Michael Magnesi’s 2025 kicks off with an important title fight: he will face Frenchman Khalil El Hadri for the WBC Silver super featherweight title. Last year, in the most significant match of his career, he was knocked out by Japanese fighter Masanori Rikiishi in a world semifinal with the same title at stake.
It was a fight that Magnesi was dominating on points, but blinded by his fighting spirit, after taking a few punches, instead of running down the clock by cleverly creating small obstacles for his opponent, he engaged in a face-to-face exchange (recklessly ignoring the danger). This was a huge mistake that allowed Rikiishi to win by knockout.
In my opinion, Magnesi is one of the most talented Italian boxers of this period: a serious, old-school fighter, dedicated to his role as an athlete and boxer, supported by the shrewd management of his wife, Alessandra Branco, who has known boxing since childhood thanks to her father, Silvio Branco, a former world champion in multiple weight classes.
Tonight’s fight will be a tough challenge for Magnesi. The psychological aspect will be crucial because, knowing him and his team, he will surely have prepared at his best, both physically and technically.
He must face his opponent without fear of making mistakes and approach the fight as if it were his first, almost like a debut, to keep his focus high, avoid the temptation to overdo it, and build his victory punch by punch, regaining the confidence that once brought him close to a world title.
Honestly speaking, it’s difficult to get back in the game for a title fight after suffering a knockout loss. I personally experienced a similar situation: in my fourth defense of the European title, I lost by KO in the eighth round against Frenchman Bernard Inom.
I had completely dominated the early rounds, knocking my opponent down twice, but, unsatisfied, I wanted to push even further, and his right hand knocked me out. If I had been more astute, I would have taken the fight to the full twelve rounds without engaging in unnecessary exchanges, keeping control of the fight’s momentum.
Losing the title that way leads to personal and psychological devastation: it feels like the world is crumbling around you, and you lose your footing, but with the right people and strong mental work, you can make it through!
You know very well that boxing is beautiful because it’s full of obstacles and surprises. In this sport, you have to accept that a single punch at any moment can change the outcome, either positively or negatively. You swallow the bitter pill and continue your journey with more strength, awareness, and greater experience.
After two comeback fights, I became European champion again the following year. So my advice to Magnesi is to live in the present, avoid the negative traps of the past, and turn those tough moments from last year’s unfortunate fight into positive experience.
If he finds himself in trouble, he must stay cool-headed and anticipate every move, preventing himself from being overwhelmed by events and ensuring he has an alternative strategy to continue the fight.
Good luck, Michael! I hope to see you more determined and stronger in your pursuit of the title, confident and focused, as boxing teaches us, to avoid mistakes and be 100% prepared in every detail. This serious, tough, and difficult sport delivers intense thrills and emotions, but it can also bring immense joy.