By James Hughes: On a bad night for former champions, Wales’ Enzo Maccarinelli failed in his bid to regain his WBO Cruiserweight crown. Whether Maccarinelli took his opponent too lightly in the build-up to the fight (he reportedly didn’t spar a single round), or took his eye off the ball during the fight having built up a comfortable lead (I had him at least 6 rounds to 2 ahead), he paid dearly for it when Afolabi landed a peach of a right hook that laid Maccarinelli flat out.
Enzo Maccarinelli
Boxing News – Cunningham Steams In To Support Maccarinelli; Bute-Zuniga Weights & Quotes
Former IBF World Cruiserweight Champion, Steve ‘USS’ Cunningham gives his view on this weekend’s big battle at the M.E.N. Arena in Manchester between Wales’ Enzo ‘Big Mac’ Maccarinelli and American-based Brit Ola
‘Kryptonite’ Afolabi for the interim WBO Title.
News – Team Sauerland wins purse bid for Huck vs. Arslan; Barrera-Khan
Marco “Captain” Huck (24-1, 19 KOs) will return to the ring in May to defend his European cruiserweight title against former world champion Firat Arslan (29-4, 18 KOs). Team Sauerland won today´s purse bid in Rome with an offer of 514,000 euros. “We are delighted that Marco will defend his title on a Sauerland show,” General Manager Chris Meyer said of the mandatory defence. “The fight will be staged in May. We will announce the date and the venue within the next two weeks.”
Rhodes-Small; Moore Destroys Piccirillo; Khan-Barrera – Boxing News
One of Britain’s most popular fighters, Jamie Moore, mounted a supercharged performance this past Friday, taking the vacant European light middleweight title in riveting fashion with a third round knockout of former IBF welterweight champion Michele Piccirillo at Robin Park Arena in Wigan, England on a Frank Maloney promotion televised live by Sky Sports.
Maccarinelli Gets Beefed Up – News
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.
Barrera Faces Khan; Murat vs. Sanavia, Sylvester vs. Nespro – News
The hype surrounding 22-year-old lightweight prospect Amir Khan may not be the same since his stunning first-round knockout loss to Breidis Prescott last September, but the 2004 Olympic silver medallist has the full confidence of his head trainer, Freddie Roach, as they prepare in Los Angeles for Khan’s showdown with multiple world champion “The Baby Faced Assassin” Marco Antonio Barrera, Saturday, March 14 at The M.E.N. Arena in Manchester, United Kingdom.
Afolabi-Maccarinelli, Campbell-Funeka, Cintron-Martinez, Angulo-Rivera – News
Cruiserweight contender Ola “Kryptonite” Afolabi (13-1-3, 5 KOs) is hosting a party on March 14, the day he faces former champion Enzo Maccarinelli for the Interim WBO Cruiserweight Championship at the M.E.N. Arena, in Manchester.
Maccarinelli Takes Dangerous Fight Against Afolabi On March 14th
By Sean McDaniel: Former World Boxing Organization cruiserweight champion Enzo Maccarinelli (29-2, 22 KOs) will face the green but very dangerous Ola Afolabi (13-1-3, 5 KOs) on March 14th for the Interim WBO World Cruiserweight title at the M.E.N. Arena, in Manchester, Lancashire. Maccarinelli, 28, had been planning on fighting WBO number #1 ranked cruiserweight Jonathan Banks.
Chad Dawson: “Congratulations Joe Calzaghe!” Maccarinelli Faces Afolabi – News
Undefeated two-time world light heavyweight champion CHAD DAWSON took time out of training for his world title defense rematch against Antonio Tarver to comment on the retirement of undefeated two-division world champion Joe Calzaghe (46-0, 32 KOs), of Wales.