by James Slater – Chances are, if you asked ten people to give you their opinion on whether or not former WBO 200-pound champion Enzo Maccarinelli would have a good chance at defeating current WBO ruler Marco Huck, eight, nine or maybe even all ten people would tell you the Welshman would have next to no chance. But the big-hitting 29-year-old, who returned to winning ways with a smashing one-round win back on December 5th, has made it clear he wants his old belt back, and that means a fight with the German-based “Kap’n'” Huck..
Maccarinelli, who held the WBO cruiser belt from 2006 to March of 2008, finally put an additional number in his win column on Dec. 5th, as he flattened the little-known Krizstian Jaksi in a single round of the Amir Khan-Dmitriy Salita card in Newcastle. As much as this win will no doubt have done for the powerful 6’4″ warrior’s confidence, though, a lot more work needs to be done before Maccarinelli can even think about defeating Huck.
Indeed, though Enzo wants the fight badly, there is no certainty he will get it. Huck, who recently beat the man who halted Maccarinelli’s attempts at winning the interim version of the WBO belt with a sensational 9th-round stoppage – in Ola Afolabi – has plenty of options ahead of him right now, and he may not even have any interest in facing the man many see as damaged goods. Maccarinelli does, however, have another goal he has been speaking about; one that has a more realistic chance of being achieved.
Enzo told The Swansea Evening Post that, as much as he is desperate to defeat Huck and regain his “world” title, he is also interested in fighting for the British cruiserweight championship. Maccarinelli says he will be a keen observer of the Jan.15th British title rematch clash between champ Rob Norton and challenger David Dolan. With all due respect to both Norton and Dolan, an Enzo win over either guy looks more of a possibility for him than does one over Huck.
And Enzo, 30-4(23) who has never fought for the British title, says he would very much like to do so.
“Being British champion is not something to be sniffed at,” Maccarinelli told the paper. “People in boxing circles may not hold it in high regard, but I think that’s a little disrespectful. Britain has had some top champions and I’d be proud to be one of them.”
A Maccarinelli challenge of the Norton-Dolan winner would likely prove to be a good attraction in the U.K. Exciting win or lose, big Enzo remains a highly recognisable name on these shores. Also, as well as being a fight that would attract the fans, a win for Enzo over either Norton or Dolan would perhaps see him get a little closer to his ultimate goal – or at least of being given a chance to achieve it.
Should Maccarinelli have enough left to win the British title, he could then be looked at as a possible challenger for the also-exciting Huck. Certainly, Enzo’s career doesn’t look in any where near as bad a shape today as it did back in the summer of last year.