Calzaghe & Macca a hit in the US

Maccarinelli and Calzaghe want to break the American market
Joe Calzaghe and Enzo Maccarinelli made an impression across the Atlantic in their bid to woo the US audience.
The Welsh world champions attended a media gathering in New York after Calzaghe and father Enzo won awards at the WBO annual convention in Miami.

"The media turnout was great, these guys can crack the US as they make friends everywhere with their exciting styles," said promoter Frank Warren.

Calzaghe has mentioned Jermain Taylor as the man he would like to fight next.

The news comes after Dane Mikkel Kessler's promoters stepped up the campaign for Calzaghe to fight him, claiming it is the bout the public are demanding.

I'd love to fight O'Neil Bell in New York in February

Enzo Maccarinelli

A super middleweight unification battle between WBO & IBF champion Calzaghe and WBA & WBC holder Kessler is a possibility, perhaps in Cardiff's Millennium Stadium in February or March.

But that would need more selling to the US public than a bout with a fighter who is well established across the Atlantic.

Bernard Hopkins was Calzaghe's preferred option, but he is concentrating on a shot at a version of the heavyweight title.

To land an encounter with the likes of Hopkins or middleweight king Taylor, Calzaghe would almost certainly have to fight in the States, something he has been reluctant to do in the past.

New WBO cruiserweight champion Maccarinelli would, meanwhile, love the chance to fight in America, although that would probably need to be on a Calzaghe undercard.

Bonymaen-man Maccarinelli has named IBF, WBC & WBA title-holder O'Neil Bell - acknowledged as number one in the division - as his primary target.

Appearing at Madison Square Garden would be fantastic with my Italian-Celtic heritage

Joe Calzaghe

"I'd love to fight Bell over here in February," said Maccarinelli after meeting the top US boxing journalists, promoters and TV executives in Shelley's Restaurant, New York.

"I've really enjoyed my trip to America, and I've been surprised at the number of people who have seen me fight.

"Winning the WBO world title has opened a lot of doors for me, but it's important to keep my feet on the ground and not get too carried away."

Calzaghe, who accepted the WBO's fighter of the year award on Monday while his father claimed the trainer of the year prize, said:

"It's nice to come to the States and get the recognition I've worked so hard to achieve.

"It was a buzz to see all the big guys from the New York papers and boxing industry at the press conference, they seem really keen on me coming over here next year for a fight.

"Now I've got to move to the next level and prove I can win big fights over and over again.

"I'd love to fight over here next year, and appearing at Madison Square Garden would be fantastic with my Italian-Celtic heritage.

"I've had a few people coming up to me in the street asking for my autograph, and that's a bit crazy, but it shows they have been watching my fights."


Last Friday, Joe Calzaghe had six stitches taken out of the cut near his eye, the injury sustained by a head-butt in his bruising win over Sakio Bika last Saturday.