JOHNNY Nelson, the man regarded as the world's best cruiserweight, says Welsh ace Enzo Maccarinelli can rule the division for years to come.

But the WBO champion does not believe he and his WBU champion rival will ever meet and for the Swansea puncher's own good and the good of British boxing he hopes they never face each other.

Nelson sat ringside and watched Maccarinelli taken the 12 round championship distance for the first time in massively outpointing strong Belgian Ismail Abdoul at the Newport Centre on Saturday.

Afterwards, asked about a possible clash, he said: "If we were to meet right now, somebody would be making a mistake.

"He knows he'll be on a hiding to nothing, so why do that right now? It's too early. It would be a talent totally spoilt.

"From a totally selfish point of view, put us together now before he knows how to use the tools he's got.

"But for Enzo and for boxing, keep us away from each other. Let him grow, let him mature, let him get better because when he does and starts meeting the big guys, he will dominate this division for a long time.

"He's got the whole package. He can punch, he can take a dig, he can move, he's sharp, he's enthusiastic and he's young.

"He has got the punches to open up people but he just doesn't know they're there yet.

"Why not nurture him and get him to really believe in what he can do and go through experiences like tonight, then he'll know when he's in against top class opponents he can be totally confident with them."

Nelson, now 37, intends quitting boxing at the end of this year and is scheduled to meet Rudiger May in Germany in September.

"When Enzo's ready to meet me, I won't be around," he said, "unless we fight before Christmas, and that won't happen.

"I love the game and when I walk out I still want to be in love with it and think 'look how it has changed my life', not leave a bad taste in my mouth. So I want to leave at the top."

Asked how Maccarinelli might have added Abdoul to the long list of fighters he'd previously knocked out, Nelson said: "That kid was a tricky little so and so.

"What would have been best for Enzo was to let the kid get confident, let him get brave, let him open up and try a few shots and then pick him off.

"But from round one Enzo was hitting him with big, powerful shots, and if you know you're going to get hit like that you are going to cover up."