British Champion McPhilbin Gets Maccarinelli In First Defense

ByIain Langmaid

This week in a notice published by the British Boxing Board of Control, newly crowned British Cruiserweight Champion Shane McPhilbin has been scheduled to fight former WBO and European Cruiserweight Champion Enzo Maccarinelli on the 23rd March at the Civic Hall in Wolverhampton.

The 26-year-old McPhilbin from Bulwell in Nottinghamshire won the prestigious British title after stopping Stretham’s Leon Williams at the York Hall in London in the final round of the contest.

Despite being dropped both in the first and sixth round in his challenge, the Nottinghamshire man rose from the canvas, and clawed his way back into the fight to stop Williams in the final round to win the prestigious Lonsdale belt at Cruiserweight, a title which has been held by the likes of World Champions Glen McCrory and Johnny Nelson.

The big hitting Maccarinelli, who was originally scheduled to appear on the bill of Nathan Cleverly’s homecoming title defence against the American Tommy Karpency, has been presented an opportunity to show that he can still be a force at Cruiserweight not just on the domestic scene but on the European scene.

This despite having his last fight down at Light-Heavyweight against the Hungarian Gyorgy Marosi, who he stopped in just 99 seconds at York Hall in November.

Popular and likeable Maccarinelli has the clear edge in experience having been a former world champion at Cruiserweight and also in quality of opposition he has faced having fought the likes of David Haye, Denis Lebedev and Wayne Braithwaite during his 38-fight career.

Maccarinelli will also enjoy a four inch height advantage over McPhilbin standing at 6’4 to Philbin’s 6ft and a superior knockout ratio of 68% to McPhilbin’s 50 %. However, all five of Maccarinelli defeats have come by savage knockout which could give McPhilbin a slight edge.

Also in the notice, the Board of Control have stated that the winner of this contest shall face the winner of the eliminator between Matty Askin and John Lewis Dickinson, who is the current Northern Area Champion, which is scheduled on 21st of April at Aintree in Liverpool.

But for McPhilbin, this is the toughest test of his career to date against the vastly experienced Maccarinelli, who lies in wait for him to see if he has what it takes to be a force at Cruiserweight on the domestic scene.