ENZO Maccarinelli is one small step away from his dream world cruiserweight title unification fight with Sheffield's WBO champion Johnny Nelson, and that spells trouble for WBU cruiserweight challenger Jesper Kristiansen at the Newport Centre tonight.

The Swansea KO king failed to produce the big bombs last time out at the Centre when unambitious Belgian challenger Ismail Abdoul backpeddled throughout, content to suffer a massive points defeat rather than unconsciousness at the hands of 'Macca'.

Before that Maccarinelli had never been taken beyond four rounds with 11 of his 18 wins coming inside three rounds.

His previous fight at Newport in the first defence of the crown he took by knocking-out Bruce Scott in Cardiff in June 2003 ended inside a minute with the KO of Estonian Andrei Kiarsten.

The follow-up was another first round destruction of South African Earl Morais at Cardiff before he stopped Garry Delaney in eight rounds in February after putting the Londoner down eight times.

Nelson told the Argus after Macca's last win at Newport he did not think the Welsh 24-year-old was ready to face him and advised against the contest.

But Maccarinelli disagrees and if Nelson defends his title successfully against Rudiger May in Germany on Saturday night, a showdown seems certain in Cardiff in December.

A May win (and strange decisions often occur in Germany) would throw a spanner in the works as would a Kristiansen upset tonight, but that is unlikely.

The 32-year-old Dane has a record of 25 wins (9 by KO), four losses, one draw and one no contest. All except his last have been on home soil while he was stopped in ten rounds by Delaney in April 2000 and took eight to KO Morais in October 2002.

He is largely a defensive boxer but is experienced and has the ability to frustrate.

For that reason it may take a little while for Macca to get his measure, but with the promise of that Nelson showdown I expect the Swansea puncher to deliver another explosive KO in the middle rounds.

Gwent middleweight Gary 'The Rocket' Lockett meets old foe Michael Monaghan (Nottingham) and with a WBU world title fight next on the agenda will also be out to avoid any slip-up.

Monaghan took Lockett the full ten rounds in Cardiff in June last year and complained bitterly after suffering the narrowest of points defeats.

But all was not well with Lockett that night as he was lethargic from the start and ended up in hospital suffering from dehydration afterwards and he required a nasal operation to improve his breathing.

Since then Lockett has gained two quick KO wins and Monaghan two points wins plus a points loss to former WBO world champion Wayne Ellcock, whom Lockett was originally due to have met.

I don't expect Monaghan, a clever boxer, to go the distance this time.

Cwmbran featherweight Jamie Arthur faces London-based Ugandan Buster Dennis, winner of four of his ten fights and is out to make it nine from nine before a few more six-rounders and a challenge for the new Celtic super-featherweight crown.

"I only heard of my opponent at mid-day yesterday and haven't had time to see any tapes, but if you are going to climb the ladder you have to be able to adapt to beat whoever is put in front of you," he said.

Also on the bill Newport welterweight Bradley Pryce faces unbeaten Nigerian Ajose Olusegen over six rounds.

Pryce has rededicated himself since a split with trainer Enzo Calzaghe and a move to Tony Borg and has vowed to climb back up the rankings and lift the British title. He should win on points.

Newbridge's former world light-welterweight contender and now British lightweight contender Gavin Rees should KO Wolverhampton journeyman Carl Allen while unbeaten Pontypool light-welterweight Tony Doherty will make it ten wins from ten by beating Pontefract's Peter Dunn.