17.12.06 – For once, Marco “Captain” Huck (17-0, 13 KOs) could not stop an opponent. Still the 22-year-old talent clinched the vacant EU cruiserweight title as an infuriated Pietro Aurino stormed out of the ring in round two after being deducted two points for a deliberate headbutt. It spelled a shameful end to what could have been a spectacular fight. “I feel very sorry for the fans,” a disappointed Huck said afterwards. “I´m sorry for his unsporting behaviour. He felt that he could not beat me tonight. If he felt he could win this fight, he would not have left the ring.”
It was a heated brawl from the first bell on, with Aurino immediately continuing his pre-fight provocations from the press conference. He kept punching after the end of the first round and only missed the referee by inches. Huck cleverly displayed his huge punching power with deliberate – and powerful – attacks. Just before the second round came to a close, he pinned his opponent in his corner with another flurry of punches. When the referee failed to separate the duo, Aurino headbutted Huck into his face. The two-point-deduction then prompted him to storm out of the ring in disgust – only for his management to restrain him and sent him back. But it was too late. “Rules are rules”, manager Wilfried Sauerland explained. “The referee was left with no other choice but to disqualify Aurino. It´s a shame for the fans. We tried to continue the bout but it was not possible.”
Coach Ulli Wegner, who has turned the former kick-box world champion into a legitimate contender in less than two year´s time, was as stunned as everybody by Aurino´s antics. He said: “I have never seen something like this before. Aurino used to be a world-class fighter. He realized he could not beat Marco so he started to provoke him. I am sad for the fans and the millions on TV.”
Huck knows there are bigger things ahead for him now. “This was the ticket,” he vowed. “I want to be world champion one day.”
On the undercard, former European champion Sebastian Sylvester continued his march back to the top as he retained his WBA Intercontinental title with a eighth-round stoppage of Peter Mitrevski Jr. A straight right to the head spectacularly dusted the Australian middleweight.
“Everything went according to plan. I am pleased with my performance,” Sylvester said afterwards. “I knew I was going to win after three or four rounds.” He eventually picked up speed in the sixth and continuously punished Mitrevski with quick shots to the head. His dominance then told in the eight when he delivered the knock-out punch.
Sylvester, who had lost his European crown to Amin Asikainen back in June, is now in for a rematch with the Finn. “Sebastian is back,” manager Winfried Spiering said. “Today he showed that he has got the potential to be a world champion one day.”