by James Slater: There is a strong chance the first fight back for Enzo Maccarinelli following his 2nd round KO loss to David Haye could be a world title fight. According to the BBC’s boxing website, 27-year-old Maccarinelli may face unbeaten Russian Alexander Alexeev in September. The fight would contest the WBO cruiserweight belt David Haye has vacated so as to campaign as a heavyweight..
Originally, according to the news on BBC, Jonathon Banks, also unbeaten, was to have faced Alexeev for the vacant title – the two fighters being the top ranked cruisers by the WBO. But as Banks fought only this past Saturday (wining a 12 round decision over Vincenzo Rossito on the Klitschko-Thompson bill in Germany), he will be unable to box again as soon as September. Welshman Macarinelli, ranked third by the WBO, may now get the fight with Alexeev.
This news will no doubt come as very welcome to Maccarinelli, who has been desperate to get back in the ring since his loss to Haye. But a fight with the talented Russian will not be an easy one. A fine amateur who, along with wining all manner of European and world championships, represented his country at the 2004 Olympics in Athens, the 27-year-old is now 15-0(14) as a pro. A tall (6’2″) southpaw, Alexeev shares the former WBO champion’s punching ability. On paper, this is a very tough one to pick.
Macca has had more experience at pro level, but he has been stopped twice. Is Enzo’s chin unreliable? We do not know yet how the Russian takes a good shot, but if he does have an iron chin Maccarinelli is in trouble. Another possible concern for Macca is the fact that his prospective opponent owns a TKO win over one Lee Swaby – them man who stopped Enzo in three rounds back in 2000. It may not mean anything, but if one believes in past form, a fight with Alexeev may not be such a good proposition for Maccarinelli.
Enzo has said that whoever it is he faces in his comeback fight, they will be in trouble. But could it be the big-punching Welshman who winds up in trouble if and when he and the big-punching Russian collide? One this is certain, the fight doesn’t figure to last too long. With a combined thirteen 1st round KO’s between them, this one could come down to who lands first.
Two successive KO defeats can ruin a fighter’s career. Enzo Maccarinelli had better make sure this does not happen to him!