Ringside report – San Bonifacio (VR)
The third time was the charm. After two unsuccessful attempts to reclaim the Italian super welterweight title, which he had already held in 2021, Damiano Falcinelli finally did it. In the main event of the show promoted by Riccardo Bizzo’s Italian Ringside Promotion at the PalaFerroli in San Bonifacio, the Roman fighter prevailed over a relentless Mohammed Graich, winning on points after ten rounds full of drama and action. The three judges were in total agreement, all scoring the fight 96–93 in favor of Falcinelli.
Graich seemed to start off well, taking the center of the ring and trying to dictate the pace in the opening round, but the first twist came early. During an attacking move, Meo Gordini’s pupil found himself off balance and was caught by a heavy left jab from his opponent that sent him to the canvas. It wasn’t a devastating knockdown, but it proved crucial in giving Falcinelli control of the fight.
Galvanized by the early success, the Lazio fighter pushed the tempo to a frenetic pace, unleashing fierce two-handed assaults in the first four rounds that left Graich in serious trouble. The Moroccan-born boxer seemed on the verge of another count several times, especially when struck on the temple by Falcinelli’s full-powered hooks, but he showed admirable toughness and weathered the storm.
Only from the fifth round did Graich seem to regain confidence, starting strong and finishing with determination, yet once again the best punch of the round came from Falcinelli—a brutal right hook that made the crowd gasp.
Falcinelli’s impressive physical intensity, hard to contain when he launched his two-handed combinations, continued to dominate until a piece of bad luck partially disrupted his momentum. A clash of heads at the end of the sixth round opened a deep cut on Falcinelli’s face, causing heavy bleeding.
Perhaps affected by the wound or simply needing a breather after his exhausting pace, the Roman fighter slowed down, allowing Graich to rally and close the gap. The hometown boxer had his best moments in the eighth and ninth rounds, landing several shots while maintaining solid defense.
The tenth and final round was spectacular and chaotic. Falcinelli’s furious start, Graich’s defiant response, Falcinelli’s sudden and devastating burst, and Graich’s touching final attempt to finish strong thrilled the crowd and provided a fitting ending to a great fight.
The judges’ decision was fair. Falcinelli built a clear lead in the first half of the bout, unsettling his opponent with relentless rhythm. Despite the cut and Graich’s brave comeback attempts, he stayed composed and showed outstanding conditioning, shaking his rival again in the final round.
Graich will surely regret the early lapse that complicated his fight mentally. Perhaps he didn’t expect such an aggressive start from Falcinelli and took too many heavy shots early on to make up the deficit later. Still, full credit to him for fighting courageously until the very end.