On Saturday in Germany, at long last the much anticipated World Boxing Super Series tournaments are under way. First up is top ranked cruiserweight Oleksandr Usyk meeting longtime divisional king Marco Huck in a crossroads fight on Huck’s adoptive home turf. The rest of the first round will take place over the next two months for both the cruiserweight and super middleweight tournaments.
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Marco Huck (40-4-1, 27 KOs) had his first world title fight a decade ago now when he attempted to lift a belt from Steve Cunningham. Though he lost via a final round stoppage, Huck entered the world stage that night and has never really left it. Two years later in 2009, Huck picked up the WBO belt and ran with it for five years and thirteen successful defenses. In that time he beat fighters like Denis Lebedev, Ola Afolabi, and Firat Arslan.
Yet, it is the one loss during that reign that stands out to me. In 2012, Huck moved up to heavyweight to attempt to lift the WBA belt off Russian star Alexander Povetkin. I thought it was a fool’s errand, but it nearly was not. While Marco left that night with a narrow decision loss, in my eyes that bid at glory did more for his legitimacy as a top fighter in the sport than most of the defenses for his cruiserweight belts. It didn’t hurt that it was a terrific fight.
Recent years haven’t been as kind to the longtime champion, however. Two summers ago Huck attempted to set a new cruiserweight record in his United States debut with his fourteenth title defense. It was not to be. Lesser known Polish challenger Krzysztof Glowacki scored a shocking come from behind knockout win to end the reign of Huck. Though the Serbian born German fighter rebounded with two wins over decent cruiserweights, his next bid for a belt against Mairis Briedis ended in a one sided decision loss in April.
30 year old Oleksandr Usyk (12-0, 10 KOs) doesn’t figure to be any easier for the somehow still only 32 Huck. Longtime a significant amateur, Usyk represent Ukraine at both the 2008 Olympics and the 2009 World Championships. His breakthrough came during the 2011 World Championships, however, when he won gold at heavyweight. Repeating this at the 2012 games in London cemented his status as one of the best amateur fighters in the world.
Given all the amateur success, Usyk turned pro with very high expectations and he has mostly lived up to him. By his eighth fight he was blowing out a top 25 cruiserweight in Johnny Muller. By fight number ten the Ukrainian sensation was in for his first world title attempt. Appropriately to set the stage for this Usyk/Huck matchup, Oleksandr was in with the very same man who lifted the title off Huck one year earlier in Krzysztof Glowacki.
Oleksandr Usyk dominated that night as he has every fight now for a long time. The only time I have seen him even come close to struggling was the first couple rounds against Michael Hunter in Usyk’s second and most recent defense. For about three rounds, Hunter was able to out slick the titleholder, but it didn’t last. Usyk’s pressure eventually broke him and it was a beating by the end.
Really that is who Oleksandr Usyk is, a very talented pressure fighter. When he was rising up there was this idea that he was more of a destroyer, but that doesn’t seem to be who he is against world class competition. Stylistically here, I do think Usky finds a late round stoppage still though. Huck is a rapidly aging 32. Physically he is older than that number in terms of wear and tear. Furthermore when Huck is at his best, he is an aggressive mauler. This sometimes leads to excitement and sometimes leads to awkward clinchfests depending on how his opponents respond. Unfortunately for Marco and his quest to reclaim his WBO belt, I suspect Usyk will respond by punching him a lot until the referee is forced to intervene.
Now the bad news. A few days out from the start of the WBSS and we still have no American television deal. I really have to question if we are going to get one at all. As great as the tournaments look, no one is really known in them to American audiences. With the tournaments reportedly only being for sale as whole blocks instead of selling the individual parts, I am just not sure who would pick it up at this point. ITV has the broadcast in the UK, however, so at least there is an English language broadcast for us to pursue.
