Roma – “It’s a great opportunity, both for me and for Italian boxing. A sport with great traditions that at the moment does not have a European champion, this must be remedied.” Francesco Grandelli, 30 years old, from Turin, has the possibility of erasing a zero that makes noise. On Friday evening in Carbonia, he will try to wrest the continental featherweight belt from the reigning champion, the Spaniard Cristobal Lorente. “We worked well with the team, I feel the deep conviction that we can win”. The Spaniard was a tough opponent, capable of dethroning the Roman Mauro Forte from the European throne in the Tirana ring, who in turn had inflicted a defeat by knockout on Grandelli in the first round in the previous attempt to win the title: “But that defeat paradoxically made me I’ve improved, I’ve worked a lot on the mental aspect and now I feel much more confident.”
The pressure of fighting in Italy
The Cherchi family’s Opi Since 82 built this chance for him. Grandelli is ready to seize it, but he also sees it as a starting point: “In the meantime I’m focusing on the European Championship, then it’s only human to have the ambition of making an attempt at world level”. And on the pressure of fighting in Italy: “I feel it before the match, also as a matter of gratitude to the organisation’s efforts. But then in difficult moments the friendly public can help.”
Full time professional
A technical and fast boxer (“My role model is Lomachenko”), for some time now he has managed to be a full-time professional, which in Italy is not always possible: “Until last year I worked on security in a supermarket, now I can dedicate myself to the municipal gym of Nichelino, which I manage with my family, and I have found help in sponsors”.
Abroad to get involved
He has never had problems getting involved, like when last May he was beaten in London with a highly questionable verdict by the British Collins: “I paid the price of fighting abroad, but I didn’t lose that match. The truth is that we have a lot of good talented boxers, it’s just that growing outside the borders is easier. There is more considerable financial availability, the training camps are of a high level. In short, there is more opportunity to compare and grow.” The card is interesting. Among the protagonists, Fabio Turchi, former challenger to the IBO light heavyweight world title, opposed to the Belarusian Viktar Chvarkou and Patrick Cappai, undefeated in featherweight, who will face the expert Tanzanian Tasha Mjuaji. Live on Dazn starting at 8pm.
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