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IBF Middleweight Champion Sebastian Sylvester (33-3, 16 KOs) will face mandatory challenger Roman Karmazin (40-3, 26 KOs) in Neubrandenburg on June 5. It will be the Hurricane´s fifth fight in the East German city, having won all four previous bouts at the Jahnsportforum. “I am thrilled to be back,” Sylvester said. “The support of my loyal and euphoric home fans will help me to win this tough mandatory defence. They can certainly make the difference in a fight – once things get rough, everybody will see what I mean by that.”

Sylvester knocked out Javier Castillejo in the 12th round in their meeting in April 2008 before winning the world title with a points victory over Giovanni Lorenzo in September 2009. Sylvester made a first successful defence of his IBF belt in January when he stopped Billy Lyell. Together with his coach Karsten Rower, he is now preparing for a tough fight against Karmazin. “He is a very strong challenger,” Sylvester added. “He has a very good, a very versatile jab. It will be a difficult fight for me but I am confident of success.”