Stieglitz to defend WBO title against Isaac Ekpo

Nigerian pugilist, Isaac Ekpo (22-1, 16 KOs), will take a shot at the World Boxing Organisation (WBO) super middleweight belt on October 19 when he faces current champion, Robert Stieglitz (45-3-0, 26 KOs), at the Messe Halle in Leipzig, Germany.

Robert Stieglitz

Ekpo (30), a member of the Nigerian Olympic team in 2004, has been dismissed by analysts as no threat to the Russian slugger, but the Nigerian is not resting on his oars and has begun training for the bout.

The Ghana-based boxer acknowledged the huge task facing him but has vowed to follow in the footsteps of Nigeria’s boxing greats like Dick Tiger, Hogan Kid Bassey and Simon Peters.

“My country has produced great boxers like Dick Tiger, Hogan Kid Bassey and Simon Peters (all former world champions) and it has always been my dream to emulate them so I’m definitely happy to get this chance,” he said. “I know the assignment is a very tough one against a world champion and an experienced veteran but I’m confident I can put up with whatever he throws at me.

“I promise to do my best no matter how difficult. I just have to stay focused for 12 rounds.”

Ekpo will, however, need more than focus through the 12 rounds, if he is to make good his vow to wrestle the title from the experienced Stieglitz.

Stieglitz first won the title on 22 June 2009 when he defeated Karoly Balzsay by TKO in the 10th round. Balzay was taken from the ring to the hospital on a stretcher with his neck in a brace.

Stieglitz later defended the title against Ruben Eduardo Acosta, Eduard Gutknecht, Mexican Enrique Ornelas, Khoren Gevor, Henry Weber and Nader Hamdan.

The Russian lost the 168-pound belt on August 25, 2012, but rebounded with a win over Michal Nieroda on January 26, 2013, before avenging his loss to Abraham and regaining the WBO Super Middleweight Championship with a fourth-round knockout on March 23, 2013.

His first defense in his second reign as WBO Super Middleweight Champion was a tenth-round TKO win over Yuzo Kiyota on July 13, 2013.

Speaking at a press conference on the scheduled defence against Ekpo, Steiglitz said; “We did preliminary analysis of the challenger Isaac Ekpo. He’s aggressive and muscular.”

His trainer Dirk Dzemski added,” Isaac Ekpo is hungry, can hit hard – this will be an exciting thing that you must take very seriously.”