December 5, 2008
Enzo Maccarinelli reveals thoughts on new career
For Enzo Maccarinelli it was just another frustrating day in a very disappointing year. The former WBO cruiserweight champion finally found out yesterday who he would be facing for his old title tomorrow - that he had never heard of Francisco Álvarez was not the best of starts. Perhaps it is no surprise then that Maccarinelli has considered quitting boxing to become a cage fighter.
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“I had a dream before I fought David Haye of taking all the belts and that is still the dream today. It's a ridiculous situation when there are four different champions at one weight. I've got to get the belt back then look at one of the other three - that's all I want. I don't want to just win the title and make easy defences.”
The frustration has led Maccarinelli to consider a dramatic switch of careers to mixed martial arts (MMA), in which combatants use a variety of fighting techniques in a cage. Boxers who have competed in MMA have invariably tried it when their boxing careers have fizzled out, but Maccarinelli, who uses ju-jitsu as one of his methods of keeping fit when out of training, says he is serious. He has even spoken to Dana White, the president of the Ultimate Fighting Championship, the biggest MMA organisation, about the possibility.
“I spoke to Dana, went to a show and sent him a DVD of some of my knockouts,” Maccarinelli said. “Boxing is my first love but everyone knows I love MMA. If an offer came in I would definitely consider it.
“It interests me but I want to achieve great things in boxing. If the kind of matches I want can't be made, I'd definitely consider other things. I like one-on-one combat. I'm not gullible enough to think that I can just go into that sport as just a boxer, but I am sure a world-class boxer could do some damage with those little gloves they wear.”
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http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/more_sport/boxing/article5288830.ece
Yes he is good, though in his last fight he got KO'ed by David Haye in the second round.
Without David Haye out of the picture he is good enough to be undisputed cruiser champ.
He fights on Sky Sports PPV tonight.
That's that I was thinking OS. He looks like a heavy handed slugger in that and nothing else, but he is world class from what I understand and, like JR says, perhaps the top cruiser in the world.
If he does MMA, it's not JJ that will help him - it's wrestling. Those skills will help him maximise potential.
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=MMkrBk7ccDo
If he fought mma he would be by far the most legit boxer still in their prime to fight.
Would be interested to see how Dana would use him. Whether he would put him in with a top grappler for the purpose of just getting one over on boxing or actually try and develop him as a true crossover.
Chuck might be smart enough to keep him away with kicks.
Against any fighter that "loves to bang" it would be brutal, brutal, brutal.