Felix Sturm vs. Robert Stieglitz: Winner, Scorecard and Analysis

Felix "The Fighter" Sturm and Robert Stieglitz battled to a draw in Stuttgart on Saturday, as Germany's most anticipated boxing match in years delivered on its promise. The duo came out swinging in the first round and kept up the pace until the final bell, leaving the ring to a standing ovation from the German crowd.

Boxing Asylum's Andy Paterson shared the final scorecard:

Boxing promoters Kalle and Nisse Sauerland confirmed Arthur Abraham would be present at the fight, via Twitter:

The 34-year-old defeated Stieglitz in their last bout and was seen as the perfect next opponent for Sturm if the latter could get past Stieglitz on Saturday.

Stieglitz came into the fight as a slight favourite, and he opened the first round with solid work to the body and several good shots to his opponent's head. Sturm answered with his patented left jab and landed two strong combinations toward the end of the round, as fans got on their feet to show their appreciation for both fighters.

The 33-year-old Stieglitz came out swinging in the second, driving The Fighter into the ropes. Sturm seemed to be in trouble after a solid shot to the body, but similar to the first round, he answered in the latter part of the second with clean punches.

Boxing Revolution was very impressed with the display:

The pace dropped slightly in the third, allowing Sturm's superior technical skills to shine. Using the peek-a-boo style, he started implementing his left hook to devastating effect, but Stieglitz responded with a strong flurry, determined to do his damage with power.

The fourth round clearly went to Stieglitz, who landed several significant punches including one massive left hook. Sturm's technical ability was still visible, but with Stieglitz pushing the pace, the question became whether the veteran could keep up until the end of the fight.

Paterson agreed Stieglitz looked the better man in the fourth:

Stieglitz appeared to tire in the fifth, getting twice caught by big right overhands and not moving his feet the way he had before. The Stuttgart crowd, who clearly favoured Sturm, started urging the 35-year-old forward.

He came back in the sixth but once again allowed Sturm to connect with some clean shots late in the round. The pattern remained the same, with Stieglitz swinging at arms and shoulders and Sturm landing clean punches to the body and head.

Stieglitz showed his character in the eighth, winning the round with aggressive, attacking boxing. The fight still appeared close on the cards, and he did some damage with his right hand for the first time in the bout.

A cut opened up near Sturm's right eye, although it appeared to be the result of a headbutt, not a punch. Stieglitz still took the round with some serious haymakers, via Paterson:

The cut worsened in the 10th, which allowed Stieglitz to increase the tempo even more going into the championship rounds.

Sturm looked completely gassed in the 11th; he was content to simply cover up and clinch as soon as he had the opportunity. The duo came out for the 12th to a standing ovation and produced one final dramatic round, swinging wild punches until the final bell.

The fight went to the cards, with the judges eventually settling for a draw. Wildpunch Boxing praised the bout:

Sturm looked much sharper and in far better shape than he did against Sam Soliman, and Abraham later told Sat 1, the German broadcaster of the event, he believed the 35-year-old won the fight.

As reported by Ring TV's Anson Wainwright, Sturm is open to a bout against Abraham at some point in the future:

"

Fighting Arthur Abraham would be an even bigger fight than the Stieglitz one. The public wanted us to step into the ring for years but it was never possible due to rival promoters and TV companies. But Abraham and his promoter, Sauerland, recently signed a TV deal with SAT.1, the network I’ve been fighting on since I became my own promoter. That, of course, makes negotiations easier. Therefore, after Stieglitz, fighting Abraham is certainly a great option.

"

Sturm's legs appeared to abandon him in the final three rounds, however, and a more accurate puncher than Stieglitz would have taken advantage. Abraham may be just out of the veteran's reach, although Sturm did surprise plenty of fans and pundits on Saturday.

But looking ahead too much for potential future fights would do this bout injustice. Sturm and Stieglitz served up a phenomenal fight that will have the German press buzzing for weeks, and after a draw, a rematch seems like a must for 2015.

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