De Carolis KO’s Scardina In 5 In Milan, Italy

 Super-Middleweight contender Giovanni De Carolis scored an exciting five round knockout over previously unbeaten Daniele Scardina on Friday night at the Allianz Cloud in Milan, Italy. De Carolis badly staggered Scardina with a right hand to the head in the first round. In round two, he began to mix hooks to the head into his offense. In round three and most of round four, Scardina appeared to be getting into a rhythm and did manage to hurt De Carolis with a left hook to the body in the third round, but things suddenly changed late in round four when a right hand to the head followed by a flush left hook to the jaw sent Scardina down hard on the canvas. Clearly badly hurt, Scardina managed to get to his feet on very unsteady legs. There appeared to be some confusion following the knockdown as the bell rang with about seven seconds remaining in the round. Due in part to the confusion, there was a question briefly as to whether the fight was stopped and some clarification with ringside officials prior to the start of the fifth round. Despite being inadvertently given extra time to recover, Scardina had nothing left and De Carolis promptly pounced on him at the start of round five flooring him for a second time with a barrage of unanswered punches forcing the fight to be stopped. Official time of the stoppage was :10 of round five. Giovanni De Carolis advances to 31-10-1, with 15 Knockouts. Daniele Scardina falls to 20-1, with 16 Knockouts. 

 

Also on this card: 

 

Women’s European Jr. Featherweight champion Mary Romero scored a ten round unanimous decision over previously unbeaten Maria Cecchi. A very ugly bout that saw almost constant grappling and roughhouse tactics, usually initiated by Cecchi, Romero simply did what she needed to do to retain her title. Cecchi was penalized two points in round seven for intentionally headbutting Romero with her head facing the opposite direction. The result was Romero being sent to the canvas and a gash over her left eye. Although this would have been grounds for disqualification, Cecchi was able to continue to the final bell. Official scores were: 100-88, (On two scorecards) and 98-90 in favor of Romero. Mary Romero advances to 8-2, with 2 Knockouts. Maria Cecchi falls to 7-1, with 2 Knockouts.  

 

Welterweight Luis Romero scored a come from behind seventh round stoppage of Maxim Prodan. Romero used lateral movement and a slick Boxing style to dictate the combat for much of the fight. Just as it appeared Romero was comfortably ahead, Prodan decked him hard with a left hook to the head in the closing seconds of round six. Romero struggled, but did manage to get to his feet and survive the round. As it appeared Prodan was on the verge of finishing Romero off at the beginning of round seven, Romero responded by staggering Prodan with a right hand to the head that set off a barrage of unanswered punches that resulted in a standing eight count being implemented by the referee. Romero pressed forward at the conclusion of the eight count and continued his assault resulting in the referee issuing a second standing eight count. This time Prodan was walking away as the referee counted and the bout was stopped. Official time of the stoppage was 1:15 of round seven. Luis Romero advances to 11-5-1, with 7 Knockouts. Maxim Prodan falls to 19-2-1, with 15 Knockouts. 

 

Cruiserweight Oronzo Birardi had a tough test to earn the fourth victory in as many pro bouts in being forced to go the distance for the first time of his career in scoring a six round unanimous decision over Ovidiu Enache. Birardi had success in keeping the fight at a distance where he could get his jab working as the focal point of his offense. As the fight progressed however, Enache came on and landed hard hooks to the head with both hands that appeared to have Birardi stunned down the stretch, the unbeaten Birardi was able to hang on to earn the hard fought decision victory.  Official scores were: 59-55, (On two scorecards) and 58-56 in favor of Birardi. Oronzo Birardi advances to 4-0, with 3 Knockouts. Ovidiu Enache falls to 6-10, with 1 Knockout. 

 

Unbeaten Middleweight Joshua Nmomah  scored a workmanlike eight round unanimous decision over veteran Gabor Gorbics. Nmomah was in control from the opening bell and appeared at times as though that he may have been able to force a stoppage of the fight, but Gorbics hung in there until the final bell. Official scores were: 80-72 (On all three scorecards in favor of Nmomah. Joshua Nmomah advances to 12-0, with 3 Knockouts. Gabar Gorbics falls to 26-27-2, with 16 Knockouts.  

 

Super-Middleweight Daniele Reggi began the evening by successfully making his professional debut by scoring a third round stoppage of a very “Game” Luca Barbessi. A fight fought at a furious pace from the outset. Reggi wore Barbessi down with body shots and got knockdowns in rounds two and three with left hooks to the body. It was after the second knockdown that the bout was stopped at :53 into round three. Daniele Reggi advances to 1-0, with 1 Knockout. Luca Barbessi falls to 0-4, with 0 Knockouts.  

 

What was billed as perhaps the fight of the year to be held in Italy in 2022, Givonni De Carolis, who briefly held interim/regular championship status in the WBA Super-Middleweight ratings several years ago, has catapulted himself back into the discussion of contenders in the division off of an upset knockout victory over Daniele Scardina. With the status of the Undisputed Super-Middleweight world championship perhaps in limbo following undisputed champion Saul “Canelo” Alvarez’ recent loss to WBA Light-Heavyweight world champion Dmitry Bivol last week in Las Vegas, NV, there might be room to maneuver if Alvarez does seek a rematch with Bivol and perhaps the undisputed championship is broken up due to the championships that make up the crown not being defended within a certain timeframe. While that is a subject for another time, Givonni De Carolis has re-established himself as a player in the 168lb. Super-Middleweight division. 

 

“And That’s The Boxing Truth.” 

 

The Boxing Truth® is a registered trademark of Beau Denison All Rights Reserved. 

 

Follow Beau Denison on Twitter: www.twitter.com/Beau_Denison  

 

What Does Kovalev Have Left?

 

One of the most common storylines that is associated with the sport of Boxing and by extension all combat sports that most can identify with is one of a former world champion trying to re-emerge into competition after a lengthy absence. A storyline is most commonly known as “A Comeback.” 

 

While there are certainly no shortage of comeback stories that range from highly successful to at times tragic in the sense of the outcome of a planned return, each comeback story has its own unique circumstances. In the case of former three-time World Light-Heavyweight champion Sergey Kovalev, his career has seen several highs and lows that often come with a long career in the sport. In his last bout in November2019, Kovalev's third reign as a Light-Heavyweight world champion came to an end when he was knocked out by Saul “Canelo” Alvarez for the WBO world championship in eleven rounds. Since then, Kovalev has been inactive due in part to testing positive for banned substances for a second time, which derailed a planned return against Bektemir Melikuziev in January of last year. While obviously the circumstances of the ongoing global COVID-19 epidemic likely has also contributed to Kovalev’s inactivity,  now at age thirty-nine he prepares for the next chapter in his career. 

 

This chapter for Kovalev will begin on Saturday, May 14th when he faces undefeated Tervel Pulev on a Triller promoted Boxing card at The Forum in Inglewood, CA. The bout, which will be the main event of the card will be broadcast on Triller's TrillerVerz digital subscription-based streaming platform through FITE. The fight for Kovalev will also mark his debut in the Cruiserweight division. 

 

Although the 190lb.-200lb. Cruiserweight division has traditionally been lightly regarded as it has never been thought of as a career destination for most boxers, the division has served a purpose either as a stepping stone for lack of a better term for fighters who want to test the waters before moving up to the Heavyweight division or as a fall back option either for smaller Heavyweights who feel that they may be able to compete more effectively at Cruiserweight or for Light-Heavyweights who either cannot make the 175lb. Light-Heavyweight limit or simply want to seek opportunities in a division that normally seems to lack mainstream attention. For Kovalev, his notoriety is such that if he is successful in this fight, he may be able to springboard himself right into contention for a world title shot in the division based largely on his name recognition alone. 

 

An obvious question as this fight approaches is what does Sergey Kovalev have left to give as a fighter. In addition to a lengthy layoff, it is important to remember that much of the last decade in the Light-Heavyweight division saw Kovalev in one way or another in the role of a division cornerstone in compiling three separate reigns as a world champion over the course of that time. While a lengthy absence out of the ring might be viewed negatively by some, three of Kovalev’s four career losses including his last bout against Saul Alvarez came via knockout. Though the potential of ring rust is very real and should not be dismissed, there are times where a long layoff can allow a fighter to recuperate from not only the effects of a loss, but also the wear and tear that comes from a long career. 

 

What does Tervel Pulev bring into this fight? The younger brother of multi-time Heavyweight world title challenger Kubrat Pulev, who will also coincidentally be fighting on the undercard, is unbeaten in sixteen professional bouts having scored knockouts in thirteen of those fights. While Pulev will be at a disadvantage when it comes to big fight experience as compared to Kovalev, the advantage at least theoretically that Pulev should have going into this encounter is that he is a natural Cruiserweight and has been more active than his opponent. 

 

Although Sergey Kovalev will always have a Boxing style that should be respected due to it often being a style where the objective is seek and destroy, regardless of how long he has been out of competition, it will be interesting to see if Pulev attempts to impose his will on the former world champion early. While Pulev should approach Kovalev with caution at least early in the fight, he needs to find a way to establish himself as the naturally bigger fighter and cannot be awed by the occasion of fighting someone of Kovalev’s caliber. 

 

As someone who has covered Sergey Kovalev’s career extensively through the years, my gut instinct suggests that we are likely to find out what he will bring with him into this fight sooner rather than later in the sense that he likely will not be interested in going the scheduled ten round distance. Even though it is tempting to say that a loss for Kovalev at this stage of his career could bring retirement, this observer would not feel comfortable in suggesting that at least until we see how he looks both after the lengthy layoff as well as now fighting in a new weight class. There is little doubt however, that the pressure will be on Kovalev and whether he wins or loses this fight, it might be how he performs that will determine how he will move forward in his career. 

 

“And That’s The Boxing Truth.” 

 

Kovalev vs. Pulev takes place on Saturday, May 14th at The Forum in Inglewood, CA. The fight can be seen globally on digital combat sports and entertainment streaming network FITE as part of Triller’s Trillerverz digital subscription streaming platform beginning at 9PM ET/6PM PT. (U.S. Times only.) For more information about Triller, Trillerverz, and to subscribe please visit: https://www.fite.tv/join/ and click the Trillerverz Pass tab. FITE is available on mobile, tablet, and connected streaming devices/platforms/Smart TVs. For more information about FITE including schedules, list of compatible streaming devices/platforms/smart TVs, event availability in your area, local start times in your area, and for instructions on how to download the FITE app on your device of choice please visit: www.FITE.TV.  

 

 

The Boxing Truth® is a registered trademark of Beau Denison All Rights Reserved. 

 

Follow Beau Denison on Twitter: www.twitter.com/Beau_Denison