BOXING promoter Frank Warren will today announce that Enzo Maccarinelli will be getting a world title shot on the Amir Khan/Marco Antonio Barrera bill in Manchester, the Argus has learned.

Team Calzaghe puncher Maccarinelli travelled to London yesterday and will today meet the national Press as Warren announces a WBO world title fight for Maccarinelli against Argentinean Victor Ramirez, the current interim champion, scheduled for March 14.

Ramirez, just 24, caused a major upset last week by beating the previously undefeated Alexander Alexeev in nine rounds in Germany and will provide a good test for Maccarinelli, who has seen yet another potential opponent bite the dust in the shape of American Johnathon Banks, who has instead agreed to fight Pole Tomasz Adamek, the IBF champion.

Maccarinelli had been set for a clash for the WBO crown with Banks back in November, but the American pulled out at the eleventh hour and Maccarinelli instead had a first tilt at the heavyweight division, flooring Matthew Ellis four times in a destructive win inside two.

However, following the loss of his WBA cruiserweight title when he was stopped in the battle of Britain with heavyweight contender David Haye, it is a world title Maccarinelli has craved, and now a year and a week on from that defeat he will get his chance.

“As far as I am aware, it’s pretty close to being agreed for Ramirez, but to be honest I don’t care who I fight, as long as a world title is at stake,” Maccarinelli told the Argus.

“I know negotiations have been ongoing and although Ramirez hasn’t beaten anyone of note before a couple of weeks ago, you have to take notice when he stops a guy like Alexeev. (Ramirez now rated at six in the Boxrec rankings, Maccarinelli not in the top ten.) “He is a big hitter and so am I, so I guess you can expect some fireworks, but I am walking out as a world champion.”

Further good news for the Team Calzaghe stable, gearing up for their first show as promoters in Merthyr next month, is the probable return to the ring of Commonwealth light- middleweight champion Bradley Pryce.

Pryce will also be announced for the Khan undercard today, where he is scheduled to defend his title against the robust Matthew Hall.

Hall demolished Pryce’s stablemate Kerry Hope last year and has just one career defeat, to Martin Concepcion, who Pryce knocked out with one of the most brutal shots of the year in 2007. Pryce has fought only once since and will be relishing the chance.

“I have no issues with Bradley or Gavin (Rees, stablemate) either, my issues and legal action with Joe won’t affect these two,” promoter Warren told the Argus.

“I have been keen to make the Hall fight for Bradley for quite some time.”

* Meanwhile, in the first superfight of 2009, Shane Mosley knocked Antonio Margarito out for the first time in his career in the ninth round on Saturday to win the WBA welterweight title.

Margarito was a red-hot favourite for the bout, having beaten Miguel Cotto in his previous fight, but Mosley rolled back the years to dominate from the first bell.

The 37-year-old used his superior speed from the beginning, and Margarito never looked comfortable. Mosley was already well ahead on the judges’ scorecards when he rocked Margarito in the eighth and put his opponent onto the canvas with a flurry of punches.

A stunned Margarito beat the count but Mosley continued to force the action in the ninth, and finally Margarito’s corner threw in the towel.