Boxing, Ceglia resists 8 rounds: but Noakes is too strong and remains European champion

It was an undertaking, if not impossible, highly improbable. And the ring confirmed the premises. Gianluca Ceglia he proudly resisted 8 rounds to the European lightweight champion Sam Noakes, then said enough as the gong was about to sound for the start of the ninth. Younger (27 years against 34), more powerful, simply stronger, sustained and also has a home field advantage that is never trivial when fighting at the York Hall in Bethnal Green, a historic place of London boxing. This is enough to explain the evening and the outcome.

It was Ceglia’s second European chance

Ceglia has deserved the second European chance of his career. He built it match after match, the last of which, very beautiful, broadcast by Repubblica.it and won against the Spaniard Frank Urquiaga. But if in the previous attempt – also away from home – against the Frenchman Mendy, the boxer from San Valentino Torio had brought the match to the points keeping it in a certain balance, this time there was nothing to do.

Noakes, premises for a world championship

Noakes is a good boxer, who, despite the complexity of a category like the lightweight one, full of great talents, will have a chance at the world sooner or later. He showed up with a business card made up of only victories and almost all by knockout (13 out of 14). Ceglia tried to limit him by trying to close the distance and trying to nullify his power. Defensive phase acceptable, but on an offensive level the Campanian did not try – or more likely did not succeed – to create problems.

Eight rounds, then the end

The British, cool and confident, was in no hurry. Skillful work on the shot alternated with series of very loaded shots. Ceglia held them until he could, then the large gap that existed came out and, thanks to a strong swelling above the right eye, the wise decision to say enough.