European middleweight champion Sebastian Sylvester has set the bar high for 2008. On the Povetkin undercard in Berlin, the 27-year-old German (27-2, 13 KOs) will defend his European belt against Frenchman Francois Bastient (33-5, 15 KOs). However, he is already thinking ahead. “I want to become world champion this year,” the Hurricane stated. “2008 will be my year.” First things first, though, and on January 26, Sylvester will try to take care of business against Bastient. The fight will mark the second defence of the European title he won back from Amin Asikainen last June. A points victory over Simone Rotolo then helped him to move further up in the rankings. Even though he is already thinking about a world title shot, his full focus is on Bastient. “That is going to be a tough fight,” he assessed. “He can really take a few shots and keeps marching forward, much like (former European super-middleweight champion) Danilo Haussler. I have to be on alert and will try to outbox him.”  Sylvester feels he is ready to make further noise on both sides of the  ocean. “Some people might think it´s enough to be a European champion, but I certainly have higher goals. I am ready for a world title shot. I am capable of fighting the likes of Kelly Pavlik or Felix Sturm.”