Maccarinelli retains world title

Throughout the eight years and 27 fights that had passed before Saturday's showdown, the Welshman had repeatedly fought off claims he is a one-dimensional fighter, that if you stripped the thunder out of his left hook there would be little stock to claims he is the division's best.

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But, after absorbing 12 rounds of the 'Big Truck's' best shots and returning each punch with ferocious interest, the 26-year-old believes he has made his point.

He said: "I think I have proved a lot of people wrong. It's been said that I only have a big left hook, but I showed a lot more than that in there.

"My left hand was good, I hurt him with my right. I used jabs, body shots, the lot. I showed I have a solid chin, taking what he gave me because he hit me with some big shots, and I showed stamina and movement.

"I showed I have heart. I hurt my right hand early on, but I kept going and bossed the fight. I won every round. It's one of my best, most complete performances.

"I'm pretty delighted with how I fought. The [fifth-round] knockdown was pretty sweet as well.

"I could have finished him off, but it would have been risky. That guy could hit hard so there was no point just charging in for the sake of it.

"I could have been hit with a sucker punch and lost a fight I was bossing. These cruiserweights hit as hard as heavyweights, but move like the super-middleweights or light-heavies. I wasn't going to do anything stupid."

The win, Maccarinelli's third straight defence of the title he inherited when Johnny Nelson retired last year, has once again sparked talk of a future clash with David Haye.

It is a prospect Maccarinelli would relish, but, having seen one scheduled bout with the Londoner scrapped late in negotiations, he is not getting his hopes up.

He told PA Sport: "I was ready to fight David before but he pulled out. I signed my bit of the contract. All he had to do was sign and it would have been the best fight in Britain. He didn't and that was that.

"I'd love to fight him. I've always said that. It would a great fight for the fans between two good fighters, but what can I do if he doesn't sign?"

Maccarinelli has now been scheduled to be appear on the undercard of super-middleweight Joe Calzaghe's November 3 Millennium Stadium bout with Mikel Kessler.

Whether his opponent will be American Steve Cunningham, the IBF champion, remains to be seen, but Maccarinelli is not concerned by anyone they could put in the opposite corner.

"I'll fight anyone," he said.

"I feel strong, confident and I've proved what I can do. I don't mind who I fight."