Dmytro Kucher destroys Enzo Maccarinelli

By Rob Smith - 06/10/2016 - Comments

#9 WBC rated cruiserweight contender Dmytro Kucher (24-1, 18 KOs) proved to be too powerful for former WBO cruiserweight champion Enzo Maccarinelli (41-8, 33 KOs) in scoring a first round knockout win tonight to claim the vacant European cruiserweight belt at York Hall in London, England. Kucher knocked Maccarinelli down with a left hook late in the 1st round.

Maccarinelli was badly hurt from the knockdown and barely made it up to his feet as the referee was counting to 10. The fight was stopped, however, by the referee after he saw in what bad condition Maccarinelli was in. The stoppage was at 2:48 of the round.

Maccarinelli controlled most of the 1st round with his jab and left hook. As the round was nearing the end, Kucher landed a left hook that caused Maccarinelli’s knees to buckle. Maccarinelli stepped backwards a foot to try and regroup. Kucher immediately closed the distance and landed a right hand followed by a hard left hook to the head of Maccarinelli that knocked him down on the canvas.

Maccarinelli was badly shaken by the knockdown, and it was surprising the referee didn’t stop the fight while he was on the canvas because he was not going to be able to get up and resume fighting. Maccarinelli showed a lot of heart by getting back up to his feet to try and resume fighting because a lot of fighters would have stayed down if they were in the same condition.

Maccarinelli’s loss has got to hurt his career, because he had a chance of getting into position for a world title shot against WBC cruiserweight belt holder Tony Bellew if he’d won the fight. Maccarinelli was coming off one of the biggest wins of his career last December in his 4th round knockout win over boxing great Ro Jones Jr. in Moscow, Russia. Maccarinelli had looked really good in that fight, but it was easy because he wasn’t getting hit with anything by Jones.

Maccarinelli suffered his eighth knockout defeat in his career with this defeat and his seventh knockout loss in the last eight years since his defeat to David Haye back in 2008.