• Boxing

Angry Warren urges Maccarinelli to retire

ESPN staff
September 20, 2010
Enzo Maccarinelli suffered a brutal knockdown
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Frank Warren has slammed referee Erkki Meronen after he risked the long-term health of Enzo Maccarinelli on Saturday, but the promoter concedes the time has come for the boxer to retire.

Maccarinelli began well in his clash with Alexander Frenkel at the LG Arena, arguably nudging ahead on the judges' scorecards through six rounds. However, he then suffered a sickening knockout in the seventh in what was a surprise defeat.

Referee Meronen earned the fury of Warren after he failed to stop the fight following Maccarinelli's initial knockdown, which left him flopped against the ropes with legs well-and-truly buckled. Barely surviving the ten count, Maccarinelli walked straight into two more huge shots from Frenkel that left him on the canvas for several minutes.

"The referee got it horribly wrong by letting it go on," fumed Warren in the Daily Mirror. "It was a shame for Enzo to go out like that after all he's done."

Casting his opinion on the future of a fighter who once held the WBO and WBU world championship titles, Warren told Maccarinelli to embark on a new career as a promoter.

"Enzo is one of the nicest guys you could hope to meet, and he is a great ambassador for boxing. I want him to promote shows with me in Wales."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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