Boxing: Masoe to finally defend world title

New Zealand's Maselino Masoe faces an enormous challenge when he makes the long-awaited first defence of his World Boxing Association (WBA) middleweight title in November.

Masoe, 39, will fight German Felix Sturm at Leverkusen on November 26, 18 months after stunning Nigerian Evans Ashira by TKO to become just New Zealand's second world champion.

The Samoan-born fighter has twice provided evidence of wrist injuries to side-step mandatory defences against another German, Bert Schenk, while battling contract issues over his management.

He is now trained by Australian Noel Thornberry and has signed a contract with American promoter Don King.

Sturm represents an huge threat to the title, having lost just once in his 25-fight career, to modern great Oscar De La Hoya last year.

Many observers believe Sturm was robbed by the tight judge's decision that went against him.

The World Boxing Organisation Inter-continental champion, Sturm is 7cm taller and 13 years younger than Masoe and will be fighting in the town of his birth.

Masoe is perhaps the more powerful puncher, with 25 of his 26 wins coming by knockout. He has lost twice in a professional career dating back nine years.

That power was evident when the Auckland welder knocked down the previously unbeaten Ashira three times at Miami in May last year to win in the second round.

In doing so, he became the only New Zealand world boxing champion since Bob Fitzsimmons more than 100 years ago.

Ranked well down the world pecking order at the time, his shot at the big time came when American Bernard Hopkins was granted "super champion" status, making the title vacant.

Masoe, the brother of Hurricanes Super 12 rugby forward Chris Masoe, represented American Samoa at three Olympic Games.

- NZPA