 Enzo Maccarinelli makes his fourth WBU title defence |
Welsh cruiserweight Enzo Maccarinelli will defend his WBU title against Belgium's Ismail Abdoul on 3 July. Maccarinelli was due to make his fourth defence against Carlos Cruzat at the Newport Sports Centre, but the Chilean withdrew with an ankle injury
However, the 27-year-old Abdoul, who has 21 wins from 26 fights with 10 knockouts, could be a tougher test.
"Abdoul is a respectable opponent and can give me a sterner test than Cruzat," said Swansea's Maccarinelli.
Abdoul lost on points earlier this year to the well-regarded Vincenzo Cantatore for the European title and last year also went the distance with Rudiger May, another of the division's better boxers.
"The change of challenger hasn't affected my training, which has gone fantastic so far," Maccarinelli added.
"Abdoul has taken Cantatore and May - who are both ranked in the top ten in most of the boxing organisations - the distance.
"I can punch harder than either of these so I will be looking to make a firm statement by knocking out Abdoul."
The 23-year-old Maccarinelli, who has 13 knockouts in 18 fights, last fought in February when he stopped durable Londoner Garry Delaney in eight rounds.
Also featuring on the card is 2002 Commonwealth Games champion Jamie Arthur, Pontypool welterweight Tony Doherty, Mountain Ash light-heavyweight Nathan King, Abercynon welterweight Taz Jones and Rhondda Valley light-welterweight Barrie Jones, who makes his professional debut.