Enzo stops Azzoui early

Enzo Maccarinelli stopped Mohamed Azzaoui in the fourth round to keep hold of his WBO cruiserweight title.

Swansea star shines in Cardiff with stoppage win over Algerian

Enzo Maccarinelli stopped Mohamed Azzaoui in the fourth round to keep hold of his WBO cruiserweight title. The Swansea fighter landed a body shot that forced referee Dave Paris to pull out the Algerian, who protested that the blow had been illegal. Up until then Azzaoui had proved an elusive target for the champion, who was fighting on the undercard to stable-mate Joe Calzaghe's showdown with Mikkel Kessler. After a drab opening round Maccarinelli finally caught up with his opponent in the second, a cracking left into the ribs being a sign of things to come. A good right uppercut also wobbled the previously unbeaten Azzaoui in the third round.

Perfect punch

Although he survived that blow the challenger saw his evening come to an end in the next when he was hit with a perfect kidney punch. The 31-year-old was in obvious pain in the corner but quickly got to his feet again to suggest to the referee that he was fit to continue. Maccarinelli has now successfully defended the WBO strap four times since he was handed the belt by the retirement of long-term champion Johnny Nelson. He had been due to face Ezra Sellers in Cardiff but the British Boxing Board of Control ruled the 39-year-old was not active enough to be allowed to fight.