08.06.09 – by James Slater – 24-year-old European cruiserweight champion Marco “Kapt’n” Huck is a fighter known for being exciting and explosive. Currently sporting a fine 25-1(20) pro record – with the sole loss coming in a IBF title challenge against Steve “USS” Cunningham – Huck is definitely world class.
Very much wanting another shot at becoming a world champion, the all-action puncher who was born in Yugoslavia but now lives in Germany will first make another defence of his European belt.
Very kindly taking time out to answer the following questions via his interpreter Frank Bleydorn (who kindly set up the following Q and A session), Marco had plenty to say..
James Slater: I appreciate your time, Marco. Will your next fight likely be against Firat Arslan, and do you have any idea of the date?
Marco Huck: I hope to fight against Firat Arslan. First of all that fight should have gone ahead on May 9, but Firat called off the fight because of an injury. So I fought against Vitaliy Rusal and won. Now I have to see if
Arslan is fit again.
J.S: Are you looking to keep on defending your European belt, or do you hope for a second world title shot soon?
M.H: I´m proud to be the European Champion. But of course it´s my goal to win the world title. I think I´m ready for it. And I´m sure my chance will come again.
J.S Just talking about your only career loss, to Steve Cunningham – are you desperate for another fight with him and a chance for revenge?
M.H: I think both of us would do it again. But you know, there has to be the right money on the table for such a fight.
J.S: You have been called one of the most exciting cruiserweights in the sport; do you always pride yourself on giving the fans a great action fight?
M.H: That´s right. I always try to show my fans a spectacular performance. I do my best to please the crowd in the ring. Therefore a lot of people like my style. I´m very happy about that.
J.S: At age 24, how far off you physical peak do you think you are?
M.H: I think I can improve everything about the way I fight and perform. The best age of a fighter is between 26 and 30. But I hope I can accelerate the progress.
J.S: About the loss to Cunningham again – did you learn a lot from the loss to Cunningham, and has it made you a better fighter?
M.H: First of all I have to say that Steve Cunningham was a true champion in that fight. It was not only his performance. He and his whole team presented themselves in a very exemplary way. After the fight I had to realize that I was not ready for the title. The problem was, I saw myself as the upcoming champion already before the fight and I forgot, that other people work hard, too. I learned from Cunningham that I have to change a few things in my life and I have to take care that nothing should distract me from my goals. In addition to that I noticed that I have to train harder, to more effective and to be more focused.
J.S: Which win to date was your best, do you feel?
M:H: That is not so easy to say. I think for example, my fight against Michael Simms was a good one. It was in the end of 2005 and I was not so powerful as I am right now. But my fight against Vadim Tokarev in 2007 and the last one against Vitaliy Rusal were also good ones.
J.S: Can I ask you about your amateur career. Did you fight in kick boxing? And were you a world champion at kick-boxing?
M.H: Yes, I was 18 years old, when I became kickboxing world champion in France. Then I decided to move to boxing. I made only 15 fights [as an amateur] before I got the offer to become a professional fighter.
J.S: Who do you spar with usually? And who have you sparred in the past?
M.H: In the Max-Schmeling-Gym in Berlin we have a lot of good cruiserweights; like Yoan Pablo Hernandez, Alexander Frenkel and Jimmy Kapanov, who I work with. But before my fights I have also other guys to spar with.
J.S: Looking ahead, what is your absolute “dream fight?” Who would you really like to fight one day?
M.H: There is nothing I can really tell you about that right now. At the moment my goal is to become world champion. Never mind against whom. When I have the belt then I can think about my dream fight.
J.S: Do you make cruiserweight easily?
M.H: That is no problem for me. I only have to miss my lunch before the weigh-in, then everything is all right.
J.S: So will you stay at cruiserweight, or will you one day move up to heavyweight?
M.H: I´m only 24 years old, so I´m young. For that reason, in the meantime I have only eyes for fighting at cruiserweight. But you never know. I believe I would also be a good heavyweight.
J.S: All but 2 of your fights have been in Germany. Do you have any plans to ever fight in the US or the UK?
M.H: To fight in the UK or US would be great. I think, for example, that a real world champion has to prove himself abroad.
J.S: Who would you say your boxing heroes are, Marco?
M.H: Every world champion who is well grounded and shows a good heart to his environment is a kind of hero for me. I respect all champions who are like that
J.S: Thank you very much for your time. For my final question, who do you think is the best cruiserweight in the world right now?
M.H: Of course, it’s me! And now is the time for me to show it.