Maccarinelli to face Gunn
Maccarinelli is making only the second defence of his belt
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Thursday, 08, Feb 2007 10:55
Robert Gunn has been announced as WBO cruiserweight champion Enzo Maccarinelli's opponent for the Welshman's April 7th defence in Cardiff.
The American challenger holds a record of 16 wins and just two losses, with eight first-round stoppages to his name.
Gunn steps in after the prospects of an all-British clash, with Maccarinelli taking on EBU champion David Haye, dissolved as the two camps wrangled over how the purse from the fight should be split.
After featuring on the undercard of Joe Calzaghe's contest with Peter Manfredo Jnr, Maccarinelli is determined to blaze his own trail with a future showdown against the division's top fighter O'Neill Bell.
The Jamaican holds both the WBA and WBC belts and should come through his next defence in France.
"Bell is the one recognised as the undisputed champion, but he cannot call himself that until he beats me," Maccarinelli told icwales.
"That is the fight I am aiming for. He has said he has got a lot of admiration for me and that he wants my belt.
"I want to fight the best straight away and I definitely feel that I will get him."