Marco Huck - "I'd fight Afolabi on the moon"

[DuransCeviche]

QandA with the marvellous Mr Huck. Hope you enjoy it



Boxing fans have already been spoilt this year but, although the fights between Brandon Rios and Mike Alvarado and Tim Bradley and Ruslan Provodnikov have provided fireworks, the best may yet be to come.

On June 8th in Berlin, long reigning WBO cruiserweight champion Marco Huck, 35-2-1 (25), takes on bitter adversary Ola Afolabi, 19-2-4 (9), for the third time and, with both men determined to end their rivalry once and for all, it is hard to imagine anything other than another toe to toe brawl.



The pair first met back in December 2009 in a tough twelve round battle with Serbian born Huck, 28, prevailing via a hard fought but unanimous decision. Last year, they renewed hostilities and produced a candidate for fight of the year. After trading punishment for eleven rounds, Huck and Afolabi went to war for the final three minutes and provided boxing fans with the most exciting round of 2012. The result was a thrilling majority draw.

The violent nature of their first two encounters has ramped up the tension between Huck and Afolabi and last week they traded insults at a lively press conference to promote the fight. With feelings running high and the history between the pair, the scene is set for a battle which could yet top the previous two.

The man they call ‘Käpt'n’ caught up with Livefight recently for his now traditional pre-fight interview and gave us his feelings on the fight with Afolabi, his crowd pleasing reputation and how to spend a summer’s day in Berlin.



LF: Firstly Marco, thanks for speaking to Livefight. How are you?

MH: I am very good, thank you. I am excited about my upcoming fight and training hard for it. I cannot wait to get going.


LF: This is the third fight with Ola Afolabi. Judging by the recent press conference, the rivalry between you seems to be becoming more intense. Is that how you see things?

MH: The tension is definitely more intense than it was before. He seems to be a bit more brash than he was during our previous fights. However, that only makes me stronger as I want to prove once and for all that I am better than him. He should be a bit more appreciative that I have given him the chance to take me on.


LF: Afolabi has been more outspoken than before your previous fights. Why do you think he has decided to use these tactics and what do you make of his threats to knock you out and put you in a wheelchair?

MH: How many people have made such statements in the past before facing me? I cannot count them anymore. So many of them have threatened to knock me out, to hurt me, to end my reign as the WBO World Champion and it was always the same outcome. I knocked them out, I defended my title. I do not take these threats serious.


LF: Although Ola has yet to beat you, the fights between you have been very competitive. Although things seem to be heated between you, I assume you have respect for him as a fighter? What does he do well? What do you think you can take advantage of?

MH: I do not concentrate on my opponents too much if I am honest. I know what I bring to the table and that is all that matters. I am a naturally strong and tough guy. I was born with huge strength and I will take full advantage of my own abilities.


LF: When you look back over the 24 rounds you have shared with Afolabi, are there any moments in particular that stand out in your memory? Can you remember a particular punch that hurt him? Has there been a moment when you have felt like things were slipping away and really had to bite on your gumshield and dig deep?





MH: When you have been in the ring with someone for 24 rounds, you will always have felt some punches. But the way you react to them is what defines you and shows if you are a real man. The most memorable and most exhausting round was the twelfth during our rematch. I really had to dig deep and push myself. In the end, it was worth it as I kept my title.


LF: Your first victory over Afolabi in 2009 was your first world title defence. This will be your eleventh. How do you feel you have evolved in that time?

MH: I think I have developed quite a lot. Speaking in boxing terms, I would say that I have become a better technician and a more rounded boxer as a whole. Looking back at some situations, I now know I would handle them completely different. Now I see mistakes I have made which I did not see back then. Those are the things you learn from and they help you to progress as a champion.


LF: Do you feel like you need to record a convincing victory to remind people that the Käpt'n still has plenty left in the tank or is the most important matter simply to get the victory, no matter how it comes?

MH: All I am concerned with is to turn this fight into a huge spectacle. I want to entertain the people inside the arena and the ones in front of the television. In my eyes a victory is a given for me.


LF: Whilst pleasing the fans, do you also want to remind people that you are more than a crowd pleasing brawler?

MH: Every single boxing fan knows that I am a crowd pleaser. My fights are never dull. I fight for the fans and they have a huge influence on my style. Whenever they are quiet, I become a bit less aggressive inside the ring. But when they start to scream and are right behind me, it gives me a huge boost and I get right into it.


LF: This will be your first fight in Berlin since your bout with Denis Lebedev in 2010. What are you expecting from the atmosphere on the evening? Huck nights are always special occasions but, with the fight being in your hometown, this could be one of the biggest nights yet.

MH: It definitely will be a night to remember. I am really looking forward to be fighting in my own city, in the capital of Germany. The fans are amazing and they will get to witness a great and exciting fight. The whole bout will be on a knife's edge. That being said I would not have minded to fight anywhere else in the world. I would take on Afolabi in England, in the US, even on the moon. I am a man and I do not shy away from any sort of challenge.





LF: As the two previous battles have been so entertaining, it is likely that a number of your foreign fans may make the trip to Berlin for the fight. As you have taken Berlin as your home town, what are 'Marco Huck's Must Do's' for fans travelling to Berlin?

MH: All the people coming to Berlin will love the city. There are so many great places to go and there is so much history. I love to stroll down the Ku'damm on a sunny day or drive down the Straße des 17. Juni. There is the Brandenburger Tor. We also have a lot of nature in Berlin. The Wannsee is the ideal destination on a hot summer’s day.


LF: There have been some spectacular fights (Rios v Alvarado, Bradley v Provodnikov) and big shocks (Robert Stieglitz's performance against Arthur Abraham and Tony Thompson knocking out David Price). What has been your favourite moment so far this year?

MH: For me the Price vs. Thompson fight was the biggest upset of the year so far. Many people did not give Thompson a chance but it came back to haunt them. Also Steve Cunningham knocking down Tyson Fury was very surprising as well as entertaining.

LF: Thank you Marco!