It’s another night of action from Allianz Cloud in Milan, Italy this Friday night, as Matchroom and OPI Since 82 promote a night of championship action.
The main event features popular Florence Cruiserweight, Fabio Turchi (18-1, KO13), and the 27-year-old contests the vacant EU belt against France’s Dylan Bregeon (11-0-1, KO3).
Turchi lost his unbeaten record in October 2019, when Ireland’s Tommy McCarthy took a split decision win and Turchi’s WBC International strap.
But the Italian rebounded to win the vacant IBF International title last time out, widely outscoring Nikolajs Grisunins over ten in October 2020.
Nantes’ Bregeon is unbeaten, with his only blemish a tight majority draw in November 2019 in a bid for the vacant French title against Siril Makiadi, and he returned in January 2020 to win the still vacant belt against Olivier Vautrain on the scorecards.
Turchi should have a bit more seasoning, and can take the crown with a clear points win.
Sharing top billing is underrated Belgian, Francesco Patera (23-3, KO8) and the Genk native attempts to move towards world titles with a tilt at the vacant WBC Silver Lightweight title.
A win gives him a boost in the rankings with the governing body, and opposing him this weekend will be Ukrainian, Vladyslav Melnyk (13-3, KO8). Melnyk steps in for Devis Boschiero, who was forced to withdraw.
It will be a first appearance since October 2019 for Patera, and he will be keen to force his way into what is a congested picture at world level.
He has struggled to build on what was his career best win in October 2018, when he hurt Lewis Ritson several times in an upset split decision win that won him the vacant European title in an upset in Newcastle.
Patera fought three times in 2019, with three successive defences of his belt against Marvin Petit (unanimous decision), Paul Hyland Junior (TKO6) and Domenico Valentino (unanimous decision).
Melnyk is not really in Patera’s class, and the 22-year-old from Myrhorod is 2-2 in his last four fights. He was widely outscored in Belarus in July 2020 by Isa Chaniev, and five months later, he travelled to Kazakhstan where he was routed on the cards by the talented Sultan Zaurbek over ten.
Melnyk was last out as recently as February, forcing the 1-5 Farid Hummatov to retire after three rounds.
Prediction: Patera is vastly experienced compared to his opponent, and the levels should show here. After a brisk start, the Belgian will settle into a rhythm, and can stop Melnyk in around six frames.
The vacant Italian Super Middleweight title is at stake as Ivan Zucco (12-0, KO10) meets Luca Capuano (11-0, KO2) over a scheduled ten in a battle of unbeatens.
Both have never been past six rounds, and the tentative pick is for Zucco to score a win on the cards.
Piemonte-based Nigerian, Samuel Nmomah (14-0, KO4) should have too much for Kassimou Mouhamadou (7-2, KO3) over eight at Super Welterweight, and can take a decision win.
At Featherweight, Mauro Forte (14-0-1, KO5), will more than likely need the cards to beat Cristian Narvaez (16-24-6, KO1), who has only been stopped early once.
Armando Casamonica (1-0, KO0) should need the six round distance in his Super Lightweight affair with Davide Cali (3-21-1, KO0), another man only stopped once.
Finally, at Flyweight, Moroccan, Mohammed Obbadi (21-1, KO13), makes an appearance.
