After a hectic schedule already this year, with two world title fights, Huddersfield, England cruiserweight Mark Hobson has stepped in as a sub again to face Enzo Maccarinelli at the MEN Arena in Manchester.

With longtime WBO Champion Johnny Nelson withdrawing from the second fight on October 14 with a back injury, which saw replacement opponent Hobson push Maccarinelli to the wire last time out, Hobson will now challenge for the WBO belt, and thinks he can go one better
than his last bout against the Welshman.

"This is the kind of fight that is going to really give British Boxing a shock to the system," said Hobson, "because everyone knows that Maccarinelli comes to fight. I always come to fight, and it’s got all the makings of a cracker.

"A lot of people thought I had the edge in the last fight, but I’ve improved a lot since then, and Maccarinelli is an improving fighter, so it should be very interesting, but it’s definitely winnable for me, and I believe I can eke out a victory."

Having claimed the WBU Cruiserweight title on 9 September, Hobson, 26-4-1, will step into the ring less than five weeks later to challenge for Maccarinelli’s, 24-1,WBO title, which after the withdrawal of Nelson, is no longer just the interim belt, but the official title.

There will also be a much better atmosphere for his next bout, after Hobson’s win over Czech Pavol Polakovic for the WBU strap before a muted crowd at a charity dinner in Bethnal Green.

"When I go in the ring, it’s fairly straightforward," said Hobson, "I come to fight and I expect the other guy to come in looking for the same thing, not just to come in and try to survive like he (Polakovic) did.

"There were a lot of boxing fans down in Bethnal Green, but it was really a charity dinner. In Manchester, I’m sure there’ll be a big traveling support from Wales for Calzaghe, and I know there’ll be a few people coming over from Yorkshire so we should have a great atmosphere there too."

Speaking to the BBC, Enzo Maccarinelli has however promised that he will knock Hobson out in the bout on October 14, and expressed his disappointment at missing out on a bout with Nelson.

"It’s a big blow that Nelson is out because I’ve been gearing myself up to fight him for so long," said Enzo. "He’s been a great champion and a good role model for the sport over the years and its just a great shame that the two best cruiserweights in Britain did not get to meet each other.

"However, Hobson will really be up for this fight and I reckon he will be more prepared this time. The last fight was a good scrap for the fans but this time I’m not going to go the distance, I will knock him out."

The bout is the support fight for Joe Calzaghe’s latest defence of his WBO and IBF Super-Middleweight titles against Sakio Bika, on 14 October, and is live on ITV in Britain and HBO in the United States.

Click to read more boxing articles by Rhun Leeding

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