Booth labels Enzo match 'disgusting'; Haye update by Ian McNeilly Feb 22nd 2007

Adam Booth, the trainer of European cruiserweight champion David Haye, has labelled the choice of opponent for WBO champion Enzo Maccarinelli “disgusting”. Intense negotiations between the management teams of Haye and Maccarinelli failed to produce what would have been one of the most highly-anticipated domestic fights of recent years and there is no love lost between Booth and Maccarinelli's manager, Frank Warren. “Disgusting,” said Booth unequivocally. “I've seen his fight with Shelby Gross. This man Gunn was knocked down and stopped…and it turns out the other bloke tested positive for marijuana. Effectively, Gunn has been stopped by someone who was stoned. How can they call this man a viable opponent for a world title fight – and I use the term ‘world' loosely. “This just reflects the different directions that David and Enzo are being taken in.” Unsurprisingly, Frank Warren was in no mood to take heat from Booth. “Marajuana stays in your system for six months - it's not like cocaine.  To say Gross was stoned is ridiculous.  "We could have had Haye-Maccarinelli if it wasn't for Booth. He was saying that Haye was a free agent and he wasn't – that's that. Haye can't make the weight anymore and was using us as a stalking horse for a pay day. Hey, I have no problem with that. But there's no way I could pay them what they were asking if it wasn't an ongoing situation rather than the one-off fight Vic Wakeling (Sky Sports boss) was going to allow them. “He can't make the weight and I doubt he'll be able to hang around to fight the winner of Mormeck and Bell, (the pair fight on March 17th for Bell's WBC and WBA titles – Haye is the WBC number one). “Going in different directions? Haye is going up to heavyweight, so what does that tell you? It bears out what I've said – he can't make the weight. Enzo is a cruiser and after he beats Gunn – who comes to fight but I do think Enzo will beat him – I'll be looking for a unification match for him.” Booth revealed part of the next steps for Haye. “David is fighting on April 27th at Wembley against a heavyweight who is ranked in the top 15 of the WBC rankings. I don't want to say who at the moment as contract negotiations are coming to a conclusion. “We are sticking with the WBC route because we've built a relationship with them and want to show loyalty. “We want to make an athletic statement that heavyweight boxing doesn't have to be boring. Michael Sprott was exciting for one punch but him, Audley Harrison, Matt Skelton and Danny Williams all seem to be boxing each other. “We are going to put on a show to prove we can gatecrash the division when we want to.”

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