Maccarinelli set to fight Ramierez

Enzo Maccarinelli will meet Victor Emilio Ramirez at the MEN Arena on March 14 in a fight expected to be for the vacant WBO cruiserweight title. Maccarinelli is hoping to reclaim the belt he lost to David Haye inside two rounds last March when he clashes with the Argentinian, who has a record of 14 wins and one defeat. Ramirez has accumulated 12 knockouts yet has fought outside Argentina just once, beating Alexander Alexeev in Germany nine days ago to win the WBO interim title. Plans for Maccarinelli to meet Jonathon Banks for the WBO world title in December were scuppered when the American pulled out through injury. Stand-ins Herbie Hide and Francisco Alvarez also withdrew ? the latter because of a failed medical ? resulting in a late scramble to find an opponent. The Welshman Maccarinelli, 28, took his frustration out on Mathew Ellis, marking his debut at heavyweight with a stoppage win inside two rounds. The promoter Frank Warren had intended to reschedule the Banks contest for March, but the 26-year-old from Detroit has instead opted to challenge for Tomasz Adamek's IBF crown next month. On the same Manchester card, Nicky Cook defends his WBO super-featherweight belt against the mandatory challenger Roman Martinez from Puerto Rico. Topping the bill on March 14 is Amir Khan's mouth-watering clash with Mexican great Marco Antonio Barrera. *PA Sport