By William Mackay: Former WBO cruiserweight champion Enzo Maccarinelli (32-4, 25 KO’s) will be fighting on the Magnificent Seven fight card on September 18th at the LG Arena, in Birmingham, West Midlands, in the UK. Maccarinelli’s rumored opponent is the unbeaten Ukrainian contender Alexander Frenkel (22-0, 17 KO’s), who is one of the most dangerous punchers in the cruiserweight division right now. Although the fight still isn’t confirmed, there’s a strong possibility that the 6’4″ Maccarinelli will be facing the 25-year-old 6’1″ Frenkel for Maccarinelli’s EBU cruiserweight title.

This is a fight that I would given Maccarinelli an excellent chance at winning had it taken place two years ago before Enzo’s knockout loss to David Haye in March 2008. That was a bad knockout loss for Maccarinelli, and he’s been stopped twice since them to Ola Afolabi and Denis Lebedev. Frenkel, may not quite have the same kind of power or the height that Maccarinelli possesses, but if Frenkel can stick around long enough and keep chipping away at Maccarinelli, I think Frenkel will knock Maccarinelli out. I’m frankly surprised that a puncher like Frenkel is even being considered for Maccarinelli, because punching is the one that Frenkel can do well.

He’s not particularly fast, and isn’t all that hard to hit, but he can punch a little. I think Lebedev and Afolabi are harder punchers and more dangerous than Frenkel, but he hits hard enough to cause Maccarinelli big problems if he can land his shots. But with that said, Maccarinelli did look good in his last fight, a first round knockout over Alexander Ktlobay in April. Maccarinelli, for once, stayed on the outside, using his long reach to soften up Kotlobay.

Once Maccarinelli had him hurt, he jumped all over Kotlobay, and came in close and destroyed him with a mix up powerful body and head shots. Getting inside is one that Maccarinelli needs to avoid doing against Frenkel, because the guy has too much power and will be dangerous for Maccarinelli if he makes it easy for him by standing near him. If Maccarinelli’s chin wasn’t suspect, I would feel perfectly okay with him fighting on the inside against Frenkel.

However, I think that’ a really bad idea with Frenkel, because he’s going to be head hunting and trying to take Maccarinelli’s head off with every shot. Maccarinelli hasn’t been knocked out since last year, but he hasn’t fought anyone since the knockout loss to Lebedev. Hopefully, Maccarinelli doesn’t get over-confident and try to slug with Frenkel and end up sorry for it later.