IBF middleweight champion Daniel Geale of Australia defeated Felix Sturm on a split decision to take the German's WBA title in their unification bout on Saturday night in Germany. Judges Stanley Christodoulou and Dave Parris both scored the bout 116-112 in favor of Geale, while Eugene Grant gave it 116-112 to Sturm. Geale also won his IBF belt on a split decision in Germany, and he was making his third defense of the title he won by beating Sebastian Sylvester in Neubrandenburg last May. Geale improves his record to 28-1 with 15 KOs. Sturm, a German of Bosnian descent, drops to 37-3-2 with 16 KOs after the 33-year-old's first defeat since 2006.