Enzo Maccarinelli has revealed his secret weapon ahead of his interim WBO World Cruiserweight title challenge – a dozen beer barrels. But unfortunately for opponent Ola Afolabi, the Welshman hasn’t been downing them in training, merely using them to improve his strength and conditioning.

Balancing the half-full kegs above his ahead has helped to increase his core muscle power, as has beating car tyres over and over again with a sledgehammer.

It was a technique that Big Macc used before his last fight, a two-round demolition of heavyweight Matthew Ellis.

And now he is hoping it will help him to victory over highly dangerous Afolabi at the M.E.N Arena on the big Amir Khan-Marco Antonio Barrera card in Manchester on March 14.

“I’ve tried lifting weights before but it’s not really my kind of thing,” said 28-year-old Maccarinelli, who is 29-2 (22).

“So when a pal of mine suggested something a bit different I jumped at the chance.

“It’s a bit tempting to crack open one of the barrels after a hard day’s training, but I’ll leave that until after the fight.

“I’m desperate to get in the ring and take out all my frustrations on Afolabi.

“2008 was a bit of a disaster after I lost to David Haye and then couldn’t win back my old WBO title.

“But 2009 is going to be my time. I hear that Afolabi is a bit of a nightmare and very dangerous, but that’s just what I want.

“I want to face the best and beat the best, so as far as I’m concerned bring on the 14th. I am going to unleash hell once I get between those ropes.”

Tickets, priced at £40, £50, £75, £100, £150, £200 and £300, are available from the following outlets:

See Tickets
0871 220 0260
www.seetickets.com

Ticketline
0844 888 9991
www.ticketline.co.uk

M.E.N Arena
0844 847 8000
www.men-arena.com

Amir Khan Boxing
01204 535 332
07817 559 450
www.amirkhan-boxing.com

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***PAY PER VIEW DETAILS***

Amir Khan v Marco Antonio Barrera is live on Sky Box Office and in high definition on Sky Box Office HD on Saturday 14 March from 9pm. The bill also includes Nicky Cook v Roman Martinez and Enzo Maccarinelli v Ola Afolabi . To order ‘Coming of Age’, a night of live boxing call: 08442 410 888

Integrated Sports is distributing three 12-round championship bouts featured on the “Kahn-Barrera” card, presented by Frank Warren, in North America for live viewing at 4 PM/ET – 1 PM/PT on cable and satellite pay-per-view via iN Demand, TVN, DirecTV and Dish Network in the United States, as well as Viewer’s Choice and Bell TV in Canada, for a suggested retail price of only $24.95.

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***FIGHT CARD***

THE WBA INTERNATIONAL AND VACANT WBO INTERCONTINENTAL LIGHTWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIPS
12 X 3 Minute Rounds at 9st 9lb (135lb)
AMIR KHAN (Bolton, England) vs. MARCO ANTONIO BARRERA (Mexico City, Mexico)

THE INTERIM WBO CRUISERWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP OF THE WORLD
12 X 3 Minute Rounds at 14st 4lb (200lb)
ENZO MACCARINELLI (Swansea, Wales) vs. OLA AFOLABI (California, USA)

THE WBO SUPER-FEATHERWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP OF THE WORLD
12 X 3 Minute Rounds at 9st 4lb (130lb)
NICKY COOK (Dagenham, England) vs. ROMAN MARTINEZ (Puerto Rico)

THE COMMONWEALTH LIGHT-MIDDLEWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP
12 X 3 Minute Rounds at 11st (154lb)
BRADLEY PRYCE (Newbridge, Wales) vs. MATTHEW HALL (Manchester, England)

THE VACANT WBA INTERNATIONAL SUPER-MIDDLEWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP
12 X 3 Minute Rounds at 12st (168lb)
PAUL SMITH (Liverpool, England) vs. RASHID MATUMLA (Tanzania)

8 X 3 Minute Rounds International Cruiserweight Championship
DENNIS LEBEDEV (Moscow, Russia) vs. MATHEW ELLIS (Blackpool, England)

8 X 3 Minute Rounds Welterweight Contest
DENTON VASSELL (Manchester, England) vs. EDDIE CORCORAN (Wembley, London)

6 X 3 Minute Rounds Super-Featherweight Contest
ANTHONY CROLLA (Manchester, England) vs. TBA

4 X 3 Minute Rounds Light-Welterweight Contest
LIAM SMITH (Liverpool, England) vs. KEVIN McCAULEY (Stourbridge, England)

4 X 3 Minute Rounds Bantamweight Contest
CRAIG LYON (St Helens, England) vs. TBA