WBO cruiserweight champion Johnny Nelson has fuelled an expected meeting with WBU king Enzo Maccarinelli by saying his rival is 'not world class'. At the weekend, Maccarinelli beat Jesper Kristiansen and Nelson stopped Rudiger May to clear the way for a proposed bout in Cardiff in December.
"If you associate Enzo with me, people would respect him as world class and in reality he isn't," said Nelson.
"As a businessman I wouldn't put him in with me. He's decent European level."
The 37-year-old Sheffield fighter said he had no plans to retire after making the 12th defence of his crown against May in Essen. "I could box up to around 50 years of age if I wanted to," said Nelson.
"The way I train, the way we prepare, the way my family is in the gym - I could box as long as I want to. As long as my wife lets me.
"My plan is to come back to Germany. I love it, the German public treat me as if I'm a German man."
MMIX
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