By Luke Furman

Cruiserweights Marco Huck and Ola Afolabi are ready to go to war once again, this time on February 27th at the Gerry Weber Stadium in Halle, Germany. RTL will televise the IBO championship contest.

The two boxers clashed on three occasions in the past and all three of their fights were close and exciting to watch.

In 2009, Huck won a twelve round unanimous decision over Afolabi. The went to a twelve round majority draw in their 2012 rematch, and Huck won another twelve round unanimous decision in their trilogy fight in 2013.

Huck (38-3-1, 26KOs) returns after suffering his first loss as a cruiserweight since 2007. He was knocked out in the eleventh round by Krzysztof Glowacki. Both fighters were making their American debut in the bout. Huck was up on the scorecards at the time of the loss.

Afolabi is returning from a fifth round knockout of Olympic gold medal winner Rakhim Chakhkiev last month in Kazan, Russia.

"I must make it up after my last fight. I didn't show what I can really do and he got me at the end. It won't happen again. I'm getting ready with my new coach. On the 27th of February I will be in top form when I rise to the ring. Ola and I have fought in the past three times and they were very hard fights that delivered, and all of them were decided in the final rounds. But now I want to close this chapter with an early knockout to end this once and for all."

Afolabi (22-4-4, 11KOs) said: "I am very pleased that once again I get to compete against Huck. Our previous battles were all very exciting and close. This time, there is a big difference: I am the reigning world champion and he is the challenger. I will retain my title, because I am at the peak of my career. Huck will feel exactly what my last opponent Rakhim Chakhkiev felt."

Luke Furman covers boxing for bokser.org.