by James Slater – Due to how much of a success the Show Time “Super-Six” tournament has been, involving as it is six of the best 168-pound fighters in the sport, it was inevitable a tournament would take place in another weight class. And, according to Sauerland Promotions, who have spoken to ESPN.com, a cruiserweight version of “Super-Six” is now being worked on.
The names set to be involved if all goes to plan are: Steve Cunningham, Marco Huck, Krzysztof Wlodarczyk, Steve Herelius, Denis Lebedev and Yoan Pablo Hernandez (if he wins his next fight, scheduled to be against a TBA, possibly B.J Flores?) So, although this line up is not as star-filled as the super-middleweight tourney, it’s clear to see the possible match-ups will result in exciting fights..
Perhaps the most intriguing of the potential match-ups is a rematch between world champions “USS” Cunningham and “Kapt’n” Huck. Cunningham, who recently singed up with Sauerland, is the only man to have beaten Huck; stopping him in the 12th and final round back in late 2007. Ever since then, the now 25-year-old Huck has craved revenge, and what better stage would there be for him to try getting it on, than in a massive tournament fight?
Huck, fresh off his dominant stoppage win of Matt Godfrey, said he feels great and that he can’t wait to unify the 200-pound titles. Sauerland said the WBO champ will be back in action in December, with Huck’s planned unification bout being the opener for the tournament. No word yet on who Huck will face in the unification bout, but wouldn’t it be great if it were Cunningham?
Can the man who was in over his head three years ago, and who has improved so much since, get revenge? Could we even be on the verge of a three-fight series between Huck and Cunningham? The 200-pound division is pretty exciting right now, with champions from America and Europe vying for the distinction of being the best. The names being mentioned for the six-man tournament are good enough already, but maybe other names, such as the winner of the upcoming Enzo Maccarinelli-Alexander Frenkel clash , will be added too.
ESPN.com’s Dan Rafael suggests the tournament, if it is actually put together (fingers crossed), will probably not wind up on Show Time like its predecessor. Of interest mostly to European fans, HBO would not get involved either, Rafael feels. Maybe no U.S TV network will support the tourney, but it doesn’t mean the action won’t be great.
The 200-pound division has always played second fiddle to the heavyweights and this is unlikely to change even if this tournament gets the green light and becomes a smash hit. But maybe, just maybe, the heavyweights will take note and a “Super-Six” between the sport’s big guys will get made. Now wouldn’t that be something!