A history spanning over 50 years, boxing events organized across every corner of Italy, and relationships forged with some of the most prestigious international figures in the sport: this is what OPI Since ’82 represents and much more. Its founder, Salvatore Cherchi, after decades as a promoter, has handed the reins of his beloved creation to his children and now serves as a member of the Italian Boxing Federation council. We asked Cherchi a few questions about his long journey through the fascinating world of the Sweet Science.
Let’s start from the beginning. How did your passion for boxing start, and how did your long adventure as a promoter begin?
My passion for boxing started when I was a child. There was someone living next door to us who was a big boxing fan and regularly bought Boxe Ring magazine. That’s how I began reading it and slowly fell in love with this sport. Then, at 13, I got my first boxer’s license—it was November 1965. From that moment on, my passion only grew. In 1974, I met Mattioli, who had just arrived in Italy, and a friendship was born. Later, with Branchini, I started gradually getting involved in professional boxing.
Was it already as a promoter?
No, at first, I simply started collaborating with the professional sector. Later, I also worked with amateur boxers at the Spartacus gym in Milan. It was a very positive experience, and I had a lot of fun. It was a beautiful period of my life, and I gained valuable lessons, especially on a human level, for what came next. My role as a full-fledged promoter began when I co-founded OPI with Giovanni Branchini. That marked the true start of my journey.
Over the years, you’ve organized a massive number of events featuring high-level boxers. Is there one particular event you are especially proud of, one that stands out above all others?
The one that stands out the most is definitely my first event, back in February 1982, when I organized the world title fight between Loris Stecca and Leonardo Cruz entirely on my own. That event holds a special place in my memory because it’s tied to unforgettable emotions. As they say, you never forget your first event. In the days leading up to it, I was sleeping only three or four hours a night. I could handle it because I was young—not even 31 years old yet—so I was in good health and felt strong, both mentally and physically.
Who was the best boxer you ever promoted?
Without meaning to offend others, I’d say Giovanni Parisi. Then there were many other great boxers, like Sandrino Casamonica, who, even though he didn’t become a world champion, was, in my opinion, a true champion.
In recent years, OPI Since ’82 stood out for its agreement with Eddie Hearn, which allowed for events in Italy in collaboration with Matchroom Boxing, broadcast live on DAZN. What do you take away from that experience? Is there anything you would handle differently in hindsight, or do you consider it an entirely positive experience?
The balance is entirely positive because Italian boxing was reborn from those ashes. Those events succeeded in bringing young people back into the gyms, boosting professional activity, and giving the environment a much-needed jolt. It was an overwhelmingly positive experience because drawing between 3,000 and 4,000 people to a boxing event was something Italy hadn’t seen in years.
Recently, new promoters like TAF, active in Lombardy, and IRP, gaining traction in Veneto, have emerged on the national market. How do you view this wave of new competition?
I think it’s very positive. The more competitors there are, the bigger the market becomes, and that incentivizes everyone to do better. Competition is a stimulus; it helps boxing grow, and as boxing grows, all stakeholders benefit. Without competition, it’s a disaster—you can’t grow your product much. If you’re the only one, how can you push yourself further? So, competition is welcome; it’s a stimulus to improve.
With the federal elections approaching, what do you expect from the next Olympic quadrennial?
I hope for a situation that allows boxing to grow. We need to bring more professionalism into the sport and stop relying on “friends of friends.” We’re an organization that used to have a turnover of 9 million euros, with 30 employees, plus all the indirect workers like boxers, trainers, and so on. We need more professionalism and to value those with the right skills.
When funds come in, they’re meant to develop boxers. If we can’t help them grow, we’ve failed—we’re not a company producing results. Unfortunately, that’s been the case in recent years. Admittedly, I was part of the council, but alongside others with different visions.
Being on the council now is a personal challenge driven by my love for the sport. I have no vested interests in the Federation because my children are in different professions. What I want and am working towards is the common good. Everyone must understand that their work serves others and shouldn’t prioritize individual interests, as has happened too often in recent years. I hope that doesn’t happen again.
Recently, Andrea Sarritzu made waves with comments to our site, expressing bitterness about how he was treated at the end of his career. Do you wish to respond?
Yes, I’d like to say I’m sorry because I always treated Sarritzu like a son. If we look closely at his record, he had more opportunities than ten other boxers combined. He lost to Laganà early in his career, and anyone else in my position would have thought, “Okay, he’s not that good,” and dropped him. But I kept giving him the best opportunities.
I brought him to a vacant international flyweight title fight and then straight to two world title bouts. He lost the first match against Narvaez by split decision, but I thought he clearly won. In the second, they ruled it a draw, but I thought he lost. He drew with Rodrigues, got a rematch, lost on points to Pozo, then won the rematch at Vigorelli spectacularly. After every setback, he had new opportunities—he was never abandoned.
I never earned a euro from Sarritzu. All the activity I did in Sardinia, and this can be proven, cost me a fortune, but I always helped him. The debts he mentions are from an event organized not by me but by Antonio Puddu!
At the end of his career, he called me asking for help because he had major issues in Cagliari. I brought him to Milan and found him an apartment. My son Alessandro even offered him a job at the gym to help him earn some money.
If we analyze everything I did for him, it goes far beyond what was required, from every perspective. So, I’m sorry he speaks so harshly about me.
And when he says everything rested on his shoulders, he forgets that during that era, I also had the Branco brothers and Piccirillo. Economically, he contributed nothing, so who was really supporting whom? This is the first time I’ve responded to a boxer’s comments. I don’t like doing it, but when you reach your limit, you feel the need to speak your mind.