Welsh star Enzo Maccarinelli will challenge American legend Roy Jones Jr. for the Vacant WBA Cruiserweight title on Saturday December 12 at the VTB Ice Palace in Moscow, Russia, televised exclusively live in the UK on BoxNation.
Maccarinelli aims to become a three-time world champion at 200lbs by defeating Jones, a former five time and three weight-division world champion, who became a Russian citizen on Tuesday after being presented with a passport by President Vladimir Putin.
The sledge-hammer hitting Swansea ace has registered 31 wins by knockout from 40 wins in 47 fights and has previously won British and European titles at cruiserweight and the Commonwealth title at light-heavyweight.
‘Big Mac’ has been campaigning at light-heavyweight for the last three years and challenged for the WBO World title last year against Juergen Braehmer, but the fight was stopped in the fifth round after Maccarinelli couldn’t see out of his right eye after a clash of heads in the opening round.
Although Maccarinelli respects Jones for his incredible ring achievements and acknowledges he was the greatest fighter of the 1990s, he says he will knockout Jones to realise his dream of becoming world champion for a third time.
“Jones was a great great fighter, certainly the best of his era and a fighter that I admired, but that has to be put to one side as I have my job to do and that’s to knock him out and win the world title,” Said Maccarinelli.
“It’s incredible how the Russia people have taken Jones, he’s like a superstar here, with the media following his every move, it takes the pressure off me because I’m seen as just an opponent for him, but I’m going to pull of a huge shock over here on December 12 and bring the world title back to Wales,”
“I’ve been campaigning at light-heavyweight for the last few years and I was recently nominated to fight for the EU title which I was all set to do, but my promoter Frank Warren came in with this fantastic opportunity and how could I turn down the chance to fight a legend and secure my own legacy and win a third world title,”
“I think that Jones will be lifted to another level fighting in front of his new ‘home’ fans and as my fans know I fight with my heart on my sleeve and give every fight one hundred percent so I think this is going to be really special fight.”
Promoter Frank Warren added, “It would be great to see Enzo back with a world title around his waist, he’s been loyal and patient for another shot at a world title after his disappointment against Braehmer last year and I’m delighted that I could deliver him the fight against Jones Jnr. He’s got to go to Russia to do it, but I have faith in Enzo and he’s not a fighter that you can write off, he’s got the punch power to turn the tables at any moment.”
