Arthur Abraham (36-4, 28 KOs) is ready to shine again. On August 24, the former IBF Middleweight and WBO Super-Middleweight World Champion steps into the ring, eager to earn himself another title shot. At the Sport- und Kongresshalle Schwerin, Germany, he will face-off with WBO number eight rated Willbeforce Shihepo (20-6, 15 KOs).
This will be do-or-die for Abraham, because only a win over the “Black Mamba” can secure him another shot at the WBO Belt, which he lost against Robert Stieglitz earlier this year.
Abraham does not underestimate his rival.
“When somebody is ranked inside the top-10 of the WBO ratings you have to think of him as being a worthy opponent. So I will not take him lightly”, said the hard-punching man from Berlin.
“I have to be at my best to beat him, becoming the WBO Intercontinental Champion. Moreover, it is my chance to get another shot at Stieglitz. I want to become a world champion again!”
However, Shihepo also knows what is on the line. He is leaving no stone unturned to not only surprise the favorite but to shock him.
“I have put all my effort into the preparation for this fight and been ready for more than two months”, stated the Namibian. “I am just waiting for the bout to come to put up a war!”
Nevertheless, Abraham has also a special motivation to beat Shihepo. Ten years ago, on August 16 in 2003, the 33-year-old turned pro. Therefore, a win in Schwerin would be double the pleasure.
