By James Slater: The pro career of former WBO cruiserweight champ Enzo Maccarinelli surely came to an end tonight in Birmingham, as the 30-year-old from Wales was brutally knocked out in the 7th-round by unbeaten contender Alexander Frenkel of Germany by way or Ukraine. Winning the European title with a savage-looking stoppage that arrived courtesy of a sweet left hook that landed bang on Maccarineli’s chin, the 25-year-old scored the biggest win of his career.
Frenkel, having his first fight in the U.K, pulled out the sensational punch just when he needed it, putting “Big Macc” down hard. Bravely, Enzo beat the count and was permitted to go on, but a final left/right/left to the chin put him down and out for a second time. The ending came at 2-minutes and 30-seconds of the 7th-round, and the new Euro champ improved to 23-0(18). Maccarinelli, who has now been stopped five times, fell to 32-5(25)..
Both men came out quite fast, looking to test each other’s chin. Frenkel was more cute than was the former WBO ruler, and his skills were impressive early on. Maccarinelli was guilty of loading up too much, as he tried his best to take his man out. Having said that, the Welshman was boxing one of his better fights at times. Landing some hard body shots, as well as the occasional big shot upstairs, Enzo was winning more rounds than was Frenkel.
The fight was close, but Maccarinelli was the aggressor and he was pushing Frenkel back. The power punches that did get through for the “home” fighter were taken well enough by the younger man, though, even though he did appear to be in some trouble in the 5th. Replays showed that Frenkel, who briefly touched down, was off balance in the 5th, but it looked as though Maccarinelli’s known power would maybe get the job done for him. Instead, it was Frenkel who wound up landing the bombs.
Maccarinelli suffered a cut to the side of his right eye in the 6th (the result of an accidental head clash), but he got home with a nice right uppercut to the chin as Frenkel was stuck on the ropes – once again, the Ukrainian took the shot well.
The vicious ending came pretty much out of the blue in the 7th. Landing a perfect left hook to the chin, Frenkel saw his man go down hard and heavy. Looking groggy and in terrible shape, the defending European boss made it back up in time, but he was in no shape to go on. Referee Erkki Moroen made the decision to allow Maccarinelli to continue, but he may well face severe criticism for having made that call. Enzo had nothing left, and he was almost immediately put down for good, the final left hook to the head really blasting him into oblivion.
For a few alarming moments it looked as though the brave Welshman might be in serious trouble, with oxygen given to him as he lay stricken on the canvas. Thankfully, the likeable warrior was okay, even though he was still wobbling as he was aided back to his stool minutes after being on the receiving end of one of the KO’s of the year.
Frenkel has a bright future indeed. Maccarinelli, on the other hand, MUST now call it quits.