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Tomorrow's WBA middleweight title fight in Germany between Felix Sturm and British challenger Martin Murray has less-than-surprising odds on the sportsbooks, favoring the 32-year-old German by a healthy margin in Mannheim.
[ Related: Sturm vs Murray Fight Preview ]
| Sportsbook | Sturm | Murray |
|---|---|---|
| 5Dimes | -600 |
+450 |
| BetUS | -500 |
+350 |
| Bodog | -800 |
+500 |
| SBG Global | -600 |
+400 |
| Sportsbook.com | -675 |
+475 |
Sturm (36-2-1, 15 KO) has been on this stage many, many times, as we noted in the preview linked above, while this is really a first go above pure domestic level for Murray (23-0, 10 KO). Murray is, essentially, hoping that he can do what Matthew Macklin did in June, but Murray is no Macklin, without meaning to be insulting to the St Helens fighter.
I think he's going in with the idea that Sturm showed weakness and age against Macklin, but as I've said many times, he may have showed a little age, but he also showed he can hang in on a gritty, tough fight. I don't think Sturm has declined nearly enough to lose to someone on Murray's level, particularly not fighting at home.
Anyone betting on Murray in this one, for money or just as a pick?