We have received and are publishing the press release from The Art of Fighting regarding the European middleweight title fight that saw Italian boxer Dario Morello take on England’s George Liddard in London two days ago.
Last night, at London’s Copper Box Arena, Italian boxer Dario Morello (26-2) challenged favorite George Liddard (15-0) for the European middleweight title.
After an even first round, Liddard took control of the fight, becoming increasingly aggressive and applying greater pressure, increasing his punch output and landing heavy combinations. Morello showcased his defensive skills but was unable to counter effectively, particularly as Liddard began to step up the pressure.
In the seventh round, Liddard opened a cut on Morello’s right eyebrow. In the eighth, the referee first called for the doctor to assess the cut, before the Italian, in serious difficulty, was dropped by Liddard’s powerful punches. Morello got back to his feet, survived until the bell and returned to his corner, where his coach — his father — made the call: “Let’s stop here. There’s no point in taking any more risks.” Morello protested but eventually accepted the decision, and the fight came to an end in the ninth round: Liddard is the new European middleweight champion.
“First of all, I’d like to reassure everyone who follows me: I’m fine. Boxing is all about levels, and Liddard proved to be the better fighter. I gave it everything I had, and it wasn’t enough. Losing always feels awful, but I have to congratulate my opponent — last night, he was better than me. I’ll be back soon; I have several scores to settle.”
The most likely next challenge for Morello appears to be a bout against unbeaten Paolo Bologna (14-0, 2 draws), a former European Union middleweight champion. Another undefeated fighter is also waiting in the wings: Mohamed Elmaghraby (15-0), who recently became Italian and International champion.
“Dario comes out of this fight with his head held high,” commented Edoardo Germani, Founder of TAF and Morello’s manager, who was ringside in London alongside the boxer. “We knew about Liddard’s abilities and that this would be an uphill battle, but Morello showed character and personality during the difficult moments. Regardless of the result, he did not look out of place on such an important stage. We are always behind him, now more than ever, and we will build the next steps of his career together.”