By James Slater – Popular Welshman Enzo Maccarinelli has listened with the respect to those fans and well-wishers who have urged him to quit the ring and not give it another go. But boxing is in the former WBO cruiserweight champ’s blood, and give it another go he will do – tomorrow night in London, against unbeaten Hungarian Gyorgy Marosi, 12-0(8)..
The 31-year-old has shed around 20-pounds and will attempt to make it as a world class light-heavyweight. The long term goal for Maccarinelli is, of course, a world title at 175-pounds, and the Enzo Calzaghe-trained puncher says he will be more than happy to get it on with fellow Welshman and reigning WBO light-heavyweight champ Nathan Cleverly – when he’s ready, that is.
“That’s my ultimate aim, but I’m not trying to jump ahead of myself,” Maccarinelli said to BBC Sport. “I want a world title and, if that’s [a Cleverly fight] the fight that Frank [Warren] wants to put together, I’m happy for it. There’s a lot of people who doubt me, who don’t believe I should be coming back. I’ve got to prove them all wrong. I’ve got to get people to start believing in me again.
“I am a 100-percent focused on winning this fight on Friday. I haven’t seen too much of him [Marosi]. I’m more concerned with what I’m going to do rather than what he’s going to do.”
On paper, the experienced Maccarinelli should win, and win with some ease tomorrow. Marosi has never fought anyone with Enzo’s withering power, and as long as Maccarinelli has made the weight the correct way, his comeback will be off to a winning start. A fight with the hugely impressive, unbeaten Cleverly is surely a long way away at present, and there will always be the possibility of Maccarinelli’s chin letting him down before he gets that far. But the all-Welsh clash, should it happen, would be a huge attraction.
It’s no secret that Maccarinelli has some dislike for Cleverly’s father and trainer Vince, and there would be a genuine grudge-match element to the fight. Nathan himself has said he would be interested if Maccarinelli can get himself back into contention with a few impressive wins.
Phase one of Maccarinelli’s plan begins tomorrow at York Hall, Bethnal Green. Can the exciting banger who fought the best up at 200-pounds really become a force 25-pounds below cruiserweight? The two Enzos sure think so.