Fabio Turchi deserves credit for his heart, courage, and fierce determination—he battled stoically, never giving up until the end of a fight that seemed all but lost—but tonight’s win, in Piazza Santa Croce in Florence, has the very unpleasant taste of a hometown decision. Turchi claimed the vacant WBO Global cruiserweight belt at the expense of Latvian Milans Volkovs, thanks to a unanimous decision that stretched credulity at the end of a bout Turchi fought most of the night “with only one eye.” These were the official scorecards, all in favor of Turchi, for the main event of the Opi Since 82 show sponsored by Leone: 97–93, 97–93, 97–94.
The fight opened as expected: Turchi controlled the center of the ring and pressed forward with a low stance, while Volkovs appeared hesitant, circling and throwing occasional jabs without conviction.
That Latvian lethargy vanished at the start of round two. Volkovs dropped all restraint and began exchanging blow for blow with Turchi. The Italian still stood out for the explosive power of his combinations—Volkovs was only punching with arm strength—but by this point, the fight was definitely heating up.
In round three and round four, Turchi stepped it up, landing consistently powerful shots. Still, he could not shake Volkovs, who absorbed every hit and continued probing for openings.
Unfortunately, in his aggressive offense, Turchi neglected defense, and by round four the consequences were visible: his right eye was swollen, turning into a slit.
Now semi-blinded by his injury, Turchi struggled to see incoming punches, and the fight’s momentum completely shifted. From round five onwards, Volkovs took control and launched a spirited comeback.
Though he slowed in round seven—which was relatively even—Volkovs regained full command of the fight with his precision and consistent output.
As Turchi’s battered right eye closed completely in the final rounds, his offense collapsed. The southpaw could no longer find range and wasted energy while Volkovs picked him off calmly.
Turchi’s desperate charge in the last two rounds—pressing forward with reckless resolve despite a barrage of punches, his bleeding wounds, and a face marked by welts—was admirable but, in my view, too little to reverse the fight’s trajectory. I score it two points in favor of Milans Volkovs, and even a draw would’ve been a generous but acceptable outcome. The margins awarded to Fabio Turchi by the three judges are simply ridiculous—either incompetence or a predetermined desire to favor the hometown fighter explains them.
I want to close with a heartfelt reflection to Fabio Turchi, prompted by witnessing this dramatic fight.
I “virtually” met Fabio almost twenty years ago when he was a promising young kid posting on the now-defunct Mondoboxe forum under the nickname “7Bello.”
Since then, I have followed his career with interest and enthusiasm—and five years ago I even had the honor of shaking his hand in the Pugilistica Alto Reno gym while he sparred with the then-upcoming Diego Lenzi.
Like many fans and insiders, I had high hopes for Fabio Turchi; he seemed destined for greatness. But something evidently went wrong during his career: something broke, and now the shattered pieces leave a deeper wound after every bout.
Whether it’s been the many coach changes, a character flaw, or an unresolved loss, I don’t know—and I have no intent to psychoanalyze him with conjecture.
What I do want to leave him is this message—with no illusion that it will shape his decisions, which are entirely his to make:
In light of his recent performances, the Fabio Turchi who once filled fans and insiders across Italy with hope no longer exists. Perhaps it’s time to stop and ask whether this path still makes sense: to keep risking cutting himself to shreds for a questionable belt against a mediocre opponent—or to seek personal fulfillment, which, as a serious and intelligent young man, Fabio is fully capable of achieving through other, less painful and more meaningful avenues.