'Nelson won't duck facing Maccarinelli'

Jul 11 2006

South Wales Echo

Johnny Nelson's manager has reacted angrily to suggestions that the veteran champion would retire rather than face mandatory challenger Enzo Maccarinelli in the autumn.

The claim came from Maccarinelli's new trainer, Enzo Calzaghe, after the Swansea man flattened Argentinian Marcelo Dominguez to claim the interim crown at the Millennium Stadium on Saturday.

'We'll see if Nelson still wants it after watching that,' said the senior Enzo.

'I think he might decide his knee is still too bad.'

The 39-year-old Nelson was forced to pull out of a planned showdown with Maccarinelli in Manchester in March - the Welshman outpointed substitute Mark Hobson instead - after seriously damaging a knee in training.

It was thought the snapped ligament would bring a close to a pro career that dates back to 1986 and end a seven-year reign as WBO cruiserweight king.

Not so, according to John Ingle who looks after Nelson's ring affairs.

'Johnny's fitness is not an issue. He'll be ready, willing and able to face Maccarinelli whenever promoter Frank Warren wants to put it on,' said Ingle, who also dismissed suggestions that his man would be stripped if he failed to meet the Welshman before the end of September.

'As long as there's an agreed date, I can't see the WBO doing that,' he said.

'They know big fight dates are down to TV schedules and the like.'

With Joe Calzaghe talking of a return in October, probably at the MEN Arena, Manchester, where he outclassed Jeff Lacy in March, it would seem logical to stage Nelson-Maccarinelli on the same card.

It's got the makings of a good card.

Let's hope they can make this happen.

LOL.....i hope your one of those sukkaz that spends his months wages on a ticket only to have Calzaghe pull another sick note and Nelsons kneee callapses again................TEEHEE!

warren getting some use out of his men arena contract then. let's hope sicknote don't call off again.

what's happening with scott harrison. i really want him to make his comeback now, juan manuel marquez will be waiting when he does.

i'm still a bit undecided about nelson-enzo. common sense tells me nelson wins it. but johnny can be put into his shell when he don't like what's coming back. i still side with nelson though.

What people forget is that even though injured Nelson has been keeping in top shape with marathon bedroom romps.Nelson KO 7.

not a chance if nelson does grow some nuts to face enzo he will be stopped badly, come on lads enzo is the kiddy and aint going to be giving that belt up

if this fight does come off i pray that Enzo wins but i just cant see it. He was losing against Domingues lets face it Reeso. Enzo can bang and the shot he his domingues with was a corker but he should have had Domingues at arms lengh for all the fight b4 that.

lets face it he looked alot better no way was he losing that fight all the judges had him infront

i've gained a lot of respect for maccarinelli after his last two matches and given nelsons injury the fight for me is a lot closer but nelson has a shit style for enzo and i think it will be far from easy for him.

Enzo is the man just now. Hobson is among the toughest cruisers about and that match was war. Domingues stood for 8 rounds against 24 stone, 7ft 3in Valuev ffs, and Enzo KO'd him. Enzo needs some time to relax, then he needs minimum 8 weeks notice of a fight with Nelson and then he needs to have everyone turn up on the night. No excuses.

Nelsons best fights are behind him, they are impressive but they are behind him so I see it as Enzo pts then Nelson retires.