ENZO Maccarinelli has picked Bolton as his new base to plot his way back to reclaiming his world title.

The Welsh cruiserweight has split with long-term trainer Enzo Calzaghe after his career stalled badly following two defeats in his last three fights.

But Maccarinelli is convinced he can once again rule the world and has joined forces with Bolton-based trainer Karl Ince to help him in his quest.

The former WBO champion began a seven-week training camp at Elite Boxing Gym on Mayor Street on Monday as he prepares for his WBO intercontinental showdown with unbeaten Russian Denis Lebedev at London’s O2 Arena on June 27, on the undercard of Amir Khan’s world-title fight with Andriy Kotelnik.

And the Maccarinelli believes Ince is the man to lead him back to the big time.

“I trust Karl and trust is a big thing for me,” said 28-year-old. “My career has stalled ridiculously and I felt I was ready for a change.

“I like the way Karl works and so far things have gone really well.”

Maccarinelli’s shock defeat to the unknown Ola Afolabi in March came amid rumours of a falling out with Enzo Calzaghe, who, at the time, was in the midst of a High Court dispute between Frank Warren, Maccarinelli's promoter, and Joe Calzaghe, the son of the Welshman’s trainer.

But Maccarinelli insists there is no bad blood between the pair and, knowing Ince from his work in Joe Calzaghe’s corner as a cut-man, he was happy to move to Bolton.

“I was hurt badly by my last defeat but I know there was no-one to blame but myself - I’m certainly not blaming Enzo,” he said.

“People are trying to say things about me and Enzo but I’ve left with his blessing and he helped me pick Karl.

“Enzo was like a father to me and Joe was like a brother, but that was the problem.

“We were just too close and that was getting in the way. If I’d trained badly I would just say I was feeling ill and Enzo would just say okay, when really I was just being lazy.

“I needed to freshen things up and that’s what I’ve done.

“People are saying I’m shot now but I’m in my prime and I’m going to prove it.”

Ince, who was in the corner for his new charge’s ninth-round knockout against Afolabi in Manchester, has a growing stable of professional fighters, including Maccarinelli’s nephew, Tobias Webb, and is delighted with his latest recruit.

He said: “It’s a great honour to train Enzo and I’m confident he can become a world champion again.

“He’s a very fit lad and we just need to work on a few things defensively.

“Bolton’s reputation as a place for top boxers to come is growing all the time. This is great for the town and it’s only a matter of time before Bolton has several champions.”