Huck-Afolabi III set for June 8

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Cruiserweight titlist Marco Huck and interim titleholder Ola Afolabi will meet in a mandatory fight now that their third meeting has been rescheduled for June 8 at the Max-Schmeling-Halle in Berlin, Huck promoter Sauerland Event announced Monday.

Huck and Afolabi were scheduled to meet May 11 in Germany at a site to be determined but Don King, who had won the right to promote the bout for a stunning $1.5 million at a February purse bid even though he does not promote either fighter, defaulted.

Once King defaulted (and forfeited his 10 percent deposit), second-place bidder Sauerland Event, which had offered $914,444, gained control of the fight. K2 Promotions, which promotes Afolabi, was the only other bidder, offering $375,000.

"After that was all set, we quickly came to an agreement with Tom Loeffler of K2 Promotions, who is looking after the interests of Afolabi," Sauerland Event managing director Chris Meyer said.

Under Sauerland's bid, Huck is entitled to 80 percent of the money ($731,555) with Afolabi getting the remaining 20 percent ($182,889).

"I'm glad that we have finally arrived at this point," said Germany's Huck, who lives in Berlin and will be making his 11th title defense. "I will be fighting in my backyard. Ola Afolabi is a tough nut to crack. However, he won't be causing me that much trouble again. I will prove who is the best in Berlin."

Huck (35-2-1, 25 KOs) outpointed England native Afolabi (19-2-4, 9 KOs) in a 2009 title defense in Ludwigsburg, Germany, and also retained the title in a May 2012 majority draw in Erfurt, Germany in one of the best fights of the year. Because of the draw, the WBO ordered a third fight.

The fight will be Huck's first under a promotional contract extension he recently signed with Sauerland Event that binds them to the end of 2014.

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Dan Rafael

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• ESPN.com boxing writer since 2005
• Writes pound-for-pound rankings
• Five years at USA Today