Usyk, known for his happy and friendly demeanor, explained his feelings towards Huck:
"My weakness is I love people, I love my opponent. Only one of my opponents I don't love. It's Marco Huck. Bad guy, because this man says bad words about my mama. It's bad."
The incident Usyk referred to happened back in September 2017. The two fighters were gearing up for their World Boxing Super Series quarter-final, where Usyk was set to defend his WBO cruiserweight title. The build-up to the fight was marked by bad blood between the two boxers, culminating in Huck's offensive remarks about Usyk's mother.
Usyk's career has been nothing short of spectacular since turning pro after winning gold at the 2012 London Olympics. He became the undisputed cruiserweight champion in 2018 before moving up to heavyweight. His heavyweight journey has been equally impressive, with wins over Derek Chisora and two victories against Anthony Joshua, securing three world titles.
In 2023, Usyk stopped Daniel Dubois and then went on to become the undisputed heavyweight champion by beating Tyson Fury in May 2024. He successfully defended his undisputed title against Fury in a rematch last December.
Now, Usyk is preparing for another rematch, this time against Daniel Dubois. All four major heavyweight belts will be on the line. If successful, Usyk will make history as the first man to become a two-time undisputed heavyweight champion in the four-belt era.
Despite his remarkable achievements and the high-stakes fights he's been in, it's telling that Usyk singles out Huck as his only disliked opponent. It shows how deeply personal attacks can affect even the most composed athletes.
DAZNBoxing/status/1940702766823100623" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Usyk's comments about Huck were shared by DAZN Boxing on social media
, giving fans a rare glimpse into the usually jovial champion's more serious side. As Usyk continues to dominate the heavyweight division, his ability to maintain his cheerful demeanor in the face of adversity remains one of his most admirable traits.