By James Slater: Tonight at York Hall in London, former WBO cruiserweight champ Enzo Maccarinelli returned to winning ways after having had 14 months out of action. Making his light-heavyweight debut, the 31-year-old Welshman had no trouble at all in disposing of 34-year-old Hungarian Gyorgy Marosi.
Enzo, looking ripped and ready as a 175-pounder, sized his man up (Maccarienlli dwarfed the visitor) and got busy with crisp and accurate left jabs. Then, with just over a minute gone, Maccarinelli let loose with a tasty left hook upstairs which sent Marosi staggering into the ropes. A follow up right hand crashed into the wobbly fighter’s head and referee Geoff Hines dived in and ended matters.
The official time was one-minute and 31 seconds of the opener. Maccarinelli, now 33-5(26) beamed after the short fight was over with. There were no real complaints from Marosi, now 12-1(8).
The shortness of tonight’s contest gave us no real idea regarding Enzo’s chances of making it as a light-heavy. Maccarinelli looked great physically and his hand speed looked good. Obviously, question marks will remain as far as his chin goes. It does look as though the new weight will suit Maccarinelli though – as he said post-fight.
“I always should have been a light-heavyweight,” Maccarinelli said. “With a strict diet I make the weight easy. I hit as hard as ever at light-heavyweight.”
Now reunited with trainer Enzo Calzaghe, the 31-year-old said he hopes to get a big fight “as quick as I can.” Calzaghe said his fighter can become a real force at 175-pounds.
“I talked with Enzo and I convinced him he should be a light-heavyweight. I knew all along he wasn’t a cruiserweight. He can be the hardest puncher in the world at light-heavyweight.”
There are certainly a number of interesting fights out there for Maccarinelli; at both domestic and world level. Reigning WBO boss Nathan Cleverly was an interested ringside observer, analysing the fight for BoxNation T.V. There is also the possibility of Enzo facing the likes of Tony Bellew and Ovil McKenzie.
“The ultimate goal is a world title,” Maccarinelli said. It’s way too early to say whether or not the big-hitter will manage to get that far, but phase-one of his comeback has gone in the books.