Boxing In Germany: Huck Wins European Title In Bielefeld

It was war in the ring last night at Seidensticker Halle in Bielefeld as the European Cruiserweight Championship was waged with great ferocity between defending titlist Jean Marc Monrose and former world title challenger Marco Huck for twelve rounds.

Monrose sought to take away the challenger’s height advantage by turning the bout into a phone booth clash and it worked to a degree, putting Huck onto the backfoot and on the defensive early.

But Huck learned a great deal in his failed bid to unseat IBF Champion Steve Cunningham last year and the 23 year old Bielefeld resident focused on not getting hit and patiently waited for opportunities.

And the free-swinging European Champion gave away those opportunities as he came in and was picked off time and time again by flush shots from Huck but the challenger wasn’t able to dent the Frenchman’s impressive chin until the twelfth and final round when the action was called to a halt at 1:17 of the frame.

Huck improves to 22-1 (17) and becomes the new European Cruiserweight Champion while Monrose drops to 24-2 (15).

European Super Middle Champ Karo Murat, 18-0 (11), made his first defense with a gutty 12 round majority decision win over motivated challenger Gabriel Campillo, 16-2 (6), of Spain.

France’s European Union Light Middle titlist Christophe Canclaux, 37-2 (23), stopped opponent Albert Starikov, 11-10 (4), in the sixth in a non-title bout while cruiserweight prospect Geoffrey Batello, 17-0 (14), stayed perfect with a third round KO of Walter Palacios, 19-16-2 (11).