Fight Predictions: Marco Huck vs. Ran Nakash / Robert Helenius vs. Samuel Peter
Another weekend of intriguing ring action is upon us. WBO cruiserweight titlist Marco Huck, 31-1, 23 KO’s, continues his busy campaign with a routine title defense against the undefeated Ran Nakash, a virtually invisible top-30 type looking to give it his best despite the role he has been recruited to play. At the other end of the spectrum two key heavyweights, seemingly moving in opposite directions, look to provide clarity. At 14-0, 9 KO’s, the Klitschko-sized Robert Helenius looks to continue his red hot climb towards a date with heavyweight destiny. Opposing him in the opposite corner, former WBC heavyweight titlist Samuel Peter, 34-4, 27 KO’s looks to rebound from last September’s pounding at the hands of World heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko, with the aim to ruin the forward momentum of his opponent and re-establish himself as a viable contender. RSR’s select team of writers, interviewers and pugilistic prognosticators provide you with their expert opinions on the outcomes.
Marco Huck vs. Ran Nakash
Gina L. Caliboso
Nakash is undefeated. Huck is the current WBO defending titleholder. I give the nod to Huck, but he can be sure that Nakash may be just as pressed to keep his undefeated record. Huck got a challenge in his last bout with a split decision win. Marco Huck by unanimous decision.
Brian Wilbur
Marco Huck is a serviceable fighter but not championship caliber. I credit his promoter and management (ie. carefully choosing fights) for his run as a paper champion. His next opponent Ran Nakash, though armed with a perfect ledger of 25-0, has one of the most padded and manufactured records I’ve ever seen. Huck’s management has done it again! This is a crap match up that is nothing more than a vehicle to boost’s Huck’s reputation in front of his German fan base.
I liken this fight to the old professional wrestling matches on Sunday morning. In the red corner we have 3 time WCW International Champion, former NWA Tag Team Champion, and former WWF Intercontinental Champion, the Smooth Operator, the Halloween Phantom, the man with the best body in the business, Ravishing Rick Rude!! His opponent in the blue corner, Greg Wilson. After Huck wins this match without issue, probably by late round TKO, everyone outside of Germany should look at the result ask themselves, who cares?
Geno McGahee
You have to favor Marco Huck by stoppage. Nakash has faced nobody of note with many of his victims being career losers. Huck has beaten Brian Minto, Matt Godfrey, and most recently Denis Lebedev. He is a proven commodity and he will be too much of a jump in class for Nakash. Marco Huck by 9th round stoppage.
Damien Norman
Marco Huck mid-rounds TKO.
‘Bad’ Brad Berkwitt
Marco Huck by 10th round TKO.
Donald Stewart
For me both are intriguing. I think Huck will keep his title due to “home” advantage by unanimous decision.
Mike Plunkett
It may seem as though this is becoming a habit, but I agree with Dr. Pugilist in his appraisal of Marco Huck as a fighter. In as far as his wrestling analogy, I have to concede the similarities to this match-up, yet at the same time I am happy to see it go down. Huck is a serviceable name and in today’s oft-dreary fistic climate boxing can use popular busy fighters, and if anything Huck is an active popular fighter. As for Ran Nakash his record suggests some level of skill and merit, but I’d be lying if I thought he was brought in because he had cornered the WBO cruiserweight titlist; this bout is exactly what Wilbur suggests. Look for Marco Huck to prevail exactly as ‘Bad’ Brad Berkwitt predicts, via 10th round TKO.
Robert Helenius vs. Samuel Peter
Gina L. Caliboso
I rooted for Sam Peter when he went up against Klitschko and lost by a 10 round KO. Peter goes up against a 6’6 Helenius with only 23 fights under his belt. Helenius just might learn against Peter. Peter needs to put the pressure on Helenius and work inside
Sam Peter by 12 round unanimous decision.
Brian Wilbur
Maybe this is just me being optimistic that there is a new, halfway-decent heavyweight prospect on the scene, but I think Robert Helenius takes this fight. I’ve never been on the Sam Peter bandwagon and if Jameel McCline could rock Peter to the core, Helenius can take him out. Peter is an overweight plodded with overrated power and chin. I think Peter continues with this rapid decline and gets knocked out in the middle rounds by the promising Finnish slugger.
Geno McGahee
Robert Helenius is a guy to watch. He is very tall, fights big, and has been sitting down on his punches a lot better lately. Sam Peter presents a puncher’s chance and a really big test for Helenius, but the boxing ability and size may be too much for Peter. Robert
Helenius by wide decision win.
Damien Norman
Robert Helenius by points win.
Donald Stewart
Robert Helenius will continue his heavyweight progress by beating Sam Peter in the first 6 rounds. If he doesn’t take him out by then Peter could climb back and make a fight/farce of it.
Mike Plunkett
Like many others I have never bought what they were selling re Samuel Peter. He has poor ring generalship, a less than as-advertised chin, and lacking snap in his punches. He has periodically shown up for duty in good condition but it remains to be seen if he will be in condition for this latest, dangerous assignment. At best I would label Peter as a two-dimensional clubber; his best weapon being his left jab.
Robert Helenius has been hyped as this destructive punching brute with one-punch KO power in his right hand, but truthfully speaking I have my doubts. He has an awful lot of distance wins for a guy packing so-called lights-out wrecking ball power; either he showed-up with but one arm for many of his past assignments or he’s living off of a wave of hype. Or maybe the truth is somewhere in the middle. This is about the rise of one man and the fall of another. Look for an interesting clash for the first two rounds as Peter becomes increasingly demoralized as Helenius long left jab keeps him on the outside. Somewhere bout round five Helenius will hammer Peter into the canvas with a series of short chopping right hands, and suddenly what Wladimir Klitschko so systematically caught shit for doing, Robert Helenius will be given high praise.
“Bad” Brad Berkwitt
Peter is a shot force. Helenius by UD.