How will Enzo be remebered in British Boxing History ?

[Autobarn]

His win over Braithwaite was actually rather good. Braithwaite suffers from inactivity but is dangerous and bounced back to knock out Cuban prospect YP Hernandez in a war. Steve Cunningham just got credit for beating Braithwaite in an IBF eliminator.

The problem for me is the lack of sensible "in between" fights, competitive work that prepares a fighter for tougher tests. Look what Haye had before his world title wins, KOs of guys like Gurov and Fragomeni who came over here with good records and decent reputations. Mac goes from Hobson (good british level) to Braithwaite, Gunn to Haye.

I see Mac's career as a waste. Some won't, because he probably wasn't that big an investment to begin with. He actually did get good, but it seems that while he could look good destroying guys, he was a bit unprepared when opponents rallied back against him (Afolabi, Lebedev). I would say the problem was he was a cozy establishment fighter who made a good living battering guys that were well beneath him.

I get the impression that Enzo is hurt by the lack of respect, the criticism of him. But when you pretty much are the bully - that's not to say he didn't have some back and forth fights, he did v Hobson 1, Dominguez and Scott - then not everyone is going to buy into you. and ppl will rub the salt in once the bully gets battered.

[DavidPayne]

I just watched his fight with Lebedev - he should retire.

He gave up natural physical advantages, was shaken when hit, didn't hold, had poor footwork and seemed to have zero strategy on how to fight Lebdev.

He's 29, his heart isn't in it, and he's in with big men who could hurt someone who isn't in it with all they have. He's been stopped in 3 of his last 4, if memory serves and has nowhere to go. He should have gone back to domestic scene put 3-4 wins together and started again.

Best wishes to him and his family, he's been a willing fighter and he had the balls to fight tough men which most contributors here wouldn't have the nuts to do.

Enjoy retirement Enzo, look after the kids but don't box again.

[Autobarn]

yeah it was bad. he seemed to fold after a short left and his eye swelled up dramatically. he was just helpless in there vs that russian tank.

[Adamj1987]

will the Haye fight reflect on Enzo's legacy in a

good way - because he challenged for the WBC / WBA titles

or

bad way - because he got hurt and stopped inside 2 rounds

What 'legacy'?

haha indeed

[gobbles]

Great puncher, with a great jab. I think he was sometimes a bit too much of a thinker, someone who let the big occasions and the pressure get on top of him.

Whatever anyone says about the Braithwaite fight, he was fantastic that night, 12 rounds of non-stop pressure. The difference between that fight and the last two was incredible. But against Haye, he looked like the occasion got to him - running to the ring - Afolabi, he looked tired and clueless and he seemed to freeze against Lebedev.

But he gave me a lot of enjoyable nights and, when I met him, I found him the nicest, warmest guy you could ever meet.

Good luck to him in retirement, I'm sure he will be a success in whatever he does.

[twenty six]

Mahatma,
It's not about cutting him slack mate.
The thread was about his legacy - there isn't one mate.
That may sound brutal but that's how it is.
That's not to say he didn't do his best, find his level etc.
David P is right. Sometimes you look at a fighter and realise for whatever reason, what was there before no longer exists and that's when this sport gets dangerous.
I hope Macca has earned well, and enjoys his family life.
5 kids is not exactly an easy life !
I hope he doesn't fight again.

[dondada]

I'll remember him as a really nice guy who was, in retrospect, matched way above his head because the money was good. It ruined him.

I don't think so at all. He was an interim titlist who "graduated" when Nelson retired, had some safe defences and one decent-ish one against a past-peak Braithwaite, and then a gamble which backfired against Haye. He was shown up in that, but many thought he would win, and certainly given the talk of Haye's weight-making difficulties, it looked winnable. You can't really fault that.

He got smashed to bits. Most of us knew that would happen. He hasn't been the same since. I'm not saying it was JUST for the money - his promoter was very vocal in saying Enzo would win and Enzo certainly thought he could.

[Eraserhead]

The other thing worth keeping in mind is that the likes of Haye, Afolabi and Lebedev are better and more dangerous than all the guys Enzo 'created' his legacy against.

So, although the common perception is that Enzo is now 'shot' and is on the slide, maybe he just wasn't fighting the right guys to begin with? Would you have backed Enzo to beat those three two or three years ago? I wouldn't.

The Braithwaite win was good, but I'm not going to call him a better fighter than Afolabi or Lebdev yet. Both of them still have their careers ahead of them. Dominguez was on the way down and Hobson never made it halfway up the mountain.

I'm convinced Enzo has now just started meeting quality opposition and, unfortunately for him, it has coincided with a mammoth drop in confidence.

[oliverfennell]

I'll remember him as a really nice guy who was, in retrospect, matched way above his head because the money was good. It ruined him.

I don't think so at all. He was an interim titlist who "graduated" when Nelson retired, had some safe defences and one decent-ish one against a past-peak Braithwaite, and then a gamble which backfired against Haye. He was shown up in that, but many thought he would win, and certainly given the talk of Haye's weight-making difficulties, it looked winnable. You can't really fault that.

He got smashed to bits. Most of us knew that would happen. He hasn't been the same since. I'm not saying it was JUST for the money - his promoter was very vocal in saying Enzo would win and Enzo certainly thought he could.

Sorry, did you mean specifically the Lebedev fight? If so, then I agree with you (although I understand why they did it). I thought you meant he was overmatched previously, which I disagree with.

[twenty six]

He's done the right thing and retired.
Even then though he had to end it by saying he'd have smashed these guys 2 years ago

[oliverfennell]

He's done the right thing and retired.
Even then though he had to end it by saying he'd have smashed these guys 2 years ago

Yes, that bit didn't sound very sporting but at least he's recognising his own decline (even if in a somewhat ungracious fashion), which is something precious few boxers can admit to.

[mahatma]

just read hes retired..... correct decision

[FLINT ISLAND]

I think Enzo had one of the best left hooks to the body in World Boxing

Very fast and damaging.

He even landed one on Haye - one of the few punches he did land.

I think the left hook to the body was Enzo's best punch.

[DavidPayne]

Did he drop anyone but a buggered Gary Delaney with it? Was it Delaney he dropped about seven times?

I thought his power was over-rated.

Ismael Abdoul a boring, safety first light-heavyweight just stood there for 12 rounds and Enzo never looked like moving him.

[twenty six]

You're gonna have to let it go Flint.
You're starting to seem desperate.
One punch does not a fighter make - whether you think its the best in the world or not.
Let it go mate.
He did his best, earned well, but got beat by better fighters.
Nothing wrong in that.

[Captain Hook]

He's just come back now and said he is not retiring

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/boxing/8158299.stm

[twenty six]

Guess that changes Flint's retirement plans.
Sad if true.

[black panther]

His win over Braithwaite was actually rather good. Braithwaite suffers from inactivity but is dangerous and bounced back to knock out Cuban prospect YP Hernandez in a war. Steve Cunningham just got credit for beating Braithwaite in an IBF eliminator.

The problem for me is the lack of sensible "in between" fights, competitive work that prepares a fighter for tougher tests. Look what Haye had before his world title wins, KOs of guys like Gurov and Fragomeni who came over here with good records and decent reputations. Mac goes from Hobson (good british level) to Braithwaite, Gunn to Haye.

I see Mac's career as a waste. Some won't, because he probably wasn't that big an investment to begin with. He actually did get good, but it seems that while he could look good destroying guys, he was a bit unprepared when opponents rallied back against him (Afolabi, Lebedev). I would say the problem was he was a cozy establishment fighter who made a good living battering guys that were well beneath him.

I get the impression that Enzo is hurt by the lack of respect, the criticism of him. But when you pretty much are the bully - that's not to say he didn't have some back and forth fights, he did v Hobson 1, Dominguez and Scott - then not everyone is going to buy into you. and ppl will rub the salt in once the bully gets battered.

I tend to agree with you - as you've mentioned far too many "nothing" matches instead of decent tests at euro/fringe world level. Saturday he was never in it but against Ofalabi I'm sure he was winning the fight. He'll be remembered as a decent British/Euro level fighter who managed to pick up a world title he never beat a champion to get. But I for one enjoyed his fights, and I'll hold my hands up and say I thought he had a chance against Adamek before the Afolabi fight!

BUt how about going for the British title and starting a run at that level? I mean he's only 28! Then finish on a high note!

[rhino222]

I think Enzo had one of the best left hooks to the body in World Boxing

bloody hell, talk about a massive overstatement, change the word 'world' to the word 'welsh' and i will give your post some kudos.

[DG.]

Won a vacant belt against domestic opposition and defended against 2nd rate challengers.

Stopped 4 times.

Decent chap, but boxing is cruel.

[rhino222]

Won a vacant belt against domestic opposition and defended against 2nd rate challengers.

Stopped 4 times.

Decent chap, but boxing is cruel.

i think you have just summed it up in a few lines DG, too many hangers on for mr maccarinelli i think.

[Captain Hook]

Won a vacant belt against domestic opposition and defended against 2nd rate challengers.

Stopped 4 times.

Decent chap, but boxing is cruel.

i think you have just summed it up in a few lines DG, too many hangers on for mr maccarinelli i think.

Agreed.

He should have gone back to domestic level and gone for a Euro or British title....was out of his depth and ruined by Haye.

[dbf]

It's a funny one. He clearly loves boxing, and had some very nice moves/combinations, punched correctly, seemed to train hard and on the face of it appears ambitious. I think he may have bought into his own hype that he was a 'devastating puncher' also his defence and reaction to being hit back wasn't great. Plus he looked good in some fights and shocking in others.

He seemed uninterested in the Lebedev fight and couldn't pull the trigger. But really following that, its a long road back to anywhere. Having a big family and training in Manchester when home is swansea is never a good set up for a father, maybe for a teenager or single boxer, but not Enzo.

You can't deny the Braithwaite win, maybe the loss against Haye really robbed him of his confidence, and humiliated him. Good luck to him, it can't work out for everyone.

[lirva]

Won a vacant belt against domestic opposition and defended against 2nd rate challengers.

Stopped 4 times.

Decent chap, but boxing is cruel.

i think you have just summed it up in a few lines DG, too many hangers on for mr maccarinelli i think.

DG summed it up well. A point has to be made about Maccarinellis awful bullying attitude. I could dig up a link on youtube of when he was on bunces boxing hour acting like a right pratt and talking shite. Truth is, he was stopped 4 times and made a career out of beating 2nd rate challengers. He got put in his place when he tried to step up and then couldn't give credit to whoever beat him. I bet Haye is laughing at him now. Funny thing is, with the right training, mentality and application, Enzo could have done Haye.

[oliverfennell]

Won a vacant belt against domestic opposition and defended against 2nd rate challengers.

Stopped 4 times.

Decent chap, but boxing is cruel.

Marcelo Dominguez is British?