Tony Bellew says he will retire after one more fight, and if he somehow ends up winning it, he will definitely be going out on top. Bellew is hoping to upset the undisputed cruiserweight world champion Oleksandr Usyk on Saturday night at the Manchester Arena in Manchester, England.
Usyk (15-0, 11 KOs) holds the WBO, WBA, WBC and IBF world cruiserweight titles. It's a rare achievement in boxing, with the alphabet soup of sanctioning organizations making it difficult for any one fighter to pull them all together and claim supremacy over a division. Usyk's considered one of the best at his profession, with Ring ranking him the No. 5 pound-for-pound fighter in the world.
Bellew (30-2-1, 20 KOs) is stepping back down from heavyweight to take on Usyk.
The 35-year-old boxer says Saturday is his last night in the ring, per ESPN.com's Nick Parkinson:
"I was retired until this guy called my name, I'm hoping this is my last fight. Many could call my name but not one person could call my name while holding on to four belts being the universally recognised best cruiserweight in the world, he had too much to bargain with for me to turn down."
Here's how to watch.
Usyk vs. Bellew Fight Info
When: Saturday, Nov. 10 at 6 p.m. GMT/1 p.m. ET (main event expected 10 p.m.)
Where: Manchester Arena in Manchester, England
TV: Sky Sports Box Office (PPV, UK only)
Live Stream: Sky Box Office (PPV, UK only), DAZN (USA, subscription required)
Odds: Usyk -800 (bet $800 to win $100), Bellew +500 (bet $100 to win $500)
Odds courtesy of OddsShark.com and updated as of Thursday, Nov. 8 at 7 a.m. ET.
It should come as no surprise that Usyk is a heavy favorite. The undefeated Ukrainian is four years younger than Bellew, has a four-inch reach advantage (78" to 74" per BoxRec), has knockout power and has those four belts.
Usyk's rise to the top began a little over two years ago, when he beat Krzysztof Glowacki to win the WBO world title. Four bouts later he beat Mairis Briedis by majority decision to add the WBC strap, then followed that up with a win over Murat Gassiev in July to take IBF and WBA belts. Now, just under four months later, he's putting them all on the line against Bellew, a former WBC world champion at cruiserweight.
Usyk's extremely talented, but his opponent is no slouch. Bellew has finished his last four fights with TKO wins, including two against David Haye at heavyweight. His power can not be discounted in this fight.
Bellew believes it will help him break the champion down, per Sky Sports Boxing:
The 31-year-old Usyk is unlikely to be fazed by the power threat. He is a well-rounded fighter and can break down Bellew in multiple ways.
His sterling, extensive amateur career included a gold medal at heavyweight at the 2012 London Games. It's clear he trains hard and handles himself well.
Usyk also appears to have fun doing it, as this nifty tennis ball trick from the public workout shows, per the Press Association's Rich McCarthy:
If Usyk can beat Bellew, promoter Eddie Hearn has said they will explore a bout against heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua in 2019, per SkySports.com's Richard Damerell.
Dropping Joshua's name could well just be a bunch of talk to drum up interest for Saturday, but the question does linger. If Usyk handles Bellew with ease on Saturday, what does the undisputed champion do next? Cruiserweight is hardly a premiere division in boxing. Usyk may want to challenge himself at heavyweight, a division that always draws wider interest and one he had success in as an amateur.
Bellew may not be hinting at any plans beyond Saturday, but a stunning upset would give him four belts and plenty of opportunity for another big payday if he chooses. That said, he does really seem to be a fighter on his way out, even saying he hopes he does not make quick work of Usyk.
"I swear, I hope this fight is not over in two rounds because if I come out and land a monster punch—it would be a disaster for me because that would mean I would have more left to give," he said, per Parkinson.
It's a strange, somewhat refreshing break from the usual pre-fight chatter, where fighters tend to talk as if the complete annihilation of their opponent is a foregone conclusion.
Bellew knows his career is winding down. He's had some successes and made a name for himself, even if he hasn't spent much time as a world champion. The only fighters he has lost to were both stalwarts at the time (Nathan Cleverly and Adonis Stevenson). A win over Usyk would be huge for his legacy, but he's going to have to overcome the champion's devastating combination of skill, speed and power to do it.
Roy Jones Jr.'s legendary career rolls on this Friday night against Bobby Gunn in a showdown for the vacant WBF cruiserweight championship.
The 48-year-old Jones shows no signs of stopping, despite being far from the peak of his career when he was regarded as one of the best pound-for-pound fighters and winning 49 of his first 50 professional bouts.
At 43 years old, Gunn isn't a spring chicken stepping into the ring with Jones. He's spent time as a boxer and bare-knuckle brawler throughout his career, and this will be his first boxing match since December 2013.
| Date | Location | Event Start Time (ET) | TV |
|---|---|---|---|
| Friday, Feb. 17 | Chase Center (Wilmington, Delaware) | 6 p.m. | Pay-Per-View ($29.99) |
Preview and Prediction
Jones is in an interesting spot in his career, though that doesn't necessarily make him a prohibitive favorite against Gunn.
He bounced back from a December 2015 loss against Enzo Maccarinelli with two straight wins, but they came against Rodney Moore and Vyron Phillips. Moore is 41 years old and Phillips has one professional boxing fight under his belt.
It's impossible to judge what Jones did in those two fights because they are the equivalent of circus acts merely designed for one person to look good while the loser takes home a paycheck.
Following Jones' fight against Phillips, ESPN's Dan Rafael painted a sad picture for one of the greatest boxers in history.
"He was No. 1 pound-for-pound from about 1994 to 2004. Now he is reduced to this sort of sideshow: fighting on an $11.99 internet-only pay-per-view card in front of a live audience of several hundred against a last-minute opponent in a freak show that also included a wrestling match, a grappling match and an MMA match involving other used-up but famous fighters from each sport," Rafael wrote.
At least Gunn is younger than Jones and has a deep boxing background with 29 career fights under his belt.
At the press conference in December to announce the fight, Jones praised Gunn's ability before reminding his opponent of the many accomplishments from his storied career.
"I know Bobby Gunn is coming to bring it," Jones said, per Rafael. "He's a hard-nose, tough fighter that comes right at you, but I'm going to show him why I'm one of the best that ever did it and he doesn't belong in the ring with me."
If it's even possible to judge Gunn's recent boxing results as an indicator for what to expect on Friday, he lost his previous three bouts against Tomasz Adamek, James Toney and Glen Johnson.
The Adamek fight took place all the way back in 2009, so he's not been burning the midnight oil trying to hone his boxing skills.
Gunn did address his lack of boxing matches since 2013 in an interview with Marc Abrams of Boxing247.com.
"People can look, and think that I haven’t been active, but a fight is a fight and I have been fighting the Bare-Knuckle fights," he said. "Fighting is Fighting. The only difference in those fights is that the gloves protect the hands. Despite what it says on my boxing record, I have always been active. But the time out of the ring plus being against Roy Jones, Jr, the fans will see a different Bobby Gunn."
There's not a stark difference between traditional boxing and bare-knuckle boxing, but the lack of success Gunn has had in a boxing ring during his most recent fights doesn't paint an optimistic picture.
This feels like a fight Jones took because, similar to his previous two fights, it's a simple way to earn a victory and pad his resume.
Gunn does come with the caveat he can punch, as 18 of his 21 career boxing wins have come via knockout.
Jones has been susceptible to knockouts late in his career, including against Maccarinelli and Denis Lebedev. He can't afford to leave his chin out there against a powerful striker like Gunn.
Because Jones has a more well-rounded fighting style that can carry him through the arduous later rounds, he will come out of this with a victory.
Rodney Dangerfield, the American actor, comedian and producer, once said: "I went to a fight the other night, and a hockey game broke out."
After the late-night antics at the Echo Arena in Liverpool, England, on Saturday, it was hard not to think back to that famous quote. To tweak Dangerfield's line slightly: "Tony Bellew went to a fight the other night, and a press conference/WWE skit/pantomime broke out."
Despite retaining his WBC cruiserweight title in style on home turf, Bellew's performance wasn't the main talking point at the end of proceedings.
No, even though he dropped challenger BJ Flores four times in total on his way to a TKO victory in Round 3, Bomber's big hits couldn't overshadow what went on after the actual fighting had finished.
David Haye—a former cruiserweight world champion—was ringside working for broadcaster Sky Sports. His role on television made sense, not just because of his past experiences at the weight limit but also due to his friendship with Flores.
However, his presence was also a publicity stunt waiting to happen.
Bellew emphatically did the business in the ring and then quickly moved on to taking care of business out of it.
In fact, for a brief second, it seemed he was going to carry the fighting into the front few rows of seats, too. Paul Zanon, who was present, captured the moment:
Thankfully, his progress toward Haye—who famously scuffled with Dereck Chisora at a post-fight press conference in Germany—was cut short by security guards and members of his team.
So, instead of trading blows, the pair traded insults.
Bellew took aim at Haye and let him have it with both barrels. He told Sky Sports (h/t Matt Horan of SkySports.com) in his post-fight interview:
You see him [Haye]? He's been conning the British public since his pathetic comeback started.
The last two guys you fought are working on nightclub doors, or they're putting the bins out. You see you? You're gonna get smashed too.
With 10 ounce gloves on, I'll put you and your pathetic haircut to sleep. Brother, I'm the biggest payday you've got right now.
The verbal assault was intense yet not incoherent. Far from it. It was an impassioned call to arms sent out into the Liverpool air with the aim of goading one man to the negotiating table.
Plenty of the crowd inside the venue lapped up Bellew's performance, adding fuel to the fire as they laughed and cheered at the appropriate moments, as if prompted by cue cards held up by a stagehand positioned at the side of the ring.
Promoter Eddie Hearn smiled as he listened on at close quarters. In a matter of seconds, he had been turned into a human fruit machine, with Bellew pulling his handle in the hope that both men would hit the jackpot.
A Bellew vs. Haye bout would have three crucial little words attached to it: Pay. Per. View.
The 33-year-old former British and Commonwealth light heavyweight champion—who played the role of Ricky Conlan in the motion picture Creed—spoke so clearly that it felt like the whole speech could have been scripted out prior to his leaving the dressing room. It was WWE stuff, minus anyone being hit with a chair.
The fight with Flores was a mere aperitif served up to stimulate the appetite for what was to follow.
Bellew the bloke is a humble, family-oriented man with a love for Everton Football Club. His ability to talk sense, coupled with a sharp boxing brain, gets him regular work in the media.
Bellew the boxer, however, is an altogether different beast. As if a switch is flicked inside somewhere, he changes character completely. He becomes short-tempered and seemingly always on the edge of exploding.
The "hold me back moments" at press conferences are so common you're now surprised when they don't happen. Bellew also didn't need to brand Haye a "bitch" while getting his points across live on air.
Yet there is a method to the madness, as it seems Bellew needs a fire burning inside to function properly as a fighter.
The Liverpudlian's antics also create interest, and so long as he doesn't cross the line, that's no bad thing. Whether you love him or hate him doesn't really matter, so long as you tune in to watch.
Whatever your personal feelings on Bellew, he convincingly won on two fronts. After smashing Flores in fine fashion to keep his belt, he then followed up by challenging his No. 1 target in a public manner.
Haye had to stand and smile through the tirade. His mate was flattened early and often during the actual bout, yet here he was, all suited and booted, feeling the full force of a fired-up Bellew with a bone to pick.
Eventually, his chance to launch countermeasures came live on air while chatting to host Ed Robinson and fellow guests Carl Froch and Johnny Nelson, who looked like kids standing next to their mate straight after he'd been harangued by his mum for not tidying his bedroom before going out to play.
Per James Dielhenn of SkySports.com, Haye's response was to tell Sky Sports how he'd "probably knock him [Bellew] out with a jab."
There was a willingness on his part to accept the challenge laid down live on TV—depending on what happens with the heavyweight titles recently vacated by Tyson Fury.
When the heat dies down, the two-weight world champion may actually look to distance himself from Bellew.
According to Phil D Jay of World Boxing News, WBO boss Paco Valcarcel could throw Haye into a four-man mix, along with Hughie Fury, Joseph Parker and Andy Ruiz Jr., for the governing body's now-available belt.
Then there is Anthony Joshua. The golden ticket for any heavyweight right now, the IBF champion must be top of Haye's wish list, considering his past history with Fury—who had his licence suspended by the British Boxing Board of Control on Thursday—and Wladimir Klitschko rules that pair out of the equation.
Haye failed on multiple times to make it to the ring to face Fury, while his 2011 fight with Klitschko was so dreary that not even Derek Trotter would attempt to flog a rematch.
However, holding the WBO title could pave the way for a lucrative unification showdown with Joshua, who is still yet to confirm his next opponent.
For now, Haye has to playing a waiting game. All the summer talk of a bout with Shannon Briggs has dissipated, leaving Haye without an opponent for his next outing, which he revealed on Twitter will be on December 10.
A clash with Bellew isn't going to happen that quickly, but it could be made for early in 2017.
While not a recognised heavyweight (there's no way Haye drops back down to cruiser, a division he hasn't fought in since 2008), Bellew would pose a far greater threat than Mark de Mori or Arnold Gjergjaj, the two human punching bags Haye has faced since announcing his comeback after three-and-a-half years away from the sport.
But is this spat enough to justify the bout? Does a clash between a genuine cruiserweight world champion and a rarely active heavyweight deserve to be made, let alone headline a pay-per-view card?
Perhaps more importantly, does Haye feel the risk of putting his reputation on the line is worth it for the reward on offer?
The answer to those questions will come down to simple numbers. As BBC journalist Ben Dirs pointed out on Twitter, money makes the boxing world go round:
Be prepared for further media moments from Bellew in the near future, too. Like a dog with a juicy bone, he will not let this one go.
Denis Lebedev—the holder of the WBA Super and IBF titles—and WBO holder Oleksandr Usyk are unification options at his current weight. Mairis Briedis, meanwhile, is his mandatory challenger waiting in the wings. Then there's ex-WBC champion Grigory Drozd, who lost the belt due to injury, lurking in the background.
Yet none of those names holds the same appeal—or earning potential—as Haye, who Bellew renamed SpongeBob SquarePants.
If the display against Flores—who was even knocked out of the role of best supporting actor—was impressive, Bellew's performance in front of the microphone was a show-stealing effort, rendering the bout nothing more than an afterthought (which is perhaps no more than Flores' performance deserves).
The Bomber was right on target in and out of the ring on Saturday. Now he has to wait to see what happens once the dust settles.
Tony Bellew retained his WBC cruiserweight title by stopping BJ Flores in Round 3 in Liverpool, England, then wasted little time in calling out David Haye.
Bellew (28-2-1, 18 KOs)—thrilled his hometown crowd at the Echo Arena by knocking down his American challenger four times in total, with the finishing shot being a short left hook.
Bomber kept on launching shots after the final bell, challenging heavyweight Haye—who was working for the media at ringside—to an all-English showdown next.
In the chief support act, Luke Campbell recorded the biggest victory of his career to date by stopping Derry Mathews in Round 4.
Campbell (15-1, 12 KOs) put paid to Liverpudlian Mathews (38-11-2, 20 KOs) with some superb body shots, a final left hook leaving his rival no chance of beating the count.
Look back on the action, both in and out of the ring, by reading Bleacher Report's blog of the event:
Tony Bellew makes the first defence of his WBC cruiserweight title on Saturday, with the local favourite going up against BJ Flores in Liverpool, England.
Bellew (27-2-1, 17 KOs) finally became a world champion on May 29, knocking out Ilunga Makabu at the home of his beloved Everton Football Club, Goodison Park.
This time he's returning indoors to fight at Liverpool's Echo Arena, a venue where he claimed the British and Commonwealth belts when campaigning at light heavyweight earlier in his career.
Flores (32-2-1, 20 KOs) arrives from the United States with a similar record to his foe. Although he failed in his attempt to become the WBA's interim champion last year, losing to Beibut Shumenov on points, El Peligroso has never been stopped in his career.
BoxStat provided a breakdown of the two fighters on Twitter:
Also on the card, lightweight Luke Campbell puts his WBC Silver title—not to mention his reputation—on the line against Derry Mathews, who has the benefit of fighting in his own back yard.
Fellow Liverpudlians Sean Dodd and Rocky Fielding are also in action, while Ryan Farrag will hope home advantage can help him wrest the British bantamweight strap away from Ryan Burnett.
When: Saturday, October 15, 10 p.m. BST (5 p.m. ET)
Where: Echo Arena, Liverpool, England
TV: Sky Sports (UK)
Live Stream: Sky Go (UK)
Back in Action
Having conquered his personal Everest by winning a world title at the third attempt, Bellew now has to pick himself back up and go again.
It is hard to see how Bomber Bellew will ever top that night in May. The raw emotion in the immediate aftermath showed just what the whole occasion meant to him, particularly at a venue so close to his heart. The man who appeared in the movie Creed managed to script his perfect ending.
Except it's not the end for Bellew. So, what can he now produce for an encore?
Well, on the face of it, fighting Flores at the Echo Arena doesn't have the same appeal as his last storyline.
Still, Bellew cannot afford to slip up. He had enough attempts at climbing the mountain, so it is unlikely he would consider starting from base camp again if he were to lose his belt this weekend.
However, Flores seems to have found a way to get under the Englishman's skin.
Per Chris McKenna of the Daily Star, Bellew said: "You (Flores) said you have not made a sound since the fight was made, but the only reason you got this fight was because you opened your mouth. You said I'm not a proper cruiserweight, well on Saturday night, you're going to see what I can and can't do."
Odd as it may seem for Bellew to complain about another fighter talking too much, the spark provided by Flores has helped focus his mind.
He needs to remain in the present, too, despite talk of a fight against David Haye continuing to linger.
Promoter Eddie Hearn told David Anderson of the Mirror how a cruiserweight showdown between the duo would make "millions and millions" for Haye, despite the fact the heavyweight hasn't campaigned down at the 200-pound limit since 2008.
Unification bouts with Denis Lebedev or Oleksandr Usyk could also be in the pipeline, but Bellew confirmed to Isaac Robinson and James Dielhenn of Sky Sports he wouldn't contemplate travelling to face the former.
For now, though, Bellew has to forget about future possibilities and focus only on Flores.
Taking Centre Stage
Flores' Twitter bio includes his professional record—plus the words "NBC sports boxing analyst."
The 37-year-old's other major appearance in Britain came on television channel Dave earlier this year, as he covered his good friend Haye's comeback fight from ringside in January.
Now he takes centre stage in the main event, although a former foe, Danny Green, doesn't believe Flores' record warrants such an opportunity.
The Australian—who beat Flores on points in 2010—told Neil Devey of the Liverpool Echo: "He’s a survivor, who loves having this image of being a boxer. Who has he beaten to get this fight? It’s because he’s a TV commentator who is on social media. And in a way, good luck to him."
Green has a point; there are a lack of notable names among Flores' list of victims.
He did at least push Shumenov in July 2015, and the final scores of 116-112 from all three judges perhaps didn't do the loser's efforts justice.
But don't forget Shumenov lost to Bernard Hopkins the previous year. B-Hop, who was 49 at the time, even dropped his opponent in Round 11, albeit he eventually won by a split-decision verdict.
Still, Dave Coldwell—Bellew's trainer—is refusing to underestimate the challenger, as he told Matt Horan of Sky Sports: "One thing we must understand is that Flores is an underrated fighter, he has a very good jab and boxing brain, while he throws a powerful right and left hook. The history of boxing is littered with upsets and Flores has a chance to cause one himself, that's the beauty of sport."
Flores may not get another opportunity to win a major belt. He will likely need a career-best performance on the road to make the most of it.
Prediction
Per Odds Shark, Flores is a 6-1 shot for victory. Considering their respective records, the underdog's price looks a little high.
However, Bellew deserves to be the favourite on home turf. Crucially, he seems to have retained his focus on the job at hand, rather than get carried away by talk of fights in his future.
Bellew is always quick to predict spectacular finishes, but he's not foolish enough to become reckless in pursuit of a KO. Holding on to the title is what matters, not the manner of the outcome.
Flores' record suggests the bout could easily go the distance. However, his losses to Green and Shumenov suggest he may end up falling short on the scorecards.
Bleacher Report will provide live coverage of the main fights from Liverpool. Join our blog from 9 p.m. BST (4 p.m. ET) for updates on the action.
Enzo Maccarinelli gets a chance to reclaim the European cruiserweight title when he takes on Dmytro Kucher at the York Hall in Bethnal Green, London, on Friday.
Welshman Maccarinelli (41-7, 33 KOs) stopped Alexander Kotlobay in a hurry in 2010 to claim the vacant belt, only to lose against Alexander Frenkel in his first defence.
However, the 35-year-old is enjoying something of a late-career renaissance. Victory over Roy Jones Jr. last time out has opened the door to a fight for the vacant strap.
Kucher (23-1-1, 17 KOs) stands in his way. The Ukrainian had an opportunity to become European champion in his last fight, only to draw with Belgian Bilal Laggoune.
When: Friday, June 10, 10 p.m. BST (5 p.m. ET)
Where: York Hall, Bethnal Green, London
TV: BoxNation (UK)
Live stream: BoxNation (UK)
Changing Roles
If things had gone to plan, Maccarinelli would have been sitting at ringside as part of the media on Friday.
Ovill McKenzie was initially scheduled to face Kucher, but injury forced the former out of the contest.
As he explained to Nick Parkinson of ESPN.co.uk, Maccarinelli went from working the bill as an analyst for BoxNation TV to topping it in the main event:
I had a phone call from BoxNation TV asking if I wanted to do the commentary on McKenzie vs. Kucher and then an hour later [promoter] Frank Warren rang me up and asked if I wanted the fight because McKenzie had pulled out injured.
I'm always in the gym training so I thought, why not? If I win this and look good, make a statement, then it's a step closer to a possible world title shot. But one step at a time.
The former WBO cruiserweight champion certainly looked good in dispatching Jones Jr. in Moscow last December.
That result needs to be put into context, though. Jones Jr. is a shadow of the fighter he once was. In fact, he may even be his shadow's shadow.
Still, Maccarinelli has won three on the spin—all of them inside the distance—since ending his stint at light heavyweight with a tough loss to Juergen Braehmer in 2014.
Much happier back at cruiserweight, he is entering the twilight of a career that has been full of ups and downs.
While there may not be too many more fights left in him, the man from Swansea still believes he can mix it at the highest level. Friday should go a long way to proving just what he has left in the tank.
Second Time Around
Kucher could argue he should already have been crowned European champion before.
The 31-year-old was unlikely not to be awarded the victory against Laggoune in Belgium, as the 12-round contest was settled by some interesting scoring, to say the least.
While one judge had it 115-113 to Kucher, another official made it a draw. The third judge, however, gave home fighter Laggoune the victory by a surprisingly wide score of 118-112.
The split-decision draw meant the belt remained vacant.
Tony Bellew briefly claimed it in December 2015 by beating Mateusz Masternak on points. However, the Englishman moved on to bigger things, as he was handed the chance to challenge for the WBC belt.
Bellew became world champion on May 29 by stopping Ilunga Makabu, a fighter Kucher took the distance in 2013 before losing on a close majority decision.
That result against Makabu still remains the only blemish on Kucher's CV.
He also boasts an impressive 68 per cent knockout ratio, per BoxRec, and has experienced fighting on the road before, including three trips to the United States.
In analysing the fight, Scott Christ of Bad Left Hook wrote: "Kucher isn't some sort of devastating, massive puncher, but he's got enough power that you have to respect it, and Enzo Maccarinelli is not known for his punch resistance."
Prediction
This fight has all the ingredients to be a cracker.
When Maccarinelli's in the ring, you never quite know what will happen next. All seven of his career defeats were by knockout, albeit against good opponents.
This is a risk worth taking for Maccarinelli, who keeps himself in good shape and is experienced enough to cope with fighting on relatively short notice.
Per Odds Shark, the Welsh veteran is a 3-2 underdog. If it goes the distance, expect an upset. However, if the contest ends by stoppage, Kucher will be the one celebrating.
It seems Marco Huck and Ola Afolabi still haven't seen enough of each other in the ring. On Saturday, the experienced cruiserweight duo will go head-to-head for a fourth time.
The latest chapter in the rivalry takes place at the Gerry Weber Stadium in Halle, Germany.
Their previous bouts have all gone the distance, with Huck winning twice on points and the other bout being scored a majority draw.
On all three of those occasions, Huck was defending his WBO title. However, this time Afolabi is the one with the belt, having become the IBO's new champion by knocking out Russian Rakhim Chakhkiev in Nov. 2015.
When: Saturday, Feb. 27, 10:05 p.m. GMT (5:05 p.m. ET)
Where: Gerry Weber Stadium, Halle, Germany
TV: RTL (Germany) (BoxNation (UK—subscription required)
Live stream: BoxNation (UK—subscription required)
Cutting Corners
Huck (38-3-1, 26 KOs) will be happy to be back in action on familiar territory—he was born in Serbia but is based in Berlin—after his American debut proved to be a disaster.
His 14th defence of the WBO crown ended up also being his last—Polish southpaw Krzysztof Glowacki stopped him in the penultimate round in Newark, New Jersey, in August 2015.
The defending champion was ahead on the scorecards and had recorded a knockdown of his own in Round 6, when a left hand from the challenger in Round 11 changed the complexion of the fight.
The response to the surprise defeat was to part ways with American trainer Don House and appoint Conni Mittermeier to work his corner instead.
But, according to BoxNation, the new team hasn't even made it to the first bell. Mittermeier is no longer working with the 31-year-old, with the website reporting Varol Vekiloglu will be head trainer on Saturday.
Huck said of the late switch, per AFP (h/t the Taipei Times): "I value people and Conni Mittermeier as a coach, he got me in great form and I’m grateful to him for that. But during sparring sessions, I had the growing feeling that Varol has a better approach in stress situations."
Former boxer Vekiloglu is only 32. He posted a 21-8-1 (13 KOs) record as a pro when campaigning at cruiserweight and light heavyweight.
Still, Huck won't need his new head trainer to tell him too much about Afolabi, an opponent who has always pushed the man nicknamed Kapt'n in their previous meetings.
Opportunity Knocks
Afolabi's upset win over Chakhkiev in Kazan, Russia, was a timely one, to say the least.
The 35-year-old had previously lost to Argentina's Victor Emilio Ramirez in his attempt to become interim IBF champion in April 2015.
A second straight defeat in the same year would have left him in danger of slipping into cruiserweight obscurity.
Instead, Afolabi—who was born in London but now takes up residence in Los Angeles—overcame an early onslaught from Chakhkiev to knock out the IBO champion in Round 5.
The result opened up the opportunity for another showdown with the ever-willing Huck, albeit this time the roles are reversed.
Per Wil Esco of Bad Left Hook, Afolabi said: "I am very pleased to fight against Huck again. Our previous battles were all very exciting and close. This time though there is a big difference: I am the reigning world champion and he is the challenger. I will defend my title because I am at the peak of my career. Huck will get what Rakhim Chakhkiev got."
Kryptonite (22-4-4, 11 KOs) hasn't so far found a way to weaken Huck.
Afolabi—who is just ranked inside the top 10 by The Ring magazine—came close to beating his rival in 2012, with their second meeting seeing two officials score a bruising bout 114-114.
Prediction
The two warriors have provided three watchable battles in the past. Huck has held sway because he has been the aggressor up close, and there is no reason to think the same tactic cannot work for him again.
The reigning champion, in contrast, is unpredictable. Afolabi must make sure he does not become too defensive in the belief he can do enough from distance to retain his crown.
Huck—with his issues in the corner and coming off the back of just a second knockout loss—is there for the taking.
However, Afolabi won't seize the chance. Expect Huck to bounce back from his disappointing result against Glowacki by recording a unanimous-points triumph in Halle.
Roy Jones Jr. simply refuses to give in. The legendary American boxer continues his boxing career in Moscow, Russia, when he takes on Enzo Maccarinelli in a cruiserweight matchup.
The 12-round bout will be the 71st of Jones Jr.'s career. Astonishingly, the 46-year-old made his professional debut back in 1989.
Maccarinelli, meanwhile, finds himself cast in the role of spring chicken at the tender age of 35.
The Welshman is a former world champion at the 200-pound limit, although he has also fought recently down at light heavyweight.
The bout was originally due to be for the vacant WBA super world cruiserweight title. However, per BoxRec, no belt will be up for grabs at the VTB Arena.
When: Saturday, December 12, 11 p.m. local (8 p.m. GMT, 3 p.m. ET)
Where: VTB Arena, Moscow, Russia
TV: BoxNation (UK)
Live Stream: BoxNation (UK, subscription required)
Rolling Back The Years
It is easy to mock Jones Jr. for fighting on.
His career looked over a decade ago, when Antonio Tarver ended his aura of invincibility, but still he carried on.
When he then suffered defeats at the hands of Danny Green, Bernard Hopkins and Denis Lebedev, the time definitely seemed right to hang up the gloves.
But, since being knocked out by Lebedev in 2011, Jones Jr. has reeled off eight victories in a row. If he can extend that winning streak to nine, a crack at a world title is on the cards in 2016.
His bout with Maccarinelli will also be the first since he became a citizen of Russia.
Jones Jr.—who was born in Florida—received his new passport in a ceremony with Russian president Vladimir Putin in October.
The move is not just a publicity stunt, as Jones Jr. told Steve Bunce of the Independent: "I told the president that I was all about building bridges between the East and the West. I’m appreciated in Russia, the people are crazy about their boxing. I have never experienced anything like it."
Jones Jr. made history by becoming the first middleweight world champion to go on and win a major belt in the heavyweight division.
He also was voted Fighter of the Decade for the 1990s by the Boxing Writers Association of America, and nothing that happens now should tarnish those achievements.
Maccarinelli is a decent litmus test to see just how much someone once judged the best boxer on the planet still has left in the tank.
Perhaps, though, "Junior" should at least consider changing his nickname.
From Russia With Love
Maccarinelli (40-7, 32 KOs) is quite literally a tall order for Jones Jr.
Standing at 6'4", the Welshman will have a considerable height advantage over his illustrious opponent (who measures in at 5'11").
He also has age on his side, something he may not have expected at this stage of what has been a career full of ups and downs.
Maccarinelli was one of the brightest stars in Britain when he was WBO cruiserweight champion. Then he ran into David Haye, and everything fell apart.
A second-round TKO loss saw him in a unification bout that cost him his title, and he has never quite managed to get back to the elite level since.
Like Jones Jr., a string of damaging defeats, including a brutal knockout at the hands of Alexander Frenkel in 2010 to lose the European crown, seemed to suggest Maccarinelli's best days were behind him.
Switching to light heavyweight led to some success—he became Commonwealth champion and earned a shot at WBO champion Juergen Braehmer, only to suffer a horrific eye injury early in the contest that forced his trainer, Gary Lockett, to retire his man after five rounds.
But, Maccarinelli is not done just yet.
Back at cruiserweight again, he is ready to face a legend, per BBC Sport Wales: "He [Jones Jr.] was an amazing fighter and at one point he could probably have gone down as THE greatest of all time. But I won't be in awe of him. They call him superman and superstar, but to me he's just plain old Roy."
Prediction
A clash between two fighters past their prime wouldn't normally be so intriguing, but Jones Jr. and Maccarinelli has the potential to produce fireworks in Moscow.
Both men have question marks over their ability to take a punch, meaning the contest could come to a dramatic end at any time.
Tossing a coin might be the best way to predict a winner, although it looks fairly certain the bout won't go the distance.
Maccarinelli will be the one who lands the final punch. In what round that happens, however, is anyone's guess. Blink, and you could easily miss the finish.
