Friday, October 25, 2019

Scardina, Patera, And Prodan All Victorious In Milan, Italy



Undefeated Super-Middleweight contender Daniele Scardina successfully retained his IBF International Super-Middleweight championship with a hard-fought ten round unanimous decision over Ilias Archergui on Friday night at the Allianz Cloud in Milan, Italy. Scardina, a fighter with a career knockout percentage of over 80% going into the fight appeared as though he might have been able to make it a short evening in the ring as a flush right hand staggered Archergui in the second round. Moments later, a vicious left hook to the head sent Archergui down into his own corner. Although this seemed to have the appearance of a fight that it was only a matter of time before it would be over, Archergui immediately popped up from the knockdown and though he was on unsteady legs, was able to weather the storm and survive the round. By the middle rounds it was Archergui who was the aggressor, more active, and bringing the fight to Scardina.

Despite appearing to be more effective than his unbeaten opponent down the stretch and having the ebb and flow in his favor, one might argue that Archergui simply ran out of rounds to win the fight. All three judges scored the fight unanimously in favor of Scardina. Daniele Scardina advances to 18-0, with 14 Knockouts. Ilias Archergui falls to 13-5-1, with 6 Knockouts.

Also on this card:

In a battle for the European Lightweight championship champion Francesco Patera successfully retained his title for the third time by scoring a twelve round unanimous decision over previously undefeated Domenico Valentino. Several of the rounds in this bout were very close and difficult to score due to the measured pace of the combat and both fighters being able to have their share of effectiveness throughout most of the rounds. Although all three judges would have Patera winning convincingly on their respective scorecards, the telling moment of the fight was the champion dropping Valentino with a clean left hook in the twelfth and final round.  Francesco Patera advances to 23-3, with 8 Knockouts. Domenico Valentino falls to 8-1, with 1 Knockout.

In a bout for the vacant IBF International Welterweight championship, undefeated contender Maxim Prodan scored a hard-fought ten round split decision over Tony Dixon. This fight was dictated in the first four rounds by the constant jab of Dixon and his success in keeping Prodan at distance.  In the middle rounds, Prodan began having success in executing his offense in short, but aggressive bursts in landing hooks with both hands and mixing up his offense to the body and head. Though Dixon remained competitive and was able to withstand everything Prodan threw at him, it was Prodan’s harder punches and overall aggression that ultimately earned him the nod of two official judges to earn the split decision win. Maxim Prodan advances to 18-0-1, with 14 Knockouts. Tony Dixon falls to 12-3, with 3 Knockouts.


In an unexpectedly competitive bout unbeaten Super-Middleweight prospect Ivan Zucco was forced to gut out a hard-fought six round decision over a “Game” Vadim Gurau. Gurau, who had lost five of his previous eleven bouts did not fight like a boxer who’s record would indicate had little chance of derailing an undefeated prospect as he was more than willing to stand and engage with Zucco. Zucco’s higher work rate and consistency in forcing the action throughout was enough to earn the decision victory. Ivan Zucco advances to 10-0, with 8 Knockouts. Vadim Gurau falls to 6-6, with 0 Knockouts.

Undefeated Super-Middleweight Joshua Nmomah scored a six round decision over previously undefeated George Painstill. Joshua Nmomah advances to 8-0, with 2 Knockouts. George Painstill falls to 3-1-1, with 0 Knockouts.

Undefeated Jr. Middleweight Samuel Nmomah survived a scare in the third round of his fight against journeyman Ambrosi Sutidze as the veteran of Georgia dropped the unbeaten prospect with a flush overhand right, but could not build on the momentum as Nmomah was able to recover and go on to win a six round decision. Sutidze was also penalized in round six for holding. Samuel Nmomah advances to 12-0, with 3 Knockouts. Ambrosi Sutidze falls to 4-18-5, with 2 Knockouts.

Also in the Jr. Middleweight division, Nicholas Esposito scored a workmanlike six round decision over Benito Rugerrio. Nicholas Esposito advances to 11-0, with 5 Knockouts. Benito Rugerrio falls to 7-4, with 0 Knockouts.

In the Heavyweight division, undefeated Alen Babic scored a fourth round knockout over Ramazi Gogichahvili. Official time of the stoppage was :43 of round four. Alen Babic advances to 3-0, with 3 Knockouts. Ramazi Gogichahvili falls to 9-30-2, with 5 Knockouts.

As has been the case in on previous cards promoted by Matchroom Boxing’s Italian promotional branch in co-promotion with Italian promotional company OPI Since 82, this card provided a look at some of the rising stars on both the Italian and European scene. Although some might be critical of Daniele Scardina coming out of this fight tor his inability to get his opponent out of there when the opportunity appeared to be there for him, sometimes all a fighter can do is win. It will be up to Scardina and his team to evaluate what to do from here and make whatever possible adjustments they feel necessary going forward as he looks to develop on the world level of the sport.

For Maxm Prodan and Francesco Patera, one might argue that they are each at a similar stage as Scardina. While there are similarities between the three in terms of their respective stages of their careers and levels of competition up to this point, I feel with all three scoring victories on this card that it might be time to see if each can make the step forward from the European championship/fringe world contender level to a top contender. While taking that step is a figure of speech and will not likely be accomplished in each fighter’s next bouts, this observer believes with 2020 in the near future, it is time for each to test the waters.

“And That’s The Boxing Truth.”

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