By James Slater: New WBO light-heavyweight champ Nathan Cleverly has a number of options for the future, but one man who has added his name to the list of guys calling out the unbeaten 24-year-old is fellow Welshman Enzo Maccarinelli. The former WBO cruiserweight champ has not been in action since suffering a brutal 7th-round stoppage at the hands of Germany’s Alexander Frenkel last September, yet he resumed training a few months after that loss and is close to making his return as a 175-pounder.
According to BBC Sport, the 30-year-old’s light-heavyweight debut could come as soon as July, and unbeaten Commonwealth ruler Tony Bellew is in the frame as “Big Macc’s” comeback foe. Bellew of course, almost landed a shot at Cleverly this past Saturday but had to pull out after he could not make weight. Maccarinelli wants a shot at “Clev” and a win over the hard-hitting “Bomber” would likely swing it for him.
Most fans, when they read how Maccarinelli was planning to resume his career at the lower weight after having been on the receiving end of four painful stoppage defeats in pretty quick succession, were less than impressed. Nathan Cleverly’s father and trainer Vince was moved to say he would not like to put his son in with Enzo, for fear on a one-sided win that would do nothing for his son’s reputation.
This statement and others by Vince Cleverly have served to motivate Maccarinelli to push for the all-Wales fight.
“I’ve never said I wanted to fight Nathan,” Enzo said to BBC. “We were never that close but he was a friend and an ex-team-mate of mine. We were never as close as I was with Joe [Calzaghe]. Me and Joe would never have boxed. But Nathan Cleverly’s dad, Vince, feels the need to put me down and belittle me in front of people and on national television and papers. So, yes, that would be a fight I’d like.”
Currently training at Enzo Calzaghe’s famed Newbridge gym, Maccarinelli has the support of both Calzaghe Senior and promoter Frank Warren. If – and it may be a big if, especially if he does face Bellew – Maccarinelli can get a comeback win under his belt, he just might get the shot at Cleverly.
The WBO 175-pound champ has said he’d like a “homecoming” fight next, before going after the “big American names.” And Cleverly did not rule out a defence against his fellow Welshman.
“I’m looking forward to a big homecoming and that’s going to be in the near future,” Cleverly said. “As for Maccarinelli, I think he’s got a few issues to get sorted with a medical but if he gets himself into a mandatory position then it’s possible. But he’s got to come back from heavy losses.”
Maccarinelli, 32-5(25) is of the belief that he will be stronger as a light-heavyweight and that his chin will hold up better against smaller men. The gutsy warrior will always have a puncher’s chance against just about anyone, but is he damaged goods these days? Maccarinelli is intent on finding out one way or the other.