FRANKFURT, Germany — Fedor Chudinov of Russia defeated former middleweight champion Felix Sturm of Germany by split decision for the vacant WBA super middleweight title on Saturday.
Two judges awarded it 116-112 and 118-110 in favor of Chudinov, while another awarded it 116-112 to Sturm, despite him rarely troubling the undefeated Russian but for a brief flurry in the sixth and seventh rounds.
Sturm, who lost his IBF middleweight title to Sam Soliman of Australia by unanimous decision in May 2014, was sent sprawling back against the ropes with a left-right combo at the end of the ninth round, and might have been knocked out in the next, only for Chudinov to lose his mouthguard allowing him some respite.
Chudinov improved to 13-0 (10 KOs) while the 36-year-old Sturm dropped to 39-5-3 (18 KOs).
