Maccarinelli-Lebedev: Enzo In a Must Win Situation
July 4th, 2009
By Sean McDaniel: It doesn’t look good for Enzo Maccarinelli (29-3, 22 KO’s) as he approaches his July 18th bout against undefeated Russian cruiserweight contender at the M.E.N Arena, in Manchester. Maccarinelli, 28, has lost two out of his last three fights and appears on the verge of being sent into journeyman status with another loss.
His loss 9th round stoppage loss in March of 2009 against Ola Afolabi, in which Maccarinelli was badly hurt, would seem to speak otherwise. Afolabi is a good puncher, but not the kind of puncher that would do the damage that was done to Maccarinelli.
As if to prove that his chin is still intact, Maccarinelli has picked a fighter with heavy hands in 29-year-old Lebedev to fight. Lebedev doesn’t have the same kind of speed or power that Haye possesses, but he has the ability to cause Maccarinelli some issues if he can hold up under Maccarinelli’s early onslaught to try and catch him with something big.
It’s strange how quickly Maccarinelli’s career has turned around for the negative. A year ago, Maccarinelli was considered to be the second best cruiserweight in the division, and a future star of the sport. Now, with knockout losses to Haye and Afolabi, Maccarinelli looks as if he’s ready for the scrap heap.
Oh sure, Maccarinelli is young enough at 28 to keep fighting for a number of years and still probably good enough to beat a number of the current top cruiserweights in the division. However, his chin has failed him twice now and with big punchers in the division like Afolabi, Tomasz Adamek, Marco Huck, Enad Licina, Yoan Pablo Hernandez and Herbie Hide, Maccarinelli may not have a good enough chin to get by those kinds of fighters.
Unless Maccarinelli can change his old style of brawling and come up with a fighting style suited for his weak chin, he might be finding himself in a bad situation should he lose to Lebedev or one of the aforementioned cruiserweights.
Maccarinelli has certainly picked a great date to test what he has left of his abilities. Enzo will be fighting on the undercard of the Amir Khan vs. Andriy Kotelnik bout on the 18th, and this will give Maccarinelli a great deal of visibility.
That can be a good or a bad thing depending on the outcome of that fight. Even in winning, if Maccarinelli doesn’t look impressive enough, his stock will continue to plummet. All it takes is for him to get staggered or knocked down by Lebedev, and the fans will likely write Maccarinelli off. Losing to Lebedev, a fighter with a built up record on the backs of little known fighters, would be a fatal blow to Maccarinelli’s boxing career.
He can’t afford another loss, especially to a fighter like Lebedev. The Russian is very beatable despite his perfect record, and this should be a fairly easy fight for Maccarinelli as long as he has anything left in the tank.
Tags: 6 Responses to “Maccarinelli-Lebedev: Enzo In a Must Win Situation”
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I have to agree with to_honest_to_fake_it. Enzo is a great fighter with a big, big punch, he has a lot of power and something to prove come fight night. Lebedev is going to be a tough opponent, but if Enzo’s heart is in the right place, then i think we will see a win. Things were going wrong for him and yes he was training all on his own in a bar near to where i live in Swansea. Enzo is a great guy and a very much down to earth person. Who else can you stop in Asad and ask for a photograph!! Enzo is the man and come fight night he will silence the critics. On the other hand, i feel the critics will still not stop, but you will always have them. Look at all the other top fighters, once they lose, they are hounded like dogs by the critics. Enzo has had a great career and the 2 loses have really knocked his confidence. Once he wins against Lebedev, it’s Enzo v Ofalabi. Enzo will not make the same mistake again, mark my words. Best of luck Enzo.
enzo well past it ko defeat
His record is 29-3. I would hardly write him off just yet.
And I don’t think his problems are physical he has been hit very hard in some earlier fights but recovered to go on and win.
Haye is a very heavy hitter and one thing Enzo does not lack is courage, he faces the best.
Let’s see how the fight goes!
I dont think Enzo’s chin is questionable, i think his heart when out of boxing after Haye demolished him in 2 rounds last year. It was a fight he was convinced he’d win and to be beaten so easily in 2 rounds must do something to a fighter….. just ask Ricky Hatton!
This is def a must win fight for him, but I do already personally think that hes had his best days already and should think about retiring sooner rather than later. hes had a couple of nasty knockouts the few years and it will take its toll on him.
Enzo didnt look himself in his last fight, the fight before that was a nothing fight and the fight before that was a loss to Haye which theres no shame in.
Before that his career was rolling along nicely. So what went wrong? Are people reading too much into an off night after a different training schedule?
What ever it was it seems to of knocked his career off track big time in his eyes and in the eyes of pundits, experts and fans.
So he chose a good opponant to fight to try get him back on track in all these eyes.
But hes gotta win it to do that, its definatly a must win fight for him.