by James Slater – British-born Californian Ola Afolabi burst onto the world scene back in March of this year, when he sensationally rose above the betting odds and smashed Enzo Maccarinelli to defeat in the 9th-round in Manchester. In so doing, the 29-year-old known as “Kryptonite” became the interim WBO cruiserweight champion. This past Saturday, in Germany, against Marco Huck, the talented Afolabi failed in his attempt to become the “real” WBO 200-pound champion, as he was closely but unanimously out-pointed. The question is, what now for Ola?
Losing for only the second time in his now seven year pro career (which had an inactive period of around two-and-a-half years from 2005 to 2008), Afolabi will hear no calls for his retirement, that’s for sure. Still having plenty to offer, the now 14-2-3(6) former champ might have a tough time getting himself big fights though. With no title to be won by beating him, and possibly very little money, rival cruiserweights may have no real wish to fight Ola. A rematch with Huck, which is surely something Afolabi would jump at, looks almost sure not to happen, and a shot at one of the other 200-pound belt holders also looks a relatively long shot for the clever and tricky counter-puncher.
It’s a definite Afolabi will fight on, despite all the above – but who could he fight? Up-and-comers attempting to make a name for themselves would perhaps look to fight him, but Afolabi deserves better than to be treated as a potential stepping stone. It’s possible Afolabi will end up being on the sidelines once again, as he was back in 2006 and 2007, when he couldn’t get the right fights. But wait; there is a big name he could fight, and the money would perhaps not be too bad either. The man he flattened upon making his name nine months ago, in Enzo Maccarinelli, fought and won on Saturday evening in Newcastle. Surely the big-punching Welshman would take a return fight with Afolabi?
Enzo, who improved to 30-4(32) with a 1st-round KO win over import Krisztian Jaksi on the Khan-Salita bill, has said in the past how he wants to redeem himself by avenging his recent losses – to David Haye (not much chance of that) Afolabi and Denis Lebedev. So what would make better sense now than an Afolabi-Maccarinelli II?
If it was hyped well enough, or if it were to take place as a doubleheader with another big fight in the U.K, the return bout could even prove to be a reasonably-sized event. Or maybe this time Maccarinelli would be interested in taking the fight in America, in what would be his U.S debut (okay, that is a long shot!).
Simply put, neither guy is exactly rolling in options today. Enzo is seen as a finished fighter in some quarters, due to his stoppage losses – and the win over Jaksi will have done little to change that with his critics. While Afolabi is now belt-less, yet still a potential nightmare of an opponent for his fellow top-ranked cruisers. Only fighters who have no choice but to get it on with Afolabi are likely to do so.
Does Enzo Maccarinelli have any other choice but to fight Afolabi again; if not right away then after another confidence builder or two?