdict over Oscar De La Hoya in a defense of his WBO middleweight strap. He was last seen in the ring in December 2023 when he halted Sukru Altay in nine rounds.

Sturm, who endured four years out of the ring following a win over Fedor Chudinov in 2016 after testing positive for steroids, remains hopeful he can secure one last world title shot.

Blindert, 14-1-2 (10 KOs), is 38 years old and has been a professional since 2016. His sole defeat came in his most recent bout – last June – when he was halted in the eighth by Alexander Rigas in what was Blindert’s first encounter scheduled for 12 rounds. Before that he twice fought Siarhei Huliakevich, being held to a draw on both occasions. Even at the age of 45, Sturm represents a significant jump in class.

In the co-feature, former IBF middleweight titlist Vincenzo Gualtieri, 23-1-1 (8 KOs), takes on Alexander Pavlov, 22-4 (16 KOs), in a rematch. Gualtieri won a majority decision over 10 rounds back in 2020.

Pavlov has since scored upset wins over the likes of Markos Nader and Thoms Piccirillo. However, he was stopped in three by Gualtieri’s stablemate Etinosa Oliha in September.

The event is promoted by Sturm Box Promotion and Agon Sports.