By Sean McDaniel: Former World Boxing Organization (WBO) cruiserweight champion Enzo Maccarinelli (32-5, 25 KO’s) will reportedly be meeting with promoter Frank Warren on February 7th to decide what direction to go for his future. Maccarinelli, at one time one of the best fighters in the cruiserweight division, has been knocked out four times in his last eight fights, albeit against big world class punchers in each case.

Maccarinelli’s latest knockout loss was to the hard hitting German contender Alexander Frenkel in a 7th round knockout last year in September. It was an especially back knockout loss, similar to Maccarinelli’s stoppage loss to David Haye in 2008. Maccarinelli still is a huge puncher, and perhaps the best puncher in the entire cruiserweight division.

The problem is his ability to absorb heavy shots appears to have deteriorated since the Haye loss and if Maccarinelli does decide to continue his career, he’s going to need to decide whether he’s okay with fighting at the domestic level, taking on the lesser fighters at this stage or getting a new trainer and completely changing his fighting style.

Maccarinelli needs to learn how to fight on the outside, use his jab and clinch when his shorter opponents come within fighting distance. Maccarinelli seems to make the same mistake fight after fight by getting in close and trying to fight on the inside where his chin is vulnerable. A trainer like Emanuel Steward could possibly help Maccarinelli develop into an outside fighter like IBF/WBO heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko, but Maccarinelli is going to have to approach Steward to see if he’ll agree to help him.