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. Balancing the half-full kegs above his ahead has helped to increase his core muscle power, as has beating car tyres over and over again with a sledgehammer. It was a technique that Big Macc used before his last fight, a two-round demolition of heavyweight Matthew Ellis..
And now he is hoping it will help him to victory over highly dangerous Afolabi at the M.E.N Arena on the big Amir Khan-Marco Antonio Barrera card in Manchester on March 14.
“I’ve tried lifting weights before but it’s not really my kind of thing,” said 28-year-old Maccarinelli, who is 29-2 (22).
“So when a pal of mine suggested something a bit different I jumped at the chance.
“It’s a bit tempting to crack open one of the barrels after a hard day’s training, but I’ll leave that until after the fight.
“I’m desperate to get in the ring and take out all my frustrations on Afolabi.
“2008 was a bit of a disaster after I lost to David Haye and then couldn’t win back my old WBO title.
“But 2009 is going to be my time. I hear that Afolabi is a bit of a nightmare and very dangerous, but that’s just what I want.
“I want to face the best and beat the best, so as far as I’m concerned bring on the 14th. I am going to unleash hell once I get between those ropes.”
Tickets, priced at £40, £50, £75, £100, £150, £200 and £300, are available from the following outlets: See Tickets 0871 220 0260 www.seetickets.com
***PAY PER VIEW DETAILS***
Amir Khan v Marco Antonio Barrera is live on Sky Box Office and in high definition on Sky Box Office HD on Saturday 14 March from 9pm. The bill also includes Nicky Cook v Roman Martinez and Enzo Maccarinelli v Ola Afolabi . To order ‘Coming of Age’, a night of live boxing call: 08442 410 888
Integrated Sports is distributing three 12-round championship bouts featured on the “Kahn-Barrera” card, presented by Frank Warren, in North America for live viewing at 4 PM/ET – 1 PM/PT on cable and satellite pay-per-view via iN Demand, TVN, DirecTV and Dish Network in the United States, as well as Viewer’s Choice and Bell TV in Canada, for a suggested retail price of only $24.95.
PRYCE AND HALL PROMISE FIREWORKS
Light-middleweights Bradley Pryce and Matthew Hall have vowed to steal the show on March 14 at the M.E.N Arena.
And although they are up against a blockbuster fight card featuring Khan-Barrera, Cook-Martinez and Maccarinelli-Afolabi, the 154-pound KO artists reckon they can do it.
The pair meet for Pryce’s Commonwealth light-middleweight title on the biggest night of boxing so far this year.
It promises thrills and spills, with both boxers boasting a high KO percentage – and both having been stopped before.
“It’s Sweet Sugar time,” said 27-year-old Pryce, who is on a seven-fight unbeaten run, all of them involving the Commonwealth title.
“I’ve already beaten Andrew Facey on points and stopped Marcus Portman and Anthony Small, so I’m not bad against Brits.
“Hall’s being talked up as the next big thing, but everyone I fight is supposed to be going places.
“Ivan Kirpa and Sergey Stepkin were future world champions until I gave them a beating.
“I’m going to take Hall places where he’s not been before. He’s a good puncher, but then so am I, and I’ve got more experience.
“I love to go to war and I love the roar of the fans when I fight and people aren’t going to be disappointed next weekend.”
But Hall, still just 24 despite six years in the pro ranks, said: “I stopped Pryce’s stablemate Kerry Hope, now I’ll do the same to Bradley.
“It’s an honour to be boxing on a massive card like this one, but fans should get there early because me against Pryce is going to be better than the main event.
“Both of us like to throw bombs and be positive, so it’s going to be an old-fashioned shoot out at the MEN.
“I’m in the shape of my life after sparring dozens of rounds with Michael Jennings ahead of his world title fight in New York.
“Pryce might think that I’m another hype job, but he’s going to be in for a nasty surprise when I catch up with him on March 14.”
Tickets, priced at £40, £50, £75, £100, £150, £200 and £300, are available from the following outlets: See Tickets 0871 220 0260 www.seetickets.com
Amar – I’ll stop Glover inside 5
Adnam Amar claims he’ll be out to eclipse the mouth-watering top of the bill clash between Wayne Elcock and Matthew Macklin in Birmingham on March 14th. The two local middleweights go head to head in a hugely anticipated British title fight that is being billed as “The Battle of Brum” but Amar has set his sights on stealing the show.
Amar defends his English Welterweight title against Tom Glover on the Hennessy Sports event which will be screened live on ITV4. Having been out of the ring since last May Amar is determined to bounce back with a bang.
“It’s been frustrating time for me, watching from the sidelines,” revealed the 26-year-old. “I‘ve had a number of fights fall through for various reasons so I’m itching to get back in there now and prove I belong up there with the best in Britain.
“Fighting on ITV4 will give me a big stage to showcase my skills and anytime I fight in front of the TV cameras I have an extra edge and that will show in my performance. I like to entertain and that’s what I plan on doing by winning in style against Glover.”
The Nottingham native has won all but one of his 23 pro fights and he says that facing Southern Area champion Glover holds no fears for him.
“He’s a tough guy and I take my hat off to him for stepping up to the plate and fighting me because I believe I’ve been avoided because of my style and ability. He’s never been stopped so it’s not going to be easy but I believe I’ll be too strong, too clever and too accurate. If he walks onto something he’ll get taken out inside 5 rounds.”
Amar is confident that he can make a real statement by despatching Glover in style and pressing his claims for the British and Commonwealth titles.
“In my last fight I beat Mark Lloyd convincingly to win the English title and now he’s getting a chance at Kell Brook’s British title. I wasn’t even at 50% of my best when I fought Lloyd and I still beat him easily so I think that says a lot about my ability.”
With both Amar and Brook based at the famous Ingle gym in Sheffield Amar says a clash between the two is unlikely anytime soon but it’s not something he’s ruling out completely.
“I spar with Kell regularly and they are always very good, even spars. I give him plenty of problems, more than he needs but at the end of the day he’s a good fighter and no disrespect to the British title but we’re both looking at bigger things.
“I don’t think a fight between us would make sense unless there was big money and titles at stake but if it was down to me I’d fight anybody because I really want to push on with my career.”
Also appearing on “The Battle of Brum” undercard at the Aston Arena, Birmingham on the 14th of March is heavyweight sensation, Tyson Fury alongside Eddie O’Rourke, Chris Male, Quinton Hillocks and Callum Archer. Tickets are available from the Ticketline box office on 0844 888 4402 or via www.ticketline.co.uk.