From the BBC; http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/boxing/7807854.stm
Enzo Maccarinelli will get a chance to regain the WBO cruiserweight title when he faces Johnathon Banks in February.
The venue and exact date for the show - that will also feature lightweight star Amir Khan - has yet to be finalised.
Swansea man Maccarinelli, 28, was due to face Banks, 26, for the vacant WBO belt in London in December, but the Detroit fighter had an ankle injury.
Maccarinelli destroyed last-minute stand-in Matthew Ellis at heavyweight in two rounds at London's ExCeL Arena.
The Welshman held the WBO belt from 2006, but lost it when he was knocked out by David Haye in two rounds last March.
With Haye now campaigning at heavyweight, Maccarinelli - who has a record of 29 wins (22 knock-outs) and two defeats - is desperate to become the first Welshman to reclaim a world title.
But he will face a major challenge in Banks, who fights out of the famous Kronk Gym and has won all 20 of his bouts (14 knock-outs).
"Although 2009 is going to be a tough economic year, it's going to be full steam ahead for me with developing the future champions of the sport," said Maccarinelli's promoter Frank Warren after announcing the bout.
I have seen a few banks fights and early on his career he has looked good, but he looked very unimpressive in his last fight. I am not sure who is going to win this one.
Reality is that Banks will have gone to Germany 3 times and now to England to fight for a title. Meanwhile Macca has not left the Island a single time in his career and he has fought 10 more time than Banks.
I find it funny that their is a belief on here that US fighters don't leave the states when clearly there are quite a few guys who have been doing so.
He's fought in England, and Italy. But yes I spose Enzo coulda fought abroad more I guess but the scenario's haven't exactly been rife. Countless more times that's the exact opposite, so personally I'm not sure the actions of Banks or a couple of others changes that.
I respect Banks for doing so really I do, and I hate to generalise. But the fact is, more often then not Americans are fighting in their back yards as opposed to others. Just look at Dawson, Hopkins, Tarver. Also look at other non Americans like Adamek whom are fighting in the US a lot.
Anyways slightly different topic. I do respect Banks and think this will be an entertaining fight. Their both working hard at their trade these two.
As for the travelling thing, I hadn't given it too much thought to be honest. OK he's not taking Enzo's belt, but at the end of the day it's a fight where he can walk away with one. So the prize is essentially the same. Plus he's backed out a few times, it'd be lame to get all funny about the fight details imo. It's not like every other top CW will travel to him in February is it, so...
As for Enzo travelling to the US for it, I'm not sure, but I actually think he probably would. He's set his mind on facing Banks and getting this belt back. So I don't think he'd be as unwilling to travel as you claim for whatever reason. Could be wrong, but I think I've read articles on that front saying he's flexible for the most part.
Reality is that Banks will have gone to Germany 3 times and now to England to fight for a title. Meanwhile Macca has not left the Island a single time in his career and he has fought 10 more time than Banks.
I find it funny that their is a belief on here that US fighters don't leave the states when clearly there are quite a few guys who have been doing so.
Yeah I saw the fight and he looked good but I think it was misleading.
Enzo def throw nice combos for a big man and his skill with his left is awesome when the other guy lets him do whatever he wants.
It's just that when you're in with someone tough the combos don't flow so freely and counterpunches actually come back when you miss.
I find it interesting that none of our British posters in this thread want to address the willingness of Johnathon Banks to cross the ocean to fight Macca on his home turf for a VACANT belt. Macca has no title and not much of a name and yet Banks still travels.
What do you think the chances would be of Macca coming to Detroit to fight Banks? I would say 1 in a million.
Yeh, that HW wasn't that heavy and slow though, there wasn't quite as big a weight difference as first fought. Not saying it was a top guy at all, but to get still, a significantly bigger guy out of there quickly without so much as a punch really landed on you shows some skill. But I take your point, it is valid.
As for the travelling thing, I hadn't given it too much thought to be honest. OK he's not taking Enzo's belt, but at the end of the day it's a fight where he can walk away with one. So the prize is essentially the same. Plus he's backed out a few times, it'd be lame to get all funny about the fight details imo. It's not like every other top CW will travel to him in February is it, so...
As for Enzo travelling to the US for it, I'm not sure, but I actually think he probably would. He's set his mind on facing Banks and getting this belt back. So I don't think he'd be as unwilling to travel as you claim for whatever reason. Could be wrong, but I think I've read articles on that front saying he's flexible for the most part.
Nice assessment. Couldn't argue with much. Did you see Enzo against the stand in HW when Banks didn't show up the last time?
Yeah I saw the fight and he looked good but I think it was misleading.
Enzo def throw nice combos for a big man and his skill with his left is awesome when the other guy lets him do whatever he wants.
It's just that when you're in with someone tough the combos don't flow so freely and counterpunches actually come back when you miss.
I find it interesting that none of our British posters in this thread want to address the willingness of Johnathon Banks to cross the ocean to fight Macca on his home turf for a VACANT belt. Macca has no title and not much of a name and yet Banks still travels.
What do you think the chances would be of Macca coming to Detroit to fight Banks? I would say 1 in a million.
apparently ufc is safer then boxing
i can't remember where i read that though.
Of course it is, theres a shit load less padding in the gloves so they get ko'd quickly. Or the ref jumps in before we even get to see a real ko. That is how awesome that ghey sport ufc is.
It will a great fight and it will be over inside of 4 rounds.
Both guys have more than enough power to knock the other one out.
Banks has a great right hand, not as good as Haye's, and he does have a left hook also that is powerful enough to get rid of Macca.
Macca for his part should be able to land shots on Banks and hurt him as well. Banks fights with a high guard and throw less so he will give up fewer opprutunities for a fight changing punch.
Macca gets much too carried away with his left hand body/head combo against fighters that are afraid to fight back. Banks chance will come when Macca goes downstairs with his left he can time his right hand over the top when he knows macca is looking to double up.... WHAM! goodnight!
All things being equal I think Macca is the better fighter but his carelessness and chin will let him down. Banks has shown questionable chin also but he has fought back from knockdowns to win a fight, something Enzo has not proven he can do.
Nice assessment. Couldn't argue with much. Did you see Enzo against the stand in HW when Banks didn't show up the last time? Enzo's speed and combinations impressed me quite a lot. He's been training very hard. I don't think Enzo Calzaghe is the best coach in terms of defence unfortunately, he'd probably do ok having someone else teach him a few things.
I think were in for a competitive fight, but with two powerful CW's as you say with somewhat questionable chins, it's likely to end in a KO before the half way mark.
Enzo was a legimiate world title holder, and a genuine top 10 in the Cruisers. It's no guaranteed outcome, this should be a good fight. A bit of posititivity about a matchup wouldn't go a miss, not to mention some actual thoughts on it, and how the fight might go, or anything.
It will a great fight and it will be over inside of 4 rounds.
Both guys have more than enough power to knock the other one out.
Banks has a great right hand, not as good as Haye's, and he does have a left hook also that is powerful enough to get rid of Macca.
Macca for his part should be able to land shots on Banks and hurt him as well. Banks fights with a high guard and throw less so he will give up fewer opprutunities for a fight changing punch.
Macca gets much too carried away with his left hand body/head combo against fighters that are afraid to fight back. Banks chance will come when Macca goes downstairs with his left he can time his right hand over the top when he knows macca is looking to double up.... WHAM! goodnight!
All things being equal I think Macca is the better fighter but his carelessness and chin will let him down. Banks has shown questionable chin also but he has fought back from knockdowns to win a fight, something Enzo has not proven he can do.