Berlin, 9 September 2017 – At the Max-Schmeling-Halle, Oleksandr Usyk proved once again why he was the man to beat in the World Boxing Super Series. The Ukrainian southpaw delivered a commanding tenth-round stoppage victory over seasoned German veteran Marco Huck to retain his WBO Cruiserweight title and advance to the semi-finals of the tournament.

From the opening bell, Usyk’s movement and precision were the defining factors. The Olympic gold medallist circled Huck with deft footwork, switching angles and striking with unerring accuracy. Huck, making his 21st world title appearance, sought to roughen the pace and impose his trademark aggression, but he struggled to close the distance against Usyk’s superior reach and rhythm.

The first few rounds set the tone: Usyk jabbed sharply, keeping Huck off balance, while the German attempted to find his timing with looping rights. By the third round, it became apparent that Usyk was operating several gears above his opponent, dictating the range and tempo at will. His left hand repeatedly pierced Huck’s guard, and the body shots began to take a visible toll.

In the middle rounds, the champion’s dominance grew more pronounced. Huck, ever defiant, continued to press forward but found himself walking into clean combinations. The eighth round saw a turning point — a frustrated Huck lost a point after striking Usyk when the Ukrainian slipped to the canvas. That moment only spurred the champion further, as he tightened his control and began to punish Huck with a flurry of unanswered blows.

By the ninth, the former two-time world champion was under severe pressure. Usyk’s combinations came from every angle — straight lefts, hooks, and uppercuts — landing with clinical precision. Huck, known for his durability, showed grit but was visibly fading. His once fiery attacks were replaced by desperate clinches and wide swings that found nothing but air.

In the tenth round, Usyk went for the finish. With Huck pinned against the ropes, the Ukrainian unleashed a relentless barrage, mixing head and body shots until referee Robert Byrd stepped in to halt the contest at two minutes and eighteen seconds. The stoppage preserved Usyk’s unbeaten record, taking him to 13–0 with 11 knockouts, and reaffirmed his position as the number one seed in the tournament.

Huck, now 40–5–1, showed the heart of a warrior but could not overcome Usyk’s energy, accuracy, and technical mastery. The bout marked a changing of the guard in the cruiserweight division: the younger, sharper Usyk dismantling the veteran with methodical brilliance.

It was a clinical performance that showcased everything defining about Oleksandr Usyk — speed, skill, and relentless control. For Marco Huck, it was a brave but punishing night against a champion operating at the peak of his powers.

In the end, Oleksandr Usyk stood victorious, retaining his WBO Cruiserweight crown with a tenth-round stoppage over Marco Huck, in a display that underlined the Ukrainian’s emergence as one of boxing’s elite technicians.