Like a bolt from the blue came the news of a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for a boxer from our national scene. It’s the undefeated middleweight Samuel Nmomah, who on November 22 will have the chance to fight in Riyadh on a high-profile card. His opponent will be Vito Mielnicki Jr, a 23-year-old American currently ranked #6 by the WBO.
The stage will be one of those that make your pulse race. The same night will also feature bouts like David Benavidez vs Anthony Yarde, Brian Norman Jr vs Devin Haney, and more. A truly prestigious showcase, therefore, for the fighters featured on the undercard.
Nmomah boasts a record of 21 wins in 21 fights, with 5 victories by KO. With a remarkably strong physique for the middleweight division, the Nigerian-born boxer—now fully integrated in Italy—has solid technical fundamentals and displays a varied, well-rounded boxing style. His main weakness seems to be a lack of punching power and a bit of that ruthless instinct which can often make the difference between the ropes.
In his most recent bout, Samuel narrowly defeated Danish fighter Abdul Khattab by unanimous decision in his hometown of Novara. Among his most notable wins, it’s worth mentioning the points victory over Giovanni “Nino” Rossetti at the Allianz Cloud in Milan in 2023. On that occasion, Nmomah was badly shaken by a right hand early in the fight, but quickly recovered and took control after the midway point.
Vito Mielnicki Jr holds a record of 21 wins and 1 loss, the latter coming before he turned 19. He has scored 12 KOs so far. The American possesses excellent physicality, a good rhythm, and a heavy, damaging right hand. On the downside, he can sometimes appear a bit mechanical, not particularly light on his feet, and struggles against opponents who constantly change distance.
In his last fight, “White Magic” dominated unbeaten Polish fighter Kamil Gardzielik, winning all ten rounds and scoring a knockdown. His previous draw against Irishman Connor Coyle was later changed to a no contest after Coyle tested positive in doping controls.
There’s no denying that this is a very tough challenge on paper for Nmomah. Yet, it’s equally fair to note that Mielnicki has already been beaten once and at times has shown signs of vulnerability. In fact, Italian fighter Khalil El Harraz faced him a year ago at Madison Square Garden and even managed to earn a draw on one of the official scorecards, losing only by Majority Decision.