ENZO MACCARINELLI is being lined up to go for a chance for his old WBO cruiserweight belt this September.
Maccarinelli was due to get back in the ring for a 10-round comeback in Birmingham next weekend after he was stripped of his title in March by David Haye. But due to “television scheduling problems” Maccarinelli is forced to put this comeback on hold.
However, having to wait could be a silver lining or gold lining from the sponsors as the added time could mean a showdown between either Johnathon Banks or Alexander Alekseev for the WBO title left available since Haye beefed up to heavyweight.
So far Banks is undefeated at 26, fights from Detroit and was supposed to face off against Vincenzo Rossitto for the IBO cruiserweight title in Hamburg last week.
The other contender is Russian southpaw Alekseev, 27, he is a highly-rated amateur after making his mark and winning silver at the 2003 world championships Alekseev turned pro in Germany where so far he is unbeaten in 15 fights.
The provisional date of September 6 is pencilled in for the WBO title fight, but it is up to the talkers to decide which of these two Maccarinelli will face.
“I don’t know what’s going to happen, but I’m itching to get back in the ring,” said the 27-year-old Swansea fighter.
“The Haye fight seems a long time ago now and I was looking forward to next weekend.
“But unfortunately that’s the way these things go some time.
After interviews on Setanta Sports it seems Maccarinelli is itching to get back in the ring and prove himself. If he did get the chance to fight this weekend Maccarinelli would have starred alongside Audley Harrison, whose fight against Martin Rogan would have ended the English exile for the former Olympic heavyweight champion.
“I’ll have a couple of days off and then get back in the gym,” said Maccarinelli.
“It’s disappointing that the fight’s off, but I’ll come back stronger when given the chance.”
Maccarinelli’s training partner from the welsh gym is Joe Calzaghe who should also be back in the ring in September, the recently honored Calzaghe should be jetting off to Madison Square Garden in New York to defend his Ring magazine light-heavyweight belt against Roy Jones Jr.
Looking forward to the fight, Jones Jr said: “Joe’s a great fighter, definitely one of the better fighters of his era.
“I was a fighter of the 90s, but I feel I’m also a modern era fighter.
“People don’t realise that, but I’m going to show people what I am.
“I’ve got nothing but respect for Joe and he’s got respect for me, but I still believe this is a fight I will win.”
Both boxers will promote themselves at the world famous boxing venue after Calzaghe’s split with manager Frank Warren,.
“We’re doing the right thing here. Everything is being split 50-50.
“It’s straight down the middle. I wouldn’t have it any other way.
“We are fighting at Madison Square Garden because it’s an easier flight from Britain to here.
“When Joe fought in Vegas, I ran into a lot of people who weren’t happy with the arrangements.
“So I wanted to make it easier for the people to come and support the fight.”
Unbeaten Calzaghe has aways voiced his ambition to fight in the ‘Big Apple’.
“I went to New York as part of the build-up to both the Mikkel Kessler and Bernard Hopkins fights and I love the place,” he has said.
“There is a very large Italian-American population in Manhattan and that attracts me also.
“The biggest names in the sport – Ali, Leonard, Foreman, and Marciano – have all boxed at the Garden, and New York would accommodate my supporters from all over the UK.”
Both fighters back in the ring September is going to a big mnth for British Boxing and I can’t wait!