Five weeks later than originally planned the two fighters will finally come face-to-face in Bamberg after the champion was flattened by the flu on the day of the fight. “Arthur is in great shape,” Wegner lauded. “He has worked very hard and very disciplined. The postponement did not affect his form at all.” After needing a last-second work-out session to make weight the last time out, the champion is already very close to the limit now. “Making weight can be very hard but great athletes have to live like nuns. Arthur did just that,” Wegner added.

Meanwhile, Arturo Marquez, Raul´s father and coach, believes Abraham ducked out of the first meeting. “He was not sick,” Marquez stated. “He underestimated Raul when seeing him in America. When he analysed the tapes more closely he saw how strong Raul really is and then he did not want to fight him anymore.” King Arthur replied with an ironic smile:
“Yes, I am so scared that I did not dare to fight him.” And then he added: “Everybody can say what he wants ahead of a fight. I will give my answer in the ring.”

Just like Abraham (27-0, 22 KOs), Marquez (41-3, 29 KOs) also claimed that the postponement did not affect him – much on the contrary. “I am in even better shape than five weeks ago,” the mandatory challenger stated. “The postponement was not a problem, even though I would have fought had I turned sick. We flew back to the US, made a one-week break and then returned to practice. Everything has gone very well. Neither the time difference nor the long flights have bothered me. I am in great shape.”

Wilfried Sauerland once again pointed out that it was impossible for Abraham to fight on October 4. “Of course we were all surprised and shocked when we heard the news,” the manager stated. “I have experienced something like that before when Graciano Rocchigiani fought Michael Nunn. But if the boxer is sick it does not make any sense for him to enter the ring. Now I am really looking forward to Saturday night. It will be a very interesting fight.”