Marco Huck, the great Houdini of the cruiserweight division! His reign from 2009 to 2015 was nothing short of a magic show, complete with disappearing tough opponents and illusionary wins. Thirteen defenses of the WBO title, tying with Johnny Nelson, and let’s not forget that brief fling with the IBO title from 2016 to 2017. But let’s be real, his most impressive trick was convincing the world he was a heavyweight contender in 2012.
Kickboxing? Oh, he was gold there – literally, at the W.A.K.O European championships in 2002 and 2003. Then he switched to boxing at 19 and, poof! He was knocking out guys left and right, building an unblemished 19-0 record. That is until Steve Cunningham showed up in 2007 and gave Huck a tour of the canvas in the twelfth round. But like any good performer, Huck knew how to make a comeback, grabbing the European cruiserweight title in 2008 and then the WBO title in 2009.
Now, about his WBO reign. Let’s just say it was… creatively successful. He had more close calls than a cat with nine lives. The first Afolabi fight in 2009? A draw that could have gone either way. The second Afolabi fight in 2012? A majority decision that made some fans scratch their heads. Then there were the Lebedev and Arslan fights, where many thought Huck was more lucky than skilled.
Speaking of the Lebedev fight in Berlin, 2010, now that was a spectacle! Lebedev was dishing out punches like a vending machine, but somehow, the judges saw Huck as the winner. It was like watching a live robbery, but instead of a ski mask and a gun, the weapon was a scorecard. Boxing fans and experts were left baffled, wondering if they watched the same fight. Lebedev wanted a rematch, but Huck had other plans, like celebrating his great escape.
Lebedev moved on to win the WBA title, while Huck continued to reign until Glowacki showed him the exit in 2015. His record stood impressively at 42-6-1 (28 KOs) as of 2023. But let’s face it, his cruiserweight tenure was more about dodging bullets than being a sharpshooter.
Huck vs Lebedev? It should’ve been a masterclass by Lebedev, but it turned into a masterclass in controversial judging. As for Huck, he avoided the real heavy-hitters of his time, choosing instead to fight the undercards of the cruiserweight world. His heavyweight venture? A commendable effort, but short of a fairy tale ending.
Ah, the Huck-Arslan saga – a tale of punches, perseverance, and perhaps pilfering of points! This bout had all the ingredients of a boxing controversy stew: a champion in Huck, known for riding the razor’s edge of victory, and Arslan, the gritty challenger, seemingly ready to rewrite his boxing destiny.
From the opening bell, it was clear Arslan wasn’t there just to take part; he was there to take over. He swarmed Huck like bees on honey, dishing out a relentless barrage of blows. Huck, looking like a man trying to dodge raindrops, was on the receiving end of a pugilistic downpour.
As the rounds ticked by, Arslan was like a man on a mission, turning Huck’s face into a work of abstract art. The crowd was buzzing, sensing an upset in the making. Arslan’s fists were relentless, pounding Huck with the fury of a scorned lover.
But alas, as the final bell chimed, and the judges’ scorecards were read, the air was thick with disbelief. Huck’s hand was raised, but the win was tainted with the stench of controversy. The crowd’s boos echoed the sentiment of many: Arslan was, of course, robbed.
So there you have it, Marco Huck, a champion more by chance than by choice, a reminder that in boxing, sometimes it’s not about how hard you hit, but how well you can convince others you did. What do you think? Was Huck a master of the ring, or a master of illusion?
the lebedev fight was a masdive robbery!