By Sean Davies

Maccarinelli plays the part of Eddie Avoth in the Howard Winstone film

Swansea's European cruiserweight champion Enzo Maccarinelli has promised to become the first Welshman to regain a world title.

The 29-year-old former WBO champion makes the first defence of his European crown against Alexander Frenkel at Birmingham's LG Arena on 18 September.

He says that bigger things then await as he has recovered from the slump that threatened to end his career.

"I will retire as a world champion," said the big-hitter from Bonymaen.

"I fell out of love with the game, but I've regained that passion for the best sport in the world.

"I'm the first Swansea boy ever to have won a world title and one of only 10 Welshmen to have done it.

"People tell me I should be proud of what I've achieved - I'm not because I know I can achieve so much more, I've got a long way to go."

It was great to be part of [the Howard Winstone film] - now, hopefully, Stephen Spielberg will phone me and I can get a bigger part Enzo Maccarinelli

Twenty-five-year-old Frenkel, a Ukrainian based in Germany, is the mandatory challenger and boasts an impressive 22-0 record with 17 knock-outs.

But Maccarinelli has said that Frenkel's threat has been overstated, comparing his record to that of Alexander Kotlobay.

The Welshman stopped Kotlobay in the first round of their fight in St Petersburg in April to claim the vacant European crown.

That was easily Maccarinelli's most impressive performance since losing his WBO crown in a unification bout with current heavyweight king David Haye in March 2008.

Between that second-round defeat and the Kotlobay win, Maccarinelli suffered two devastating stoppage defeats against three victories over journeymen.

"I'll come out fast and swinging from first bell to last [against Frenkel]," said Maccarinelli.

"I'm feeling great. I was written off this time last year, but I told everyone it was otherwise.

"I went over to Russia, fought their top boy and knocked him out like I said I would.

"That shut a few people up and I'm going to shut a few more up.

"[Promoter] Frank Warren wanted me to retire after my loss to Denis Lebedev.

"I get on well with Frank and understand that, he didn't want me to get hurt.

"I was pathetic in that fight, but I told Frank the reasons why and that he would never see that fighter again.

"He's shown good faith in me and I will return that favour by becoming a world champion again."

Maccarinelli was speaking on the red carpet before the world premiere of the Howard Winstone movie Risen, shown as part of the WBC's three-day Night of Champions boxing festival in Cardiff.

The versatile Swansea man has a role in the film, playing Winstone's friend and sparring partner Eddie Avoth, the former British and Commonwealth light-heavyweight champion.

"I know Eddie so it was good - he said I was the only man good-looking enough to play him," laughed Maccarinelli.

"He was a great light-heavyweight and a top man with some fantastic stories to tell.

"It was an honour to be part of the legacy of Howard Winstone - he's not just one of the great boxers but one of Wales' greatest sporting heroes.

"What he achieved with the difficulties he faced was unbelievable.

"It was great to be part of that legacy - now, hopefully, Stephen Spielberg will phone me and I can get a bigger part!"

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