The fractious British cruiserweight division became a bit clearer tonight on the Calzaghe - Lacy undercard from the M.E.N. arena as WBU Champion and British and Commonwealth supremo Mark Hobson put on a full blooded twelve round performance that was so close the judges at ringside were divided in the outcome. When the smoke finally cleared it was Maccarinelli who caged the split decision but Hobson will certainly see his stock rise as ! the Huddersfield man stepped in as a late replacement for WBO Champion Johnny Nelson. The difference in the contest proved to be the knockdown the Welshman forced upon Hobson in the third round although the double champion nearly returned the favor with a ninth round shelling that Maccarinelli miraculously survived. The towering pair never stepped off the gas during the twelve round affair and after the midway point, gave up any defensive motions, preferring to simply throw leather in abundance. The victorious Maccarinelli, now 23-1 (17), will likely! go onto meet Italy's Vincenzo Cantatore for the interim WBO belt with the winner to challenge Nelson once the longtime world titlist recovers from a training injury. Hobson, 24-4-1 (12), could challenge in the near future either challenge IBO Champion Carl Thompson or European boss David Haye.
In other action, Wayne Alexander kept his WBU Light Middle crown by posting a split decision win over previously unbeaten Thomas McDonaugh, ex-Commonwealth Flyweight king Dale Robinson returned to winning ways with a third round shattering of Delroy Spencer at bantam, NABO Super Middleweight titlist "Bad" Chad Dawson stopped overmatched Colnbrook man Jamie Hearn in the third, former British Welter Champ David Barnes swept all four rounds from dangerous journeyman Silence Saheed at light welter and undefeated super feather prospect Steven Bell saw off busy double centurion Peter Buckley of Birmingham over four.
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