Huck looking to add record-tying defense on May 3

Photo courtesy of Photo Wende

Huck looking to add record-tying defense on May 3

Though the bruises from his January rematch with Firat Arslan may still be healing, WBO cruiserweight champion Marco Huck already has his sights set on making his next defense, one that will tie the record for the most consecutive defenses at the weight.

Huck (37-2-1, 26 knockouts) will return on May 3 at the MHP Arena Ludwigsburg, Germany. No opponent has yet to be named, according to the press release from Team Sauerland.

The 29-year old Huck has defended the WBO title he won in 2009 twelve times successfully. The only interruption to that run was when Huck moved up to challenge Alexander Povetkin at heavyweight in February 2012 for an alphabet trinket that had no real value. Though Huck performed very well, he came up just short on the cards and went back down to mostly dominating the cruiserweight division. Huck had some scares, both against Ola Afolabi and Firat Arslan, but came back in return fights more focused, earning clearer victories the next time around. Arslan was a TKO victim last month after taking Huck the distance in November 2012 in an exciting fight.

Huck might be the most consistently exciting fighter in the sport today that still doesn’t receive regular coverage in North America. Huck’s rematch with Arslan was thankfully picked up at the last minute by ESPN to showcase it on their streaming service, ESPN3.com. If networks thought of Huck as the cruiserweight Arturo Gatti and recalled some of the great cruiserweight fights they televised in the past (Jirov-Toney on HBO in 2003), you would think it was a perfect match.

For now, Huck has history on his mind rather than conquering another continent.

“It is giving me a vital kick,” said Huck of chasing history. “I am still dreaming to step up to heavyweight to be honest. But to achieve this milestone would definitely mean something special to me.”

The current record is held by Johnny Nelson, who held the WBO belt from 1999 to 2006. Like Huck, Nelson had his fair share of scares during his run, though he managed to retire the reigning champion.

“Marco did show in his rematch with Firat Arslan that he is not only one of the best cruiserweights in the world, but a great showman,” said Huck’s promoter, Kalle Sauerland. “As Marco entered the arena he was booed by about 90 percent of the crowd – and when he left, everyone was cheering him. Only a fighter like Marco Huck can do this and on May 3 we will witness it again.”

-Mark E. Ortega / @MarkEOrtega

-Managing editor at www.BehindTheGloves.com