Warren hopes to make the Frenkel fight a world title eliminator

Promoter Frank Warren is ready to guide Swansea cruiserweight Enzo Maccarinelli on the path to becoming 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.

Warren, who wanted Maccarinelli to retire last year, says he is hoping to make that a world title eliminator.

"[If he wins] I've got to make [a world title fight] happen," said Warren.

"It's the next stop, there's no way I want him sitting around waiting for it to happen.

"I was one of the people asking him to retire - I care for him and consider him a friend as well as a professional fighter.

I've heard a lot of stories about how Frenkel's going to come over here and enjoy sightseeing Enzo Maccarinelli

"I've been really impressed with the way he has come back.

"But before anything else we have to win this tough fight. We take nothing for granted and respect Frenkel.

"He's a good puncher like Enzo, but I'm hoping that Enzo's experience and style will get him through."

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've heard a lot of stories about how Frenkel's going to come over here and enjoy sightseeing," said Maccarinelli, who is the only world champion produced by Swansea and one of just 10 from Wales.

"If that's what he's got in mind then great. I'm not going to run or hide from him - we'll meet in the centre of the ring and I'll swing him out of there.

"My head's right and that spells danger for all the other cruiserweights out there.

"[If I win] obviously the four world champions are the main aim, but whoever Frank puts in front of me I'll fight, I'm one of the few fighters out there who never ducks anyone."

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