On Saturday night, Marco Huck retained the WBO cruiserweight title when he beat Firat Arslan in Halle, Germany. Making his tenth defence, the champion won on points – 115-113 on two cards and 117-111. The decision was greeted by a chorus of boos, as many spectators felt the 42-year-old Arslan had done more than enough to beat his German compatriot, who is younger by 15 years.

"This fight was the biggest scam I have ever seen. It's a disgrace," Arslan's coach, Dieter Wittmann, said.

Arslan, a southpaw, forced the initiative throughout, after rocking Huck with a left uppercut to leave him with a bloody nose in the second round.

Huck finished the third with a flurry of punches to rouse the crowd, and he responded again in rounds seven and eighth, but the elusive Arslan appeared unbothered, even raising his arms in triumph after the ninth.

Arslan's intensity then dropped slightly and Huck finished strongly. Former WBA cruiserweight title holder Arslan, who dropped to 32-6-2, 21KOs, was furious.

"I've never experienced anything like this decision. I've seldom landed so many clean punches and he only scuffed me," Arslan said. "How can such a thing happen? This kind of thing is ruining boxing. I think the whole crowd believes I'm the winner. I've been robbed of my win. I would have been the new world champion today. I would have written history."

Huck, who may face mandatory challenger Ola Afolabi for the third time in early 2013, brushed off any discussion of a robbery.

"It was hard work. He fought like a lion; worked very hard," said Huck, who improved his record to 35-2-1, with 25 knockouts. "I'm not a judge. I think I landed more punches."