Pamela Noutcho, the Maggiore’s nurse, did it: she beat Nina Pavlovic and won the European lightweight championship. “It’s for Bologna”

She has been on the front line for some time in the emergency room of the Maggiore in Bologna, where she works as a nurse. She became Italian amateur champion in the midst of Covid (when she had not yet obtained citizenship and was shouting her frustration to the world). Now Pamela Malvina Noutcho Sawa is the European lightweight champion. It seems like a sign of destiny, a title won in the midst of the bad weather emergency that is plaguing Bologna, so much so that the match against the Serbian Nina Pavlovic was moved from the Paladozza to Casalecchio di Reno, behind closed doors for safety reasons. Without hesitation the judges: 99-91, 100-91, 99-91 for Pamela. Then the shout: “It’s for Bologna”.

Bologna on the European boxing throne after 41 years

A silent, melancholy setting, which however does not take away a shred of value from the undertaking, even for the city: in fact, Bologna had not had a European boxing champion for 41 years. The last was Lucio Cusma, who won it against Joe Gibilisco in a match still remembered for its intensity, which ended at the beginning of the thirteenth round (then the European titles were around 15) due to the abandonment of the Italian-Australian. A satisfaction also for Bolognina Boxe to which Pamela belongs, a gym and historic meeting point for city boxing, which moved house in difficult years while keeping its DNA intact.

A warrior in the ring

Pamela, who spent her childhood years in Cameroon before moving to Italy, started boxing almost by chance. As she recalled in an interview given some time ago to Repubblica, in her early Italian years she didn’t like a nickname – ‘Tyson’ – much. However, it was precisely with an Iron Mike attitude, made up of short shots and suffocating pressure, that he rejected the ambitions of Nina Pavlovic, the Serbian who despite being 4 years younger (26 against 30) had been sailing for a long time on even global stages.

Pamela, a crescendo ending

The match went according to the expected tactical theme. The Serbian had good technique, not limiting herself to blocking with her left hook but often trying to double the action with her right. Pamela with the classic fighter attitude: small steps, powerful blows, perhaps too intense to the detriment of precision. At the beginning, even for a bit of tension, quite isolated shots, then more and more pressing. Certainly enough to make your dream come true and give, as far as possible, a smile to the city. For Italy it is the third European title currently held in boxing after those of Veronica Tosi and Silvia Bignami, also in the women’s field.