By Frank Warren

Enzo hopes it won’t be Vlad tidings for Jones

Enzo Maccarinelli is as game as they come and with upsets the order of the day in boxing at the moment he is looking to pull off a great victory in Moscow tonight over the redoubtable Roy Jones jnr who is well past his prime and should be retired, but is now an honorary Russian citizen and apparently president Vladimir Putin’s new best friend.

This is a big opportunity for the immensely likeable Welshman but a difficult job as, even at 46, Jones remains one of the one of the most  distinguished and capable practitioners, as well as being immensely popular in the city he has made his second home.

The venerable American, aka Captain Hook, a former multi-weight world champion, has won his  previous eight on the trot since being knocked  cold by his last world-class opponent Denis Lebedev, ironically a Russian,  in May 2011.

Since then he has had three hard-fought decision wins in and then posted five stoppage victories in a row over ho-hum opposition.

Maccarinelli has had his own aberrations, all starting with that unsettling high-profile loss to David Haye,  and at one time I even suggested  it might be best for him to give up the game.

But I have rarely encountered a boxer so genuinely passionate about the sport and this year has fought his way back with admirable determination under new tutor Gary Lockett, a young trainer, himself once an accomplished fighter who really knows his stuff.

Enzo may be 35, but he has never looked fitter.

The fight seems to be attracting a lot of attention in Russia even though the WBA have apparently reneged on it being for their ‘Super’ world cruiserweight title, as originally billed.

They are certainly brave in diminishing the occasion especially as macho man Putin, a renowned martial artist, judo black belt and great fight fan is due to be at ringside for the BoxNation-televised 12 rounder.

The fight fight heads a Vlad Hrunov-promoted bill at the VTB Ice Palace which includes two heavyweight veterans, American Samuel Peter and Belarussian Alexander Ustinov meeting for the vacant WBA International title.

Jones would be a good scalp for Enzo to have on his belt and who knows, if he can win this one – and I have a hunch he might – then he has to be in line for a another world title shot, and what a story that would be.

Because of the time difference, BoxNation’s telecast begins at 4pm tomorrow. A good time to settle down and watch an intriguing scrap with the tea and biscuits.