by Karl Freitag

In an interesting matchup, WBA regular heavyweight champion Alexander Povetkin (24-0, 16 KOs) retained his title with a hard fought majority decision over WBO cruiserweight champion Marco Huck (34-2, 25 KOs) on Saturday night at the Porsche Arena in Stuttgart, Germany. Both fighters are in the Sauerland Event stable, but not particularly friends. The crowd was very pro-Huck. Povetkin drew first blood in round two. The well-schooled former Olympic gold medalist Povetkin fought a consistent pace while Huck, who had only a handful of amateur fights, relied on wild attacks and had some success. The bout was very close through the first six rounds. The 20lb weight difference didn’t seem to be a problem for Huck, as both fighters were rocked in the seventh. Povetkin seemed to be tiring a bit in the eighth. Huck connected with a few big rights in the ninth. Still anyone’s fight entering the championship rounds. Povetkin’s punches did more damage in the eleventh, but Huck rocked Povetkin with a big right in the twelfth and staggered him again at the bell. Scores were 114-114, 116-113, 116-112.

“I underestimated him,” said Povetkin afterward. “Maybe I didn’t take this fight seriously enough.”

Huck stated, “Povetkin had a good performance, but [at the end] he couldn’t even stand and was still declared the champion. I think many of those who saw the fight saw me as the winner.” Huck’s trainer Ulli Wegener added, “I told Marco ‘you have a chance for a KO win.’ He was gone. Just one more right and he was finished!”