Nelson aims to retire as world champion

Johnny Nelson is determined to emulate Lennox Lewis and retire as a world champion – but not before he has seen off the challenge of young pretender Enzo Maccarinelli.

The 39-year-old Nelson will put the WBO cruiserweight title he has held for six years on the line against 25-year-old Maccarinelli at Manchester’s MEN Arena on March 4.

The Sheffield favourite insists he will be as focused as ever on the fight as he looks to kick his long-term retirement plan into operation.

Nelson said: “I will retire with the belt and nobody will take it away from me unless they chop my arms and legs off.

“I believe I have got another two years left at this level but I am not so deeply in love with the sport that I will not be able to walk away.

“For me to do a Lennox Lewis and walk away as champion means more than anything to me. It means a lot more to me than beating up Enzo Maccarinelli.”

Nelson and Maccarinelli get on well outside the ring but will put the niceties on hold for their clash on the undercard of Joe Calzaghe’s world super-middleweight title unification showdown with Jeff Lacy.

Nelson is still holding out some hope for a unification showdown of his own with new undisputed champion O’Neil Bell – but has also found himself at the head of one of the most vibrant UK divisions.

The emergence of talent like Maccarinelli and the fierce-punching David Haye has provided Nelson with a number of high-profile options to end his career at home.

Nelson added: “There are a lot of fresh fighters around and I know realistically at 39 I cannot carry on for a whole lot longer.

“It is unfortunate time has caught up with me so I have got to capitalise on as much as I can while I can.

“Enzo should not think I am under-estimating him or dismissing him. I can guarantee that I will be training like a mad man for this fight.”