Marco Huck talks to Livefight

11.05.2012

By @John_Evans79


For some time now, the cruiserweight division has been the battleground for some of boxing's most entertaining battles. The weight class may lack the kind of star names that ply their trade some 40lbs down the scale and the glamour of the giants who reign above them but pound for pound, it is the fighters at 200lbs who deliver the most thrills.

Nobody embodies that notion more than WBO champion Marco Huck. The 27 year old has spent the first half of the year embroiled in a one man campaign to dominate 2012’s “Fight of the Year” conversations. Having come up just short in a thrilling attempt at ripping away Alexander Povetkin’s WBA heavyweight belt in February, Huck, 34-2-1 (25), dropped back down to cruiserweight and got straight back to work. Last Saturday, ‘Käpt'n’ ‘retained his title with a majority draw after a bruising twelve round brawl with old rival Ola Afolabi.

Now enjoying a well deserved break, Huck took a few moments to speak to www.livefight.com to discuss the fight and his hopes for the remainder of the year.


LF: Congratulations on another great fight Marco. How do you feel?

MH: Thank you very much. I am already feeling better. I would not have thought that the fight against Povetkin would have been so exhausting.


LF: You seem to be on a one man mission to win the 'Fight Of The Year' award! What did you think of the result?

MH: All I can say is that I am an all-action fighter. I was simply being very tired and fighting the mandatory challenger, still holding on to my title makes me proud of myself. I still think that I won the fight.

LF: How tough was this fight? You seemed to work very hard after falling behind early?

MH: This fight was not as hard as the bout against Povetkin. I was really surprised by my lack of energy. The experts and fans know that I am normally extremely dynamic to deliver big punches from the start but it just wasn't there. I was more fighting with myself than Afolabi.


LF: Has Afolabi improved since your first fight?

MH: Surely, he has improved since then but he still has not fought the best Marco Huck out there. I was really impressed with my own showing as I was not at my best and still pulled out it out in the end. I couldn't even breathe in the last rounds. It was like fighting under water.


LF: What did he do that caused you problems?

MH: He didn't cause me any problems - I was causing problems for myself.

LF: What was the key to turning the fight around?

MH: I overcame myself.


LF: Did your trainer Uli Wegner play an important part?

MH: My coach helps me a lot but inside the ring you are on your own.


LF: If the final round had been 30 seconds longer, do you think you would have knocked him out?


MH: Maybe, I really do not know about the final round as I was happy when the bell rang. Though, in round nine I may have had a chance if it would have lasted 30 seconds longer.


LF: How did you feel physically after losing the weight you had gained to fight Povetkin?

MH: No, it was not about making weight this time but about not having had the proper time to recover from the gruelling battle against Povetkin.


LF: After facing Povetkin you only had a short break before beginning training for Afolabi. Will you now take a break or would you like to plan the next fight straight away?

MH: I learned from the Afolabi fight. Now I will have some time off and relax.


LF: Would you like that next fight to be at cruiserweight or would you like to campaign at heavyweight?

MH: I just do not mind.


LF: Are there any names you would like to fight?

MH: No, no one. I guess that from now on I am the guy being chased.


LF: Would you like to fight in England? You have a growing number of
supporters here.

MH: Yes, I would love to have a fight in the UK because the people over there know that I am all about heart and guts.

LF: Thanks Marco!