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Hopefuls line up to take on Nelson
WORLD champion Johnny Nelson wants more ring action before Christmas but there is a confusing cast list of possible opponents facing Sheffield's WBO cruiserweight king.
The mandatory challenger is European champion Vincenzo Cantatore. Welshman Enzo Maccarinelli is also said to be waiting in the wings but Nelson would prefer an unification bout with German adopted Pole, Dariusz Michalczewski, who holds the WBO light heavyeight title.
Rome-based Cantatore is 33 and has 29 wins to his credit from 33 bouts. He is a former WBC title challenger.
He is 6ft 2in and his last bout was a draw with German Rudiger May in June. Nelson knocked out May at the weekend in his 12th defence of the belt he won more than five years ago.
Said Nelson: "I don't expect Cantatore to take the fight. I'd go to Italy and beat him inside 10 rounds and he knows that.
"Maccarinelli is a good prospect but that is all. I know if they link his name with mine, people will start to think of him as genuine world title material. That is wrong, he could be in the future. I'd destroy him and probably his shining career too."
Nelson's popularity is growing in Germany. "There's a real buzz over there about me and Michalczewski. I've no problem going back there for it. It's a big, big fight that they're saying would fill a 15,000 seat arena," he added.
Maccarinelli, who is still only 24, did his chances of meeting Nelson no harm with a win inside three rounds over Dane, Jesper Kristiansen, on Friday to retain his WBU title.
Said Maccarinelli: "I think I am ready now. I've always said I wanted one more fight. A lot of people don't think I can do it but this boxing game's about being given a chance, and when I get my chance, I will take it."
Nelson countered: "My performance in Germany completely overshadowed that of his."
Trainer Brendan Ingle heaped praise on Nelson after his seventh round KO win in Germany over May.
"Johnny boxed brilliantly, he did a job on May, who came at him and got picked off."
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Saturday 26 May 2012
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