ENZO Maccarinelli has tipped Swansea super-middleweight Tobias Webb to replicate his own glory and become a world champion.

Maccarinelli achieved a lifetime ambition when he became the WBO cruiserweight champion four years ago.

And now the Bonymaen boxer predicts a hugely successful career for rising talent Webb, the 29-year-old's nephew.

Webb is still wet behind the ears in the professional game, having just three fights under his belt.

But the 21-year-old, who enjoyed a good career in the amateur ranks, is steadily improving.

Webb's next fight comes on Friday at the Echo Arena in Liverpool, where his uncle is set to feature on the same card.

And Maccarinelli insists he sees something special in Webb, predicting world glory will head his way in the future.

"Tobias is a top young talent who will get better and better," said Maccarinelli.

"I've seen him grow up and develop as a boxer, and he is going to be the business.

"By that I mean a world champion. It's a lot of pressure to put on a kid who has had just three pro fights, but that's the belief I have in him.

"People will say I'm bound to say that because I'm his uncle, but believe me, this boy is special.

"The day he becomes a world champion I will come back to this interview and remind everyone what I said."

Webb has been overshadowed by the emergence of Olympians James DeGale and Tony Jeffries, who have been at the centre of publicity since their medal achievements in Beijing.

Maccarinelli, though, insists Webb's name will soon be among them.

"There is a lot made of DeGale and Jeffries, and rightly so given their achievements," he said.

"But I think there are a lot of people in the gyms seeing Tobias spar and they are blown away by him.

"The pundits may not know him, and he may not grab the headlines in the media, but people will be talking about Tobias once he gets a few more fights under his belt.

"What he needs to do in the next few fights is establish his own style. I don't think he will look to go for the knockout like me, because it is not a natural style for him.

"But once he gets into a style of fighting that he feels comfortable with, he can go on and achieve anything."

chris barney