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While the Swansea veteran won't be the main attraction for fans at the Echo Arena in Liverpool, he could potentially be involved in the fight of the night. Enzo Maccarinelli defends his Commonwealth Light Heavyweight title against the light hitting former Prizefighter semi-finalist Courtney Fry. Enzo 37-6(29) was involved in a cracker last time out when winning the title off Ovill McKenzie (W TKO 11), avenging a previous defeat inside 2 rounds. The Welshman has been involved in several thrilling encounters, and while he has bagged plenty of stunning victories it has also cost him dear, with all 6 defeats coming by way of knockout. Outside of his defeat to the hard-hitting McKenzie all 5 have come at Cruiserweight, meaning that Fry will likely be looking to become the first man to beat Maccarinelli on the cards.
Fry 18-3(6) is not to be taken lightly by the favourite, as Fry's only defeats came against McKenzie (PTS 4) and that was by a single point, Tony Oakey (UD 3) in the Prizefighter semi-final and Nathan Cleverly (TKO 8), his only stoppage defeat against the former WBO Light Heavyweight champion. But having only beaten 5 fighters with winning records, it seems hard to make a big case for Fry taking this contest.
If Fry is to win then he must stick to the outside, but his slightly shorter reach will make for more problems than solutions. Maccarinelli is open at most times but while Fry will win rounds and land more than his fair share of clubbing shots, the Welshman can come through those punches, grinding Fry down for a 10th round stoppage.
A rival for fight of the night will surely come from the packed Lightweight division where Stephen Ormond 15-1(7) defends his WBO European title against the impossible to deter, Derry Matthews 34-8-2(19). Derry will be buoyed by the rapturous reception he will receive from his home fans and his recent stunning 4th round stoppage of Curtis Woodhouse and come-from-behind 10th round stoppage of Tommy Coyle.
The Commonwealth champion is already set to defend that title against unbeaten Richard Commey next March. It is impossible to say that Matthews avoids the best in his division domestically, but Saturday night will be yet another test of his brilliant resolve.
Irishman Ormond's only defeat came at the hands of Paul Appleby in a close encounter last March and his last two victories over Adam Mate (TKO 1) and Adam Dingsdale (UD 10) demonstrated the improvements he's made.
While it is hard to ever write Matthews off and the fact that Ormond is yet to face anyone at the same level as the hometown hero, the pick is for Ormond to follow Coyle's blueprint before showing true Irish grit late on to take a unanimous decision win.
Also in action to delight the home fans is Liam Smith 15-0-1(5) who will likely go the distance to beat Mark Thompson 25-3(15) in the first defence of his British Light Middleweight crown.
Having outscored Erick Ochieng last time out Smith will be full of confidence to keep on track but the experienced Thompson will not make anything easy for the shorter Smith.
The untested Ruben Montoya 12-1-1(8) will offer little threat to Paul Butler's unbeaten record. Butler 13-0(7) can delight his home faithful with a stoppage inside 5 rounds.
Finally Joe Selkirk 11-0(5) can outpoint Ronnie Heffron's replacement Zoltan Sera 12-0(8) to claim the WBO European Light Middleweight title. Fingers crossed that Selkirk will be in with Heffron or Liam Smith early next year.
Elsewhere in Newcastle, Martin Ward 17-2(4) has a tough assignment when he challenges for the vacant Commonwealth Bantamweight crown against Gabriel Odoi Laryea 16-2-2(11).
The Ghanaian Laryea has bounced back from losing his first two professional fights and will offer Ward a stern test. Laryea will take confidence from Ward's stoppage defeats to journeyman Mickey Coveney (L TKO 2) and in May, Lee Haskins (L TKO 5).
Laryea can bang but the pick is for Ward to pull away down the stretch taking a close but unanimous decision win.
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