Boxing News Boxing News
Lanky Welsh slugger Enzo Maccarinelli travels to Stadhalle in Rostock tonight to challenge WBA light heavyweight champion Jurgen Braehmer in Germany.
Maccarinelli, 38-6 (30), a former WBO, WBU, European and British titlist at cruiserweight, has breathed new life into his career as a light heavyweight, winning three domestic contests and the Commonwealth crown in 2013 after starting off badly in a KO loss to Ovill McKenzie in 2012.
But can the 33 year old chinny Swansea banger pull off a major upset against rugged Schwerin southpaw Braehmer?
Braehmer, 42-2 (31), has had a lot of ups and downs in his career, punctuated by out-of ring issues and a failed 2008 WBA title shot, but seems to have gotten back on track following the loss of his WBO title in 2011, when he was stripped for not defending against Nathan Cleverly.
Since that time, Braehmer won the European and WBO International belts and most recently the vacant WBA strap with a 12 round points win against Marcus Oliveira in December.
This is an interesting matchup tonight with many variables giving rise to a lot of potential scenarios, but the determining factor could be the chin of Maccarinelli.
If the 6’4 Welshman can successfully use his height and reach advantages over the 6’0 Brahemer, we could see one of the more amazing career turnarounds in recent British boxing history, but if the champion can close range and land flush, it could be curtains for Maccarinelli.
All of Maccarinelli’s losses have come within the distance and Braehmer is a rugged operator who isn’t great at any one aspect of boxing but good at most things and can dig deep, finding ways to win.
Both fighters prefer to stand outside and work behind the jab, but Braehmer is better defensively, moving his head, using angles and good reflexes to make himself hard to hit while Maccarinelli stands straight up behind a high guard, doesn’t move his head much with slow reflexes and as a result is rather hittable, particularly with left hands.
This all seems to spell trouble for the challenger and when the location of the bout is factored in, Germany, it’s hard to see a points victory for Maccarinelli.
Enzo can punch very hard, however, particularly with the right hand, the bane of southpaws the world over. If he can somehow avoid getting caught flush and land big right hands to produce a KO, that’s what it would take to walk out of Rostock with the WBA title.
But Braehmer has a solid chin and has never been stopped, making a Maccarinelli victory a very narrow proposition.
