Huck sets sights on Glowacki after Afolabi win
BERLIN: Marco Huck has set his sights on regaining his WBO title after his technical knock-out win over Britain’s Ola Afolabi gave him the IBO cruiserweight belt. Huck became a world champion for the second time on Saturday night when Afolabi, 35, retired after failing to come out for the 11th round in Halle, west Germany.
Afolabi’s left eye was swollen shut by the seventh round as the London-born fighter now based in Los Angeles lost the title he only won last November. Now Huck, 31, wants a rematch against Poland’s Krzysztof Glowacki, who took his WBO cruiserweight belt off him with an 11th-round knock-out in New Jersey, USA, last August. That was Huck’s first defeat in six years and after 13 defenses. “I really wanted to fight him straight away, but now more than ever,” said the 31-year-old Huck, a Serbian-born German, as he chases Glowacki for a rematch.
“We offered him a bag of money, but he didn’t want it.” Huck was happy with his third victory in four bouts against Afolabi and was pleased with his preparations, despite splitting with two coaches since last August. Having won the world belt of the IBO, the smallest of the world boxing organizations, Huck is now targeting a belt from one of the four big bodies: the WBO, WBC, WBA and IBF. “The training paid off. I have been very diligent and now you have the result,” he said. “I’m back again and it’s an indescribable feeling. “When I have trained well, no one can beat me in the ring.”
McIlroy tops Rooney
In another development, Carl Frampton defeated Scott Quigg on a split points decision to become the WBA and IBF super-bantamweight champion Saturday and guaranteed fellow Northern Irishman Rory McIlroy a night out at Wayne Rooney’s expense. Frampton triumphed after 12 rounds in front of a 20,000 sell-out Manchester crowd courtesy of 116-112 counts in his favour by two judges, with the other giving it to local fighter Quigg 115-113. The hotly-anticipated bout also led to a good-natured Twitter duel between golf star McIlroy and Manchester United striker Rooney. “Both top fighters mate but @scottquigg for me. How about the loser pays the bill next time your in Manchester?” challenged Rooney on Twitter on the eve of the fight.
McIlroy retorted: “You’re a legend Wayne but it’s @RealCFrampton all the way!” And as soon as the victory was confirmed, the four-time major winner and former world number one golfer gleefully claimed his prize. “YESSSS!!!! Well done @RealCFrampton! Fought a smart fight. Get your wallet out @WayneRooney!!,” tweeted the 26-yearold. Frampton paid tribute to Quigg with whom he had fought a fierce war of words in the build-up to the fight-over the choice of dressing rooms. “That’s the end of all the disrespect-from my side anyway,” he told the BBC. “I’m proud to have beaten a very good fighter tonight. He was a worthy champion.” Both McIlroy and Rooney had plenty of time to watch Saturday’s fight. On Friday, McIlroy missed the cut at the Honda Classic in Florida while United and England skipper Rooney is currently sidelined with a knee injury.