Huck beats Arslan to retain WBO cruiser belt

German boxer Marco Huck. AFP FILE PHOTO

HALLE, Germany – German cruiserweight Marco Huck successfully retained the WBO title for the 10th time with a unanimous decision win over compatriot Firat Arslan on Saturday.

The decision was greeted by a chorus of boos, as the crowd felt the 42-year-old Arslan had done more than enough to beat a man 15 years younger.

Arslan, a southpaw, forced the initiative throughout, and rocked the defending champion with a left uppercut to leave him with a bloody nose in the second round.

Huck finally gave a response in the seventh and eighth rounds, but the elusive Arslan appeared unbothered, even raising his arms in triumph after the ninth.

Huck finished strongly before the judges awarded it 115-113, 115-113 and 117-111.

Huck improved to 35-2-1 (25 KOs), while Arslan dropped to 32-6-2 (21 KOs).