Marco Huck vs Matt Godfrey Preview

Joseph R. Holzer previews Saturday's cruiserweight battle between Marco Huck and Matt Godfrey.

Matt Godfrey isn't a global road warrior. In fact, last time he ventured outside the U.S., he received the only blemish on his record by unanimous decision against Rudolf Kraj in Germany. It was also Godfrey's first bout with "Iceman" John Scully as his official trainer.

"I wouldn't say we got robbed," Scully said of the excursion. "I would say that if we did a couple things a bit differently -- and especially I would say that if they were to have a rematch now -- that Matt Godfrey would beat him."

The confidence shared by fighter and trainer has been a catalyst in Godfrey's next leg of his journey to cruiserweight supremacy. On Saturday, Godfrey (20-1, 10 KOs) returns to Germany, this time against WBO titleholder Marco Huck.

It is Godfrey's first bout in nearly a year. His last was a split-decision win over Michael Simms on Sept. 12. Since, Godfrey has had a showdown with the No. 1-ranked Steve Cunningham canceled in March, after a change of venue deviated his training schedule.

Now he faces an opponent with a different skill set than Cunningham. In Huck (29-1, 22 KOs), he will be in the ring with not only a home-country favorite, but a dangerous puncher.

The months between the previously scheduled bout and Saturday's have benefited Godfrey, according to Scully.

"The Cunningham fight was called off on a Tuesday, and he started running and going back to the gym the following Monday," Scully said. "So he took a very short time off, relatively speaking. He's done a lot of boxing since his last fight with some very strong, talented and capable guys, so I think the lay off wont affect him as much as it would have had he just been laying around training sporadically."

Huck, 25, is on a tear since a 12-round TKO loss to Cunningham, notching 10 consecutive wins, only two of which by decision. This is against a group of fighters whose collective record is 185-11, not including a showcase bout against a 2-6 fighter. That is about as impressive a 10-fight streak as anyone can have.

And against Godfrey, 29, Huck is at home. He's fought there for all but one of his professional bouts (the other was in Switzerland). He has the crowd and the title. And Germany hasn't been known to give visitors favorable scorecards if bouts go that far.

But Scully firmly states Godfrey is ready, even if he has to assume the role as villain for a day.

"(Matt) jumped at the opportunity, no questions asked, no hesitation," Scully said. "He wants a big chance at a big name and this was the one that came up. He already had a good physical base to him from the training he did for the Cunningham fight that fell through so the timing of the offer was very good."

Scully dismisses ring rust being a factor for Godfrey. Huck has fought thee times since Godfrey's last bout, but Scully said his fighter is eager to capture the strap on the line.

"If anything, this fight may have mentally put him in a better place because he is facing a guy with a reputation for being more dangerous and unpredictable than Cunningham was seen as being," Scully said.

"Not as talented but more physically threatening and dangerous," the trainer added.

According to The Ring magazine's cruiserweight rankings, Huck is No. 3 and Godfrey is No. 10. There have been whispers throughout the boxing community of a tournament a la Showtime's World Boxing Classic involving the overlooked weight class. There is certainly enough variety as nationality is concerned, not to mention a range of styles.

"If we win this fight we probably wont have any interest in (a tournament) unless Steve Cunningham is in it, too," Scully said. "He's the guy you'd have to beat to gain world wide respect and confirmation as the best in the division."

The winner of Saturday's bout might have his name penciled in as Cunningham's next opponent, which would suit both considering aforementioned circumstances.

The sad part is the fight isn't available on an American outlet. It's certainly a Boxing After Dark-caliber bout, but no one had enough interest to provide fans with a live feed.

Whatever the case, it is a quality bout and a win by Godfrey will shake up the rankings and likely catapult the affable cruiserweight into the top-5 of the division.

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