GARY Lockett-trained Enzo Maccarinelli will now challenge Dmytro Kucher for the vacant European cruiserweight title at Bethnal Green’s York Hall on June 10.

Maccarinelli, a former holder of the European crown, replaces Derby-based Jamaican Ovill McKenzie after he withdrew through injury.

Dynamite-fisted Maccarinelli, from Swansea, is coming off the back of a brutal knockout win over boxing legend Roy Jones Jr at the VTB Arena in Moscow last December.

Former WBO world cruiserweight champion Maccarinelli is delighted to be challenging Kucher for the European crown.

“I had a phone call from BoxNation asking if I’d cover the fight as a pundit,” he said. “An hour later I had a phone call from my trainer Gary Lockett asking if I fancied stepping in to fight Kucher; it was a bit mad!

“Obviously I’m always in the gym so I jumped at the chance.”

He added: “I’ve won it before so it’ll be nice to become a two-time European champion.

“More importantly it gets me one step closer to another world title which is my ultimate goal.

“I’m taking things one fight at a time and hopefully I’ll get another shot at the biggest prize.

“First of all I need to take out Kucher on June 10 and I intend on doing it in style.”

Kucher, from Kiev, comes with a record of 17 knockouts from 23 wins and has only tasted defeat once, on points, in a professional career spanning seven years.

The big-hitting 31-year-old has previously held the WBC International Silver cruiserweight title and will be challenging for the European title for a second time after he drew against Belgium’s Bilal Laggoune for the vacant strap last October.

Meanwhile, Cwmbran's Lockett will be in the corner for Liam Williams when the British and Commonwealth super-welterweight champion faces Argentina’s Alberto Gustavo Sanchez over eight rounds at Liverpool#s Echo Arena on June 4.