by James Slater – Though no opponent has yet been announced for WBO cruiserweight champion Marco Huck’s next fight, scheduled for March 13th, one thing that is known is just how active a fighter the 25-year-old is. Fighting again just over three months after his last fight – a tough points win over Ola Afolabi – Huck must surely be one of the most hard-working “world” champions in the sport today.
Clearly on a mission to prove he is, or can be, the world’s number-one 200-pound fighter, Huck fought four times last year – with all four bouts being for either a European or “world” title – and the year before that, the Serbian-born German citizen boxed four times also, again in nothing but title bouts. It’s refreshing to see such activity from a genuine world class fighter; especially one as fan-friendly to watch as the 27-1(20) “Kapt’n..”
As much as Huck has entertained us in fights with Steve Cunningham (his only loss), Jean Marc Monrose, Victor Ramirez and Afolabi, however, it would be nice to see the WBO champ fight somewhere other than at home. Huck has yet to fight outside of Europe – with most of his fights taking place in Germany – but with his pleasing style, it’s a cinch he would go down well in the U.K and in the U.S. Huck’s next fight, though, is scheduled to take place in his adopted homeland. But who will Huck’s twenty-ninth fight be against?
In the past, Huck HAS spoken of wanting to fight in America. He has also spoken, since suffering his 12th-round TKO loss to “USS” Cunningham back in December of 2007, of wanting to get it on with another well known U.S fighter. Maybe it will be a top American on March 13th? Certainly, the unbeaten B.J Flores, who has made no secret of the fact he is desperate to get it on with Huck, will be hoping it is he who finally gets his chance in just over two months time. And that match-up sure would be a good one to see. Flores has said a number of times how he is willing to travel to Germany, so why not Huck Vs. Flores in March?
Maybe the still relatively new champion has someone else in mind instead (Huck has said he’d love the chance to avenge his only pro defeat, so maybe he will be hoping to fight the 33-year-old Cunningham next – even though the former IBF cruiser champ won an elimination bout for a shot at his old title last time out), but there aren’t too many other top names who are either not fighting or who have done so recently – attractive names like Danny Green, Denis Lebedev and others all seemingly unavailable.
Once-beaten Russian cruiserweight Grigory Drozd, 32-1(23) is, according to the latest WBO ratings as given on the organisation’s official web site, the #1 contender for Huck’s belt. Drozd hasn’t fought since July of 2009, when he forced Darnell Wilson to retire after 10-rounds. Maybe the Russian known as “Pretty Boy” will get the March date? As highly ranked and as deserving as Drozd is, however, he is no easily recognisable name.
As good and as exciting as Huck has looked, especially recently, it’s time for him to participate in a big fight with a big name. It’s to be hoped the warrior known as “Kapt’n” does so on March 13th. I know one fighter who would positively jump at the chance to take him on then!