There are fights that can change a boxer’s destiny, propelling his career towards glorious heights in the event of victory or forcing him to make a difficult comeback in the event of defeat. That is precisely the kind of crossroads awaiting spectacular Salerno-born puncher Francesco De Rosa in just over a week’s time, when the Italian representative challenges for the European Super Bantamweight title against tough and experienced Romanian boxer Ionut Baluta in Calangianus, Sardinia.
Ahead of his “night to remember”, we got in touch with Francesco to find out about his feelings and expectations regarding what will happen between the ropes. Here’s what he told us.
There are ten days to go until the most important fight of your career. How has your preparation gone for this high-profile international challenge?
We feel that everything has gone well during the preparation, although only the ring will be able to give us the final answer. Every piece of the puzzle we had planned has fallen into place. Even the things that changed along the way compared to our initial expectations contributed to making sure everything went in the right direction, so I am confident heading into the fight.
The last time you stepped into the ring, you produced a sensational battle with Belgian boxer Eloyan, winning by technical knockout after being knocked down twice. What do you feel you learned from that exciting fight?
I certainly learned that it’s better to keep my hands up. I also realized that I need to be much more careful, not let my concentration drop against my opponent, and stay more composed and balanced. Those were the main tactical lessons. But beyond these shortcomings that I noticed and need to work on, I also realized that I have character, because I managed to overcome a very difficult moment. That gave me an extra boost and made me think that I can reach even more prestigious goals.
Your next opponent is a true “road warrior” who has acquitted himself extremely well on British soil, scoring upset victories and giving even world-class opponents a very tough night. Have you studied footage of him, or do you prefer to leave that to your coaching team?
I don’t usually like to spend too much time watching videos of my next opponent, but I already knew Baluta because he has fought some of the best boxers in my weight class, so I had seen him in action even before our fight was officially announced. I went back and watched some footage, but not obsessively. My coach, on the other hand, studied him much more closely. He was the one who worked out the tactics and techniques best suited to use during the fight.
What kind of fight do you expect?
We certainly expect a fight featuring a high volume of punches and a very fast pace, with Baluta almost certainly coming forward to make the most of his strengths. But things can always change once you’re in the ring. For example, I might be able to keep him at distance with some quick bursts and by using my footwork. In any case, we expect him to be extremely aggressive in every round.
Will we see the usual Francesco De Rosa, committed to attacking from the very first sound of the bell, or should we expect a more cautious approach?
I will certainly start the fight more cautiously than usual. It’s not that my other fights weren’t important, but this is a truly fundamental fight and I can’t leave anything to chance. So I’ll try to gradually figure out the right thing to do, also making use of the minutes between rounds, when I’ll listen to my coach’s advice in the corner. Then, little by little, I think I’ll let my natural instincts take over, which means moving forward. But just in case, we’ve also prepared for situations in which I might find myself with my back against the ropes, so that I don’t allow myself to be pinned down and can always maintain the right distance.
Preparing for a European title fight requires demanding and high-quality sparring partners. Who have you shared the ring with during these intense weeks of training, and how do you think they have helped you be ready for the crucial moment?
Unfortunately, this period hasn’t been the best for finding a large number of available fighters. I sparred with Vincenzo La Femina, who lives nearby and is a champion as well as a friend of mine for many years, although we actually fought each other as amateurs. We got in touch and trained together also in preparation for his fight in November. We helped each other out. Then, obviously, I brought in a few guys from my gym, looking for those who were most similar to my next opponent, although there is nobody who is truly similar to him. It’s difficult to find boxers like Baluta in Italy, so I would complete the rounds by alternating between several sparring partners, trying to maintain a consistently high pace.
Thank you for sharing your thoughts with us. Would you like to say anything to your fans as we conclude this interview?
I hope lots of people come to see me, especially those who care about me and want to enjoy a great show. I hope to give the crowd an exciting and entertaining fight, and that my opponent lives up to his reputation. And, of course, I’ll be bringing the belt home.