Fans in Ingolstadt witnessed a thrilling battle on Saturday night as hometown fighter Granit Stein came up just short against Mexico’s Diego Carmona after ten hard-fought rounds.
The event, held at the Maritim Hotel and broadcast live on DAZN, marked a major night for Fides Sports, who recently signed Stein and brought a big boxing card back to the city. Fighting for the WBA Continental super middleweight title, Stein entered the ring determined to deliver in front of a sold-out crowd.
The atmosphere was electric long before the opening bell. Tickets had been completely sold out for weeks, a significant achievement for German boxing promoters in the current climate. Expectations were high — and the main event absolutely lived up to them.
Stein starts strong
Stein carried momentum into the fight after an impressive win in Stuttgart last December, where he claimed a WBC belt with an aggressive and emotional performance. But this time the challenge was even bigger.
Carmona was far from an easy opponent. The Mexican had already proven his toughness in previous fights, including a close contest against unbeaten prospect Serkay Cömert in 2024. Known for his endurance and pressure in the later rounds, Carmona arrived in Ingolstadt ready for a war.
Early on, however, Stein looked in complete control. He pushed forward from the start, taking center ring and forcing Carmona backwards with relentless pressure. The local favorite dictated the tempo in the opening rounds and landed the cleaner shots while keeping the Mexican constantly on the defensive.
As the fight progressed, Carmona slowly began finding his rhythm. By the third round he was landing more consistently, though Stein continued pressing the action and keeping the pace extremely high.
Momentum swings late
The fight changed dramatically in the second half. What started as a tactical contest turned into a brutal exchange of power punches as both fighters dug deep.
Stein’s aggressive approach began to take a toll around the sixth round. The pace remained intense, but Carmona appeared fresher and started taking over key moments of the fight. Still, Stein refused to back down and continued trading heavy shots with the Mexican challenger.
The tension rose even higher in round nine when Stein briefly hit the canvas, although the referee ruled it a slip rather than a knockdown. Carmona sensed an opportunity and tried to finish the fight, but Stein responded with incredible toughness, firing back and energizing the crowd with wild exchanges.
In the final round, Carmona again looked sharper and more active. Moments before the bell, Stein raised his hands confidently, only to be dropped once more in a controversial sequence that also was not ruled a knockdown. Replays suggested their legs became tangled during the exchange, which likely influenced the referee’s decision.
Split decision ends dramatic night
After ten action-packed rounds, the judges returned a split decision in favor of Carmona. One judge scored the fight 96-94 for Stein, while the other two had it 97-93 for the Mexican.
Although Stein fell short in his hometown, the performance earned him plenty of respect. Both fighters delivered an entertaining and emotional battle that could easily be remembered as one of Germany’s best fights of the year.
Speaking after the bout, Stein remained calm despite the disappointment.
“Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose. It wasn’t a one-sided fight. I follow the honest path in this sport, and it was a good fight,” he said.
Stein also praised his opponent and openly called for a rematch.
“Thank you for the fight. You are a true warrior and I wish you the best. Hopefully we can do this again,” he said — a sentiment many fans in Ingolstadt would likely support.
The full event is available to watch on DAZN, PRIME FIGHT, FightPlus.EU and VIASPO
