By Jason Kim: His German handlers keep lining them up and WBO cruiserweight champion Marco Huck (33-1, 24 KO’s) keeps knocking them down one after another. On October 22nd, Huck faces number #15 ranked World Boxing Organization contender Rogelio Omar Rossi (17-1-1, 11 Ko’s) at the Arena Ludwigsburg, Baden-Wirttemberg, Germany.

Rossi, 29, hasn’t lost a fight in the past four years, but he also hasn’t really faced anyone either, which is perhaps why he’s ranked only #15. It’s this ranking that may have helped get him this title shot, because Huck hasn’t been into taking on top five contenders for awhile. Huck’s last opponent, Hugo Hernan Garay, was also ranked number #15.

Huck defeated him by a 10th round TKO. His opponent before that Ran Nakash, was ranked #10, and Huck defeated him by a 12 round decision. Huck hasn’t faced a true number #1 since he got what many boxing fans felt was a gift 12 round split decision over Russian Denis Lebedev last year in December. Huck isn’t eager to get back in the ring with Lebedev, which is perhaps why we’re seeing Huck face number #15 ranked opponents in consecutive bouts and a #10 ranked contender before that.

Huck should be able to defeat the 6’6″ Rossi without too many problems and move on to his next opponent. Hopefully, it’s not another #15 ranked contender. That’s getting really old. He needs to face his number #1 contender at some point. Ola Afolabi is currently ranked number #1.

Huck defeated Afolabi by a 12 round decision two years ago, but really struggled in that fight. Afolabi has been training a lot with Wladimir Klitschko, and has really improved since then. It’ll be interesting how Huck will do against Afolabi in a rematch if Huck faces him in 2012.