Enzo remains undeterred

Enzo: In action

I would have liked to whack Hide into retirement. I don't like the man.

Enzo Maccarinelli
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Enzo Maccarinelli remains intent on unifying the cruiserweight division after his demolition of Matthew Ellis on Saturday night.

Maccarinelli was left fighting for pride against the Blackpool heavyweight after American Johnathon Banks withdrew from his planned WBO cruiserweight title bout because of an ankle injury.

It took just two rounds for Maccarinelli to pummel the stand-in into submission and he is now looking to get his title quest back on course in February.

Targets

''I want to fight the best, bar none,'' said the Welshman, who was demolished in two rounds by David Haye nine months ago.

''Banks is first in my way and then there are another three champions. Let's get it on. I want to clean up the division, tear through it.

''I had a lot of critics after the Haye fight and I want to prove them wrong, get back to where I was at the top.

"I'm a focused man at the moment. No one can beat me if I do what I do best.

''It was important to get back in the ring. People thought I'd be gun shy but I took the centre of the ring and threw some bombs. Ellis took his shots well, but those body punches were crippling.''

Maccarinelli has also taken a swipe at former WBO heavyweight champion Herbie Hide, who he says ducked out of a potential match up.

''I would have liked to whack Hide into retirement. I don't like the man,'' he added.

"He has no respect for anyone other than himself and we're in a brutal enough sport as it is.

''But he turned his phone off and didn't want the fight, yet managed to call my local paper to slag me off.''