Boxing News Boxing News
Former WBO cruiserweight champion Enzo Maccarinelli has been working on a unique training method for his March 14 WBO cruiserweight title fight against NABO title-holder Ola “Kryptonite” Afolabi.
The show is headlined by the showdown between 22-year-old lightweight prospect Amir Khan and Hall of Fame bound multiple world champion, “The Baby Faced Assassin” Marco Antonio Barrera, on pay-per-view love from The M.E.N. Arena in Manchester, United Kingdom.
WBO No. 1 contender Maccarinelli, 29-2 (22), recently revealed his secret for his clash with No. 2 rated Afolabi, 13-1-3 (5), who now has famed trainer Freddie Roach working his corner, for their vacant WBO cruiserweight championship bout: a dozen beer barrels. The Welshman has been lifting, not draining, them to improve his strength and conditioning.
Maccarinelli balances half-full kegs over his head to increase his core muscle power, in addition to beating car tires with a sledgehammer.
“I’ve tried lifting weights before but it’s not really my kind of thing,” Mazzarinelli explained. “So, when a pal of mine suggested something a bit different, I jumped at the chance. It’s a bit tempting to crack open one of the barrels after a hard day’s training, but I’ll leave that until after the fight.
“I’m desperate to get in the ring and take out all my frustrations on Afolabi. 2008 was a bit of a disaster after I lost to David Haye and then couldn’t win back my WBO title. But 2009 is going to be my time.
“I hear that Afolabi is a bit of a nightmare and dangerous, but that’s just what I wanted. I want to face the best and beat the best, so as far as I’m concerned, bring on the 14th. I am going to unleash hell once I get between those ropes.”
The 12-round main event finds Khan, 19-1 (15), 2004 Olympic Silver Medallist, defending his WBA International lightweight crown against WBO No. 1 ranked Barrera, 65-6 (43).
In addition to Khan-Barrera and Maccarinelli-Afolabi, another terrific fight will be shown on PPV as WBO super middleweight champion Nicky “Cookie” Cook, 29-1 (16), defends his title belt against undefeated No. 1 contender Roman “Rocky” Martinez, 21-0-1 (12).
Former European champion Cook won the WBO super featherweight title via a 12-round unanimous decision in his last fight against Alex Arthur. NABO super featherweight title-holder Martinez fights out of his native Puerto Rico.
Integrated Sports is distributing three 12-round championship bouts featured on the “Khan-Barrera” pay-per-view card, presented by Frank Warren, in North America for live viewing at 4 PM/ET – 1 PM/PT on cable and satellite pay-per-view via iN Demand, TVN, DirecTV and Dish Network in the United States, as well as Viewer’s Choice, Shaw Cable, Star Choice and Bell TV in Canada, for a suggested retail price of only $24.95.
Veteran blow-by-blow announcer Ian Darke and color analyst, former WBC lightweight champion Jim Watt, will be calling the action from ringside for Sky Box Office and Integrated Sports PPV.
