A match that started off on the right foot, became increasingly complicated as it went on, but was resolved with fierce determination when it was time to show pride. On the most important night of his professional career, Dario “Spartan” Morello did not disappoint, delivering an excellent performance and taming Switzerland’s Faton Vukshinaj, nicknamed “El Vulcano.” Morello’s triumph in the TAF 11 main event, organized by Edoardo Germani, was sealed by a unanimous decision with the following scorecards: 114–113, 115–112, and 114–113. Spartan is now the new EBU Silver middleweight champion.
In the opening six minutes, Morello was more elusive than Arsène Lupin: constantly on the move, the Italian boxer never gave his opponent a clear target, tagging him with sharp counterpunches whenever Vukshinaj got too ambitious. Particularly impressive was the right hook that Morello unleashed several times in the second round, a punch that clearly caught the Swiss fighter off guard.
Naturally, such extreme mobility couldn’t be sustained for the full twelve rounds, and from the third round onward, Morello had to stop more frequently against the ropes and accept close exchanges. He did so skillfully, again standing out for his accuracy and timing.
“El Vulcano,” after a tough start, found his rhythm only in the fourth round, as the home favorite slowed the pace. Realizing that Morello’s excellent defense prevented him from landing heavy single shots, Vukshinaj began throwing quicker combinations, which proved more effective.
Morello seemed to have regained firm control of the fight in the fifth round, but a controversial episode just seconds before the bell turned things around. A looping hook from Vukshinaj — which, upon replay, appeared to land on the back of Morello’s head — caused the Italian to lose balance, prompting referee Jon Llona Fernandez to issue a count.
It was one of those cases where, in my opinion, the judges — while obliged to award the round to the fighter who scored the knockdown — should have written 10–9 rather than 10–8, given how dubious the knockdown was and how clearly Morello had dominated most of the round.
That incident had a notable psychological impact on both fighters. While Spartan reduced his offensive output and seemed frustrated by what he perceived as an injustice, Vukshinaj regained vigor and confidence. The Swiss boxer didn’t do anything spectacular, but he stayed active and even managed to make his opponent’s nose bleed during a hard-fought seventh round.
Just when things were looking bleak, however, Dario Morello produced a remarkable show of pride and resilience, turning the tide in his favor. A dominant eighth round, fought mostly on the front foot, completely threw Vukshinaj off his rhythm and halted the Swiss fighter’s momentum.
“El Vulcano,” who probably believed he had the fight under control and wasn’t expecting such a reaction, fell into confusion, resorting to hit-and-run tactics — a style in which he clearly lacked the tools to succeed.
With two rounds remaining, the outcome was still uncertain. But Spartan, now fueled by confidence and the crowd’s energy, approached the final stages with fierce determination. He traded punches at center ring in the eleventh and spun a tight web of countershots in the twelfth. Vukshinaj, constantly beaten to the punch, couldn’t mount a real final surge.
Personally, I found the narrow margins on two of the scorecards — giving the Italian just a one-point edge — a bit too tight. More consistent with what happened in the ring was the 115–112 scored by Mr. Anssi Perajoki. What matters, however, is that the EBU Silver belt ended up in the rightful hands.
Some find Dario Morello unlikable because of his swagger, his flamboyant attitude, and his provocations inside and outside the ring. That’s fair — personal preferences are subjective. But credit must be given where it’s due: the Calabrian-born boxer is building an impressive career and contributing positively to Italian boxing.
Spartan has not only shown he can draw crowds and attract media attention, but has also backed up his words with results — defeating a series of highly regarded Italian opponents and proving, with last night’s win, that he can also compete effectively on the international stage.
All eyes are now on the French derby on December 6 between Diego Natchoo and Bilal Jkitou: Morello could target the winner in pursuit of the full European title — a prestigious goal that few Italian fighters have achieved over the past two decades.