Macca refutes Nelson boast

The 23-year-old Swansea fighter will fight Kristiansen, 32, at the Newport Sports Centre on Friday, 3 September.

Kristiansen, from Varde, has knocked out two Maccarinelli victims - Earl Morais and Garry Delaney - and is a former WBO Intercontinental Champion.

"Kristiansen has been in with some good fighters and I see this as another test," Maccarinelli said.

Maccarinelli went the full 12-round distance for the first time in his professional career when beating Ismail Abdoul last month, but is eager to get back on the knockout trail.

However, Kristiansen showed he is durable by going the distance when challenging Pietro Aurino for the European title last year, although he did lose heavily on points.

It's the knockout I love and what the crowd want Enzo Maccarinelli

"I showed that I do have good all-round boxing ability and am not just a puncher when I fought Abdoul, it was great to go 12 rounds and show my repertoire," Maccarinelli added.

"But it's the knockout I love and what the crowd want, so I aim to get back to what I do best against Kristiansen."

Maccarinelli is still pursuing WBO champion Johnny Nelson and a win against the Dane would bring a potential match-up closer.

Nelson will make his 13th title defence against Rudiger May the day before the Welshman is in action.

Promoter Frank Warren added: "You've got Enzo and Johnny, two of the best cruiserweights in the world, fighting on consecutive nights and if both win it will set up a massive fight later in the year."

Chief support on the Newport card sees a potentially explosive middleweight encounter between Cwmbran's Gary Lockett and Birmingham's Wayne Elcock in a final eliminator for the WBU title.

The rest of the card features the best in Welsh talent, including lightweights Jamie Arthur - the 2002 Commonwealth Games champion - and Gavin Rees, welterweight Bradley Pryce, plus light-welterweights Tony Doherty and Barrie Jones.