by James Slater: It’s been three months since Enzo Maccarinelli lost his WBO cruiserweight title to David Haye. Smashed to defeat in just two rounds, the Welshman has admitted he was sorely disappointed with his own performance. Almost desperate to get back in the ring and prove he is still a world class fighter, it is with great interest that we await the 27-year-old’s comeback fight..
As fans know, a war of words recently went on between Maccarinelli and IBF cruiserweight champion Steve “USS” Cunningham. Both men expressed a desire to square off and it seems such a fight may now be in the works – possibly for July the 12th, the scheduled date for the Welshman’s return fight. Speaking with British Boxing News recently, Enzo Maccarinelli spoke about his future.
“I have a lot of admiration for Cunningham,” Maccarinelli said. “He travels all over and he’s very slick. But I out-boxed Wayne Braithwaite (back in July of 2007) for every round. I’m fit, strong and have this ridiculous will to win. My aim was to unify the titles and that’s my aim again now, then, in future years, [I want to] have a crack at the heavyweight titles. I’d love a Haye rematch at heavyweight. I’ve got a point to prove all over again. I let myself down. I take nothing away from Haye, but I’ll be a dangerous man from now on.”
Too dangerous for Steve Cunningham? I very much doubt it. The reigning IBF champ would almost certainly be willing to come over to either Wales or London to fight Maccarinelli. The question is, would such a fight be too dangerous for Macca? There is a danger the 27-year-old could want to rush himself whilst being so determined to make up for his poor showing against Haye. Surely it would be a wiser move for Maccarinelli to take a tune-up fight before going in with a current world champion? Should he lose again, making it back to back defeats, what then?
Having said all that, Maccarinelli, despite the loss to Haye, is a good fighter. Maybe he did freeze in the Haye fight, as some have suggested. But can Maccarinelli be a world champion again? He’s made it clear he thinks he can, and that he is also capable of unifying the belts at 200 pounds. There is a lot of work ahead of him before anyone will take much note of his ambitious plans, however.
As for a rematch with Haye, at heavyweight – that fight, should it ever actually happen, is a long, long way off at the moment.