by James Slater – A nasty war of words has erupted between British cruiserweights Herbie Hide and Enzo Maccarinelli. The feud began late last week when Maccarinelli was in need of a replacement opponent for December 6th due to Jonathan Banks’ withdrawal, and Hide, though declining to take the match on such short notice, began saying derogatory things about the Welshman. Amongst other things, “The Dancing Destroyer” said Maccarinelli “Looks like an ostrich and can’t fight,” and that he is “unfit to clean my toilet.” Hide let his feeling known in a Welsh newspaper, and the quotes also made various sites on the internet – which Enzo read..
In today’s Sun newspaper, the former WBO cruiserweight champ fired back and said he’d love to fight Hide.
“I will fight him, without a doubt – I hate the man,” Enzo said angrily. “He said he would come to Swansea and I think everyone around there would like to see me shut his mouth. I would love to be the man who ended his career. He did say he would give me his house if I won – that seems like a very interesting prospect to me.
“He is a first class idiot. I have got respect for every fighter on this planet. I don’t dislike any of my opponents but then there is Hide. It is just ridiculous. He is trying to make me look bad yet he is the one who didn’t want to get in the ring and fight. No matter what he said, it was him that pulled out. I am not going to take any rubbish from him.”
What we have here then, is a potentially explosive grudge match. Both men can punch, are somewhat vulnerable in the chin department and have fast hands. Should Maccarinelli get past Banks in a rescheduled meeting for the vacant WBO 200-pound belt (tentatively now set for February 2009) who better for him to make his first defence against but Hide? Herbie, the former WBO heavyweight champ, is 37-years-old right now and shouldn’t have too much time left. A final shot at a title would be something he would surely jump at – especially against a man he claims to be so ultra-confident he’d beat, and who “can’t fight,” and is “a manufactured fighter.”
Hide claimed he’d have taken the fight on December 6th, had he had more time than just a few days to get ready. Instead, as we know, Maccarinelli ended up fighting heavyweight journeyman Matthew Ellis. Enzo looked good, however, and showed absolutely no ill effects from his March loss to David Haye.
28-year-old Maccarinelli would likely be the betting favourite in a fight with Hide, but the unpredictable motor-mouth would always have at least a puncher’s chance!