His performances wearing the Italian national boxing team vest have thrilled and filled us all with pride. His style, extremely unusual for the heavier weight categories, features relentless movement, pinpoint dodges, and lightning-fast counters, putting dozens of established champions in serious trouble. Now, Aziz Abbes Mouhiidine is ready to take his talent to an even more prestigious and demanding stage to continue chasing his dreams. The 26-year-old from Solofra is preparing for his professional debut, and among Italian boxing fans—and not only—the excitement to see him compete in the sport’s top tier is sky-high.
We reached out to Abbes to ask him a few questions about his imminent “new beginning,” the origins of his journey in the ring, the injustices he has faced in the past, and the goals he aims to pursue moving forward. Here’s what our talented flag-bearer revealed to us, friends of Boxe Punch.
Italian boxing fans are eagerly awaiting the start of your professional career. When will we have the pleasure of seeing your debut in the pro ranks?
What I can tell you is that Abbes will make his pro debut in 2025. That’s certain. We are still working on the exact date, so we need to wait a little longer, but the debut will definitely happen in 2025, and it will be a spectacular one—just like everything I have done.
Lately, it has become increasingly common for fighters to compete in both the amateur and professional circuits simultaneously. Diego Lenzi, for example, is targeting the Los Angeles Olympics while also fighting in the pro ranks. Do you intend to follow the same dual path, or will you focus exclusively on professional boxing?
Before Paris 2024, I would have said, “No, I want to dedicate myself only to the professional ranks.” But after what happened in Paris, I now say that I have something to settle at the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics. I won’t be a fully “hybrid” athlete—I will be a professional boxer—but when Italy needs Abbes for the Olympic qualification tournaments, Abbes will be there to represent his nation.
Let’s take a step back: at what age did you first step into a boxing gym, and what motivated you to try this sport?
I entered a gym to practice martial arts. I started with karate at three and a half years old under my current coach, who is also my uncle, Gennaro Moffa, and his brother, Gianluigi Moffa. What pushed me to try boxing was the movie “Ali” starring Will Smith, which my father showed me when I was eight years old. I saw that my gym was starting boxing classes, and so I got closer to this sport, inspired by the legend of Muhammad Ali.
Many believe that your record would be even more decorated if the judges hadn’t denied you some clear victories. In your opinion, what has been the most serious injustice you’ve suffered, and why do you think the judges have often ruled against you?
The worst was the final of the 2023 World Championships against the Russian athlete Gadzhimagomedov because that was a world final I had won clearly, five to zero. That verdict was completely overturned. I am one of the few boxers who doesn’t like to blame others—I prefer to see my own mistakes when I lose. But in my three most blatant cases of injustice—the first match at the Olympics, the aforementioned 2023 World Championship final, and the 2021 World Championship final—I believe there were political games at play. The boxer who deserved to win was not rewarded. In 2021, I fought in the World Championship final against five-time world champion and two-time Olympic champion Julio Cesar La Cruz, a legend of our sport. I had won, but when you face a legend and the fight is closely contested, judges tend to be influenced by the names in the ring and, above all, by the country written on the vest.
Your fighting style has always been based on great mobility and constant in-and-out movement. Do you think you will be able to maintain this same approach over ten or twelve rounds, or do you believe you will need to adjust your strategy to succeed as a professional boxer?
Abbes’ style will always be different from that of all other heavyweights and cruiserweights. It will always stand out—a boxer who moves on his feet, a boxer with incredible timing, a boxer who fights in and out. But now, it won’t be the in-and-out movement of amateur boxing anymore; it will be that of the professional ranks. So, we are refining technique and tactics to maximize my abilities in the pro game and to carry this style forward at the highest level because we don’t want to be like everyone else.
You’ve already told us that Muhammad Ali is your idol among past fighters. Is there a current champion from whom you draw inspiration?
Among today’s fighters, I would name Oleksandr Usyk.
Recently, we interviewed Claudio Squeo, who will have the chance to fight world champion Jai Opetaia in May. Since you’re a southpaw like the Australian and compete in the same weight class, would you be interested in helping Claudio prepare for his big opportunity?
Absolutely. I am available to help everyone, especially Italian boxers. I was with Guido Vianello, who has a fight coming up against a southpaw opponent, and before that, I was in the Bologna area with Angelo Morejon, who is also facing a southpaw. So, I am always willing to help, and based on my schedule, we can arrange everything. It’s crucial for us athletes to support each other, especially in moments like these, and especially when preparing for fights that are great opportunities not just for the boxer but for the entire national movement.
In Italy, cruiserweight Jonathan Kogasso has been making headlines after scoring a devastating KO two weeks ago. You faced and defeated him at the 2021 Italian amateur championships. Would you be open to giving him a rematch in the professional ranks, perhaps with a major title on the line?
Absolutely. Bringing a world title fight to Italy between two fighters who grew up here and watched each other develop would be a fantastic thing. Plus, it’s always exciting when there’s a spirit of revenge and redemption, so it would be a great spectacle for everyone. But of course, there has to be a truly important title at stake.
A dream you keep in your heart?
I’ll give you two. The first is the same one I had a year ago—winning Olympic gold. The second is climbing the professional rankings to raise the Italian flag high in the pro game as well.