By Adam Fillingham: Marco ‘the captain’ Huck (25-1, 20 KO’s) will be entering the ring once again on August the 29th against once defeated Victor Emilio Ramirez (15-1, 12 KO’s) for the WBO world strap at the Gerry Weber Stadium, Halle, in Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany. Huck has been chasing a world title shot since his defeat at the hands of Steve Cunningham a long 2 years ago for the IBF title.
Since that defeat Huck has gone on to fight a handful of credible opponents to warrant his no.2 place in the WBO rankings, although he is not ranked in the top 15 by any of the other three organisations. How can this be when you look at the opponents he has defeated.
Leon Nzama
In his first fight he took on the Zambian Nzama, who had at the time had a record of 2 wins with 6 defeats. You cannot blame Huck for wanting to take it easy in his first fight back. He knocked him out in the fifth round.
Frantisek Kasanic
Next up was Slovakian champion Kasanic. At that point he had a record of 12 wins with 2 defeats. The fight was for the IBF- Inter-Continental belt, which in theory would make the IBF (international boxing federation) stand up and take notice but they haven’t. Huck won by way of knock out in the ninth round.
Jean Marc Monrose
Huck next took on the EBU european champion Monrose who had just knocked out unbeaten Johny Jensen in the first round. Monrose at the time had a good record of 24 wins with only one defeat which came on his debut many years ago. Huck came out and easily boxed the tough Frenchman before knocking him out in the 12th and final round
Fabio Tuiach
Stepping up in competition Huck took on the unbeaten in nine fights Tuiach. The Italian was no match for ‘captain’ Huck and was knocked out 2:22 of the second round. Tuiach had a record of 22 wins with only 1 defeat.
Geoffrey Battelo
Huck’s next mandatory defence was against unbeaten Belgian Geoffrey Battelo. Battelo was well out of his depths and Huck used his fantastic left jab to set up his offence against the 29 year old before knocking him down and out in the third round. Geoffrey Battelo had a record of 18 wins with no losses.
Vitaliy Rusal
Finally Huck took on hard hitting, unbeaten, Ukranian Vitaliy Rusal (who had 23 wins with no defeats). Once again Huck used his enormous left jab to set up his offence and blasted his way to a fifth round victory.
Now the WBO have done Huck a great justice in giving him a number two spot in there rankings but why are the WBA, IBF and WBC not even ranking him in the top 15 after three defences of his European crown? Its a puzzling one that i cannot answer. Do they know something that we and the WBO don’t. We will have to wait and see when he comes up against the big, former heavyweight Victor Emilio Ramirez.
Ramirez has some good boxing skills and very good power, but he does lack in speed and this could be his down fall. Also he likes to come forward and isn’t great at working from the outside which could work in favour for Huck with his superior left jab.
Prediction
I think after watching a few fights of both men I will give it to Huck in a 10th round KO. He will only do that if Ramirez lets him jab away all night and wear the Argentine down. Huck will have to have his whits about him though as Ramirez pack some real power and always, always has a punchers chance.
Hopefully this fight will then set up fights with Ola Afolabi and no.1 ranked Grigory Drozd.
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