A WELCOME FROM
EDDIE HEARN W
e’re excited to return to the Allianz Cloud in Milan for Matchroom Boxing Italy and OPI Since 82’s first show of 202. Daniele Scardina was making excellent progress before the Coronavirus pandemic forced him out of the ring in 2020. I can’t wait for his ring return this evening as he takes on César Núñez for the European Union Super-Middleweight crown. As always, we have a strong undercard featuring a further three championship fights and an array of Italian prospects. For Italian boxing and Italian fight fans these are major shows that we are putting on. We’re putting on three or more major title fights on most shows with stacked undercards featuring the best up-and-coming young talent in Italy, as well as showcasing the Brits where we can. We’ve worked very hard to bring more people in Italy closer to the sport of boxing and putting on regular events underlines
our desire to continue on this path. Big names are extremely important in boxing. Scardina is one of the exciting new generation of Italian fighters that DAZN are particularly excited about and the fans are looking to grow with as he works towards a shot at a version of the Super-Middleweight World Title. ‘King Toretto’ has established himself as a poster boy for Italian boxing, winning all 18 of his professional fights to date, and tonight he fights for his third title. As you’ve seen by the cards we have been putting on since we announced our Italian venture back in 2018, there is a lot of great talent to be discovered in this country and they are determined to make names for themselves and progress quickly. With DAZN and OPI Since 82, we have the ability to make a huge difference to the sport and inspire a new generation of fighters. This is all part of a bigger plan to rebuild boxing in Italy. ■
Programme Editor: Daniel Barnard Fighter Interviews: Daniel Barnard, Jamie Ward and Scott Hammerton Design: Hashtag Digital Media (hdmdigitalsales@gmail.com) Cover: Adam Insam Photographs: Gio Auletta Master of Ceremonies: David Diamante
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KING
TORETTO
I
talian star Daniele Scardina makes his long-awaited return to the ring this evening as he takes on César Núñez for the vacant European Union Super-Middleweight Title. ‘King Torretto’ (18-0, 14 KOs) is quickly establishing himself as the flag-bearer for Italian boxing, picking up the vacant IBF International Super-Middleweight Title against Finland’s Henri Kekalainen in March 2019. The 28-year-old from Rozzano made the first defence of his IBF International belt against Alessandor Goddi three months later at the Allianz Cloud in Milan, before returning to the same venue in October to make another successful defence against Ilias Achergui. Scardina, who trains out of the 5th Street Gym in Miami, USA, will be looking to pick up where he left off as he strives towards a dream World Title shot in the red-hot 168lbs division. “I am very happy to be back in the ring, one year and four months of inactivity is too much,” said Scardina. “I need to feel the emotions that only boxing gives me. I tried to keep in shape but not having a scheduled fight made it difficult. “Last December I went back to Miami Beach and I trained at 5th Street Gym and now I am in top shape. I competed
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FEBRUARY 26 2021
SCARDINA VS NUNEZ
“MY DREAM IS TO BECOME A WORLD CHAMPION” at the Italian edition of Dancing with the stars, but I consider myself a fighter first. This fight is super-important for me and I am motivated to give my best to win. “I feel great right now, really happy. I know it’s going to be a good fight. He’s a tough opponent. He’s going to come for a war, but my camp was brilliant and I feel prepared. “I came from nothing, so what I have now, I really appreciate and work hard for. That’s why I train so hard. My dream is to become a World Champion. The bigger dream it to set an example for the young people. I want people to belive in themselves. “I want to be an inspiration to people and show them that nothing is impossible. If I can do it, then so can they. I want to show people how to follow their dreams and how to be strong and to never give up.” ■
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BAM BAM C
ésar Núñez wants to get over the disappointment of missing out on a shot at the WBO’s No.1 rated SuperMiddleweight Zach Parker by adding the European Union Title to his record. ‘Bam Bam’ (17-2-1, 9 KOs) was set to meet Debry’s Parker for the WBO International Title on the Billy Joe Saunders vs. Martin Murray World Title undercard back in December, only for their contest to fall through at the last moment due to a positive COVID test from his cutsman. A former Spanish Middleweight Champion, César Núñez looked for new challenges abroad in 2019, suffering his first professional loss against Germany’s Vincent Feigenbutz in Ludwigshafen. Four months later he fought at the famous Madison Square Garden in New York where he was stopped in one round by undefeated talent Edgar Berlanga. His last appearance came in his home city Pamplona in February 2020 where he stopped Alejandro Mostazo in two rounds – the ninth early finish of his 20-fight career. Despite his inactivity over the past year, César Núñez is confident that he can become the first man to defeat Italy’s rising star Daniele Scardina. “I have watched many of Daniele’s fights,” said César Núñez during the final press conference this week. “He is skilled, but I am ready to stand in front of him and give him a war.” ■
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FEBRUARY 27 2021
SCARDINA VS NUNEZ
PRODAN
I
BF International Welterweight Champion Maxim Prodan puts his Title on the line against Nicola Cristofori in this evening’s chief-support bout. Milan’s Prodan (18-0-1, 14 KOs) landed the IBF ranking Title by outpointing Britain’s Tony Dixon at the Allianz Cloud in Milan back in October 2019 – his last appearance in a ring. The Ukranian-born 147lbs talent has impressed since turning professional in 2015, fighting 15 times at the historic Teatro Principe, once at Superstudio Più and twice at Allianz Cloud, attracting a solid fan base with his aggressive fighting style. Despite his long absence from the squared circle, mainly caused by the Coronavirus pandemic, Prodan is confident of inflicting a third career loss on Ferrara’s Cristofori, and the 28-year-old already has his sights set on the European crown if he is successful tonight. “I have waited too long for this fight,” said Prodan. “One year without fighting is too much, but I always trained and I’m in top shape. I want to thank the Cherchi family, Matchroom and DAZN for their work on this event and other events that allow us to fight and give the fans the chance to see boxing in this difficult time. If I win, I want to fight abroad. The next step will be the European Title, my ultimate goal is the World Title.” ■
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CRISTOFORI N
icola Cristofori will attempt to become the first man to defeat Maxim Prodan when he collides with the Milan-based talent for his IBF Internatioal Welterweight Title. Ferrara’s Cristofori (11-2-2, 1 KO), a former Italian Welterweight Champion, heads into tonight’s Title clash coming off the back of a six-round points win over Ivica Gogosevic way back in September 2019. In his fight prior to that, the 26-year-old suffered his first stoppage defeat when he was taken out in five rounds by Emanuele Cavallucci in their Italian 147lbs Title clash. The Southpaw has two draws on his 15-fight record, the first coming against Simone Carli in his fifth fight at the Santa Maria Maddalena in Veneto, and the second coming against veteran Tobia Giuseppe Loriga in August 2018. Prodan is making waves in Italy with his aggressive fighting style, but Cristofori says he has nothing to fear and is promising to rip the IBF ranking Title away from his rival. “I can’t wait to be back in action,” said Cristofori. “I am very well prepared and I will put on a great show and win. We have opposite styles; he will be the aggressor as usual and I will make him miss and counterpunch. “Prodan says that he will knock me out? Good for him that he is that confident. I am used to fighting aggressive punchers, I know how to handle them and therefore Prodan’s fighting style is perfect for me. I will become IBF International Champion.” ■
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FEBRUARY 27 2021
SCARDINA VS NUNEZ
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THE
GOOD BOY
M
aking his second appearance on a Matchroom Boxing Italy event, Nicholas Esposito tonight takes the leap up in levels against the vastly experienced Tobia Loriga in the quest to be crowned Italian Welterweight Champion. ‘The Good Boy’ has notched 13 straight victories since turning over in December 2016, but Loriga represents by far his toughest test on paper so far. This is also the first 10-round fight for the 26-year-old who with victory will earn his first professional title.
“THIS IS A VERY IMPORTANT FIGHT FOR ME”
“This is a very important fight for me because I will fight over the 10-round distance for the first time and I will be fighting for the Italian belt for the first time,” said Esposito. “Tobia Loriga is the Champion and I respect him a lot. “To fight a veteran like him I had to work even harder than usual. I went to New York where I trained with American professional fighters for one month. I feel strong physically and mentally and I am sure that we will put up a great show.” ■
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LO SQUALO
ROSSOBLU I
talian Welterweight Champion Tobia Loriga (32-8-3, 6 KOs) tonight makes the second defence of his belt since recapturing it in October 2019. Loriga proved he still has a lot to offer last year when he defended his Italian title against 2019 European SuperWelterweight challenger Dario Socci, edging past his fellow countryman with a narrow majority decision verdict. Hailing from Crotone, Italy, Loriga’s run of victories in his homeland has seen him challenge at domestic, European level and beyond. In 2008 he took Julio Cesar Chaves Jr nine rounds in Mexico. UK fight fans may remember Loriga from 2014, when he challenged Bradley Skeete for the WBA Inter-Continental Title at London’s Copper Box Arena. The 43-year-old veteran, who made his professional bow in 2003, represents a huge step-up in experience for the unbeaten Nicholas Esposito, and Lo Squalo Rossoblu is prepared to retain his belt at all costs. “I am very well trained as usual because I respect all my opponents,” said Loriga. “I spent my whole life in the gym as my father Salvatore trained many fighters, the most famous was Giorgio Campanella. “I know that Nicholas Esposito will be motivated like any Italian who is fighting for the Italian championship, but I’m ready for a tough fight and the best man will win!” ■
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FEBRUARY 26 2021
SCARDINA VS NUNEZ
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12 X 3 MINS EUROPEAN UNION SUPER-MIDDLEWEIGHT TITLE
DANIELE CESAR vs SCARDINA NUNEZ
(ITALY) (SPAIN)
10 X 3 MINS IBF INTERNATIONAL WELTERWEIGHT TITLE
MAXIM NICOLA vs CRISTOFORI PRODAN
(UKRAINE)
(ITALY)
10 X 3 MINS ITALIAN WELTERWEIGHT TITLE
NICHOLAS TOBIA vs ESPOSITO LORIGA
(ITALY) (ITALY)
8 X 3 MINS INTERNATIONAL SUPER-WELTERWEIGHT CONTEST
MIRKO ISLAM vs NATALIZI TEFFAHI
(ITALY) (BELGIUM)
6 X 3 MINS INTERNATIONAL FEATHERWEIGHT CONTEST
VINCENZO vs LA FEMINA
PABLO NARVAEZ
(ITALY) (NICARAGUA)