Alexander Frenkel (23-0, 18 KOs) captured the European Cruiserweight title after a brutal knock out over Enzo Maccarinelli (32-5, 25 KOs) in the seventh round. The unbeaten 25-year-old floored the former world champion with a vicious left hook that toppled Maccarinelli at the LG Arena in Birmingham. Maccarinelli was able to get up, but clearly was out on his feet still. The referee wrongfully allowed the fight to continue and Frenkel went off with left and right hooks that would floor Maccarinelli once more and for the last time. “I am very happy,” Frenkel said. “It was a tough fight against a very dangerous opponent. Maccarinelli was very strong but in the seventh round I hit him.”
After winning the opening round, Frenkel was trailing on all scorecards by the time he connected. “I wanted him to throw the left hook,” coach Ulli Wegner said. “We knew that Maccarinelli was a tough opponent but we also knew that Alexander has incredible punching power. That he showed once again tonight. However, he should have been more active in the opening rounds.”
On the under card, Karo Murat (22-1, 13 KOs) suffered the first loss of his career as he was outboxed by Nathan Cleverly in a WBO Light Heavyweight Title Eliminator. The referee stopped the fight after nine one-sided rounds. “I am very disappointed,” Murat said. “I will analyze my mistakes and bounce back.” Cleverly was in full control throughout, making good use of his advantage in height and reach. “We knew Cleverly would start out strongly but I had expected Karo to be more active after five rounds,” Ulli Wegner said. “He should have been much more aggressive but he will learn from his mistakes. You must never forget that he does not have a big amateur background and is still very young. He will be back.”
