A decision has been made: WBO Cruiserweight World Champion Marco Huck (36-2-1, 25 KOs) will rematch Firat Arslan (33-6-2, 21 KOs) on January 25 in Stuttgart, Germany. Actually, the second encounter between Huck and Arslan should have gone forward on September 14. However, the defending champion suffered a hairline fracture to his left elbow in his final sparring session and was not capable to fight this weekend.
“I promise that I will give it my all in preparation of the new fight date and to be in top shape by early next year,” said Arslan, who turns 43 on September 28. “This will be the hardest fight of Marco Huck’s career to date!”
The WBO titlist is also happy that the fight will happen in January 2014. “First of all it was important to me that the doctors are optimistic about the healing process. I need to be at a 100 percent,” confirmed Huck. “I will train the same way as I did for September 14. Come January 25, I will be in the best shape of my life.”
***Huck verbally counters Arslan: dream on, Firat – I am the champion!***
1/13/14 – January 25 will see WBO World Champion Marco Huck to fight compatriot Firat Arslan for a second time. Prior to the rematch of their first fight nearly 15 months ago, which saw Huck escaping with a narrow win on points, the tension is rising – especially between champion and challenger.
Arslan was first to put forward, stating at last Wednesday’s media day: “I am feeling like the world champion since my first fight against Marco, which I actually won. Now it is time to collect my belt from him.”
However, Huck is not having any of it and counters verbally: “Dream on, Firat – I am the champion! But as I am not heartless, I did make a picture of my belt and signed it with a personal dedication for you.”
The 29-year-old is in good spirits: “My stamina as well as my physical strength is reaching new heights. My explosiveness is unquestionable and I also advanced in terms of technique and tactics.” And what does Huck think about his opponent in comparison: “Firat Arslan cannot have a better performance than in our first meeting. With 43 years of age, he flags slow but steady. In comparison, I draw closer to my prime.” He is going to hold his media day this Tuesday.
The taunting between Huck and Arslan starts to increase. January 25 is going to show, who will follow up his words with action.
Tickets for the big fight night at the Hanns-Martin-Schleyer-Halle in Stuttgart, Germany can be purchased at www.eventim.de and www.easyticket.de.
As in September, I once again ran out of gas in the 10th & 11th championship rounds of October & November with this column, but I recovered to complete them and will unleash a few more flurries to close out the 12th and final round.
In the first week of October, Hassan N’Dam won a UD over Curtis Stevens in an eliminator for the right to challenge Jermaine Taylor who defeated aging Sam Soliman to regain the IBF Middleweight title. How Taylor even earned this title shot is another story altogether, but it is all irrelevant as he is now the champion. However he will not have too much time to savor his victory as he has assault and battery charges pending against him and an upcoming court fight that may turn out to be the toughest fight of his life, just when things started to look up for him in boxing, we wish him luck.
