By Mark Vester
A possible unification between UK rivals Enzo Maccarinelli (28-1, 21KOs) and David Haye (20-1, 19KOs) is not going to happen in the near future. The two fighters can't seem to agree on the weight. Macca, the WBO cruiserweight champion, wants the fight at cruiserweight. Haye, holding the WBA and WBC cruiser titles, is having difficulties making the 200-pound weight limit and wants an above the weight catch-weight. If they fight takes place above the weight, none of the three titles will be on the line.
Haye told South London Press that his team offered a deal for the bout to take place at a catch-weight, which gave Macca the ability to keep his title even in defeat.
"We offered Enzo £500,000 and the chance to keep his WBO title even if he lost to me," Haye said. "But it was immediately declined."
Haye told BBC Sports he plans to proceed with a planned run in the heavyweight division if Macca continues to refuse the terms for a potential showdown. Haye made his debut at heavyweight in the early part of the year, then moved back down to cruiserweight to dethrone Jean-Marc Mormeck in France. Following the win, Haye said he move back up to heavyweight because he practically starved himself to make weight.
"If it doesn't happen I'll be fighting someone very dangerous at heavyweight, when I say the name people will think I'm mad," Haye said.
Macca wants to unify the titles by defeating Haye, regarded as the number one cruiserweight in the world.
"It's a fight all of Britain wants to see and I'd take it in Cardiff, in London - anywhere," said Maccarinelli. "It's all about Haye, though. I've already signed to fight him twice and nothing has come of it, so whether he's ready to do what he says is another thing. If he wants to claim to be the best cruiserweight in the world he has to come through me, it would be a fantastic spectacle. Like me David comes to knock people out and it would be a fantastic fight while it lasted. But it won't last long and there'll only be one winner!"
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