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Last Updated: Friday, 8 June 2007, 08:30 GMT 09:30 UK
Braithwaite keen on Maccarinelli
Wayne Braithwaite
Braithwaite has just two losses from 22 fights
Wayne Braithwaite says he would meet WBO cruiserweight champion Enzo Maccarinelli in Cardiff on 21 July.

The ex-WBC title holder's manager Don King is talking with Maccarinelli's promoter Frank Warren about the deal.

"I fight anybody, anywhere and Cardiff on 21 July is not a problem for me," 31-year-old New York-based Guyanan Braithwaite told BBC Sport Wales.

"A high-class fight like that needs the right money, but Don and Frank are good businessmen and I think it'll happen."

Welshman Maccarinelli had targeted another Don King fighter, IBF champion Steve Cunningham, for the rearranged date at the Cardiff International Arena.

The Philadelphian, 30, told BBC Sport Wales that he is still recovering from his last bout, but that he would meet Maccarinelli in September or October.

Enzo Maccarinelli
I don't see anyone in the division to cause me problems, if I'm on top of my game nobody will touch me

Enzo Maccarinelli

That leaves Braithwaite - who is known as 'Big Truck' and holds a record of 22-2 (18 KOs) - as the main target for Warren in July.

He stopped Vincenzo Cantatore in Italy in 2002 to claim the WBC title, holding it until he suffered his first professional defeat to Jean-Marc Mormeck two years later.

A controversial stoppage defeat from Guillermo Jones in his next bout saw Braithwaite stay out of the ring for two years, but he returned to stop Gustavo Enriquez in February.

On the undercard of Maccarinelli's 21 July show in Cardiff, Gavin Rees challenges for Souleymane M'Baye's WBA light welterweight belt and Alex Arthur takes on Koba Gogoladze for the WBO interim super featherweight title.

Gary Lockett, Derry Matthews, Paul Smith, Nathan Cleverley, Barrie Jones, Kerry Hope, Kenny Anderson, Don Broadhurst and Harry Miles also feature on the bill, along with Tony Doherty's defence of his Celtic welterweight title against Colin McNeil.

Philadelphian Cunningham, 30, won the IBF title on a split decision from Krzysztof Wlodarczyk in Poland last month.

The only blemish on his 20-fight record was when he dropped a controversial split decision to Wlodarczyk in his previous fight for the vacant title in November.

My main aim is to unify the division and Maccarinelli definitely interests me

Steve Cunningham

"My main aim is to unify the division and Maccarinelli definitely interests me," Cunningham told BBC Sport Wales.

"It doesn't feel right to have other guys walking around calling themselves world champions.

"I've seen plenty of film of Enzo and he looks pretty useful, that will be a good fight one day."

Bonymaen's Maccarinelli, 26, also has just the one defeat, a second-round stoppage to Lee Swaby back in 2000.

He made the second defence of his WBO title against Bobby Gunn in April, the first-round stoppage taking the Welshman's record to 26-1 (20 KOs).

606: DEBATE

Maccarinelli says he would be confident of overcoming any opposition in the division.

"It never bothers me who I fight. I never question the opponents Frank picks," said Maccarinelli.

"I don't see anyone there to cause me problems and I've seen them all - Braithwaite, Bell, Mormeck, Cunningham, Marco Huck and Wlodarczyk.

"They're good fighters but if I'm on top of my game nobody will touch me. We need to find out who is number one."

SEE ALSO
BBC Sport Wales coverage
24 Dec 06 |  Wales
The Enzo Maccarinelli record
30 May 03 |  Boxing
Warren gives Rees stark warning
07 Jun 07 |  Boxing
Maccarinelli makes easy defence
07 Apr 07 |  Boxing


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