He recaptured the belt the following year by beating Manny Siaca then made defenses against Siaca, in a rematch, and Julio César Green before losing a split decision in a unification bout to Sven Ottke in Germany, 2003.
Sven Kramer | Sven-Göran Eriksson | Sven Nykvist | Sven-Ole Thorsen | Sven Hedin | Sven Hannawald | Sven Väth | Sven Otto Littorin | Sven Ottke | Sven-Erik Bäck | Sven Epiney | Sven-David Sandström | Sven Wollter | Sven Windahl | Sven Tumba | Sven Markelius | Sven-Ingvars | Sven Elvestad | Sven and Lene Grønlykke | Sven Andersson | Sven Thorell | Sven Stolpe | Sven Selånger | Sven Scheuer | Sven Otto Svensson | Sven-Olov Sjödelius | Sven-Olov Lawesson | Sven O. Kullander | Sven Nilsson | Sven Magnus Aurivillius |
After the other Dane Mads Larsen lost his fight to Sven Ottke, Markussen was demanded by the Danish media to win fight against the undefeated German.