More than a year after the verdict, Felix Sturm begins his prison sentence. The former boxing world champion was sentenced to two years and four months in prison in an appeal process at the end of 2021. Sturm only made his sporting comeback in February.
Former world boxing champion Felix Sturm has started his prison sentence for tax evasion and violating the anti-doping law. "I can confirm that he began his detention voluntarily on February 28 and that he is in open custody," said prosecutor Stephanie Beller. The 44-year-old storm was not available on request.
In December 2021, Sturm was sentenced to two years and four months in prison by the Cologne Regional Court. At that time, the court had reduced the original sentence by eight months in an appeal hearing. "You have to be satisfied with the result," Sturm said after the verdict was announced.
The athlete had appealed to the Federal Court of Justice (BGH) against the first judgment passed against him in April 2020. He referred the case back to the District Court for a retrial. Sturm had already spent nine months in custody in 2019. In April 2020, the district court sentenced Sturm, whose real name is Adnan Catic, to three years in prison. According to the results of the investigation, the boxer withheld around one million euros from the German tax authorities in the years 2008 to 2010 and 2013. Furthermore, Sturm was found guilty of doping and intentional bodily harm.
The former boxing world champion had also recently made an appearance again in sport. In mid-February, the 44-year-old defeated the Allgäu-based Turk Sükrü Altay on points in a comeback fight in Stuttgart and celebrated his 43rd victory in his 53rd professional fight. The difficult way to recommend yourself via the world rankings for a world championship fight and possibly to be crowned world champion for the sixth time is "a nice option", said Sturm. But it's not particularly realistic.
