Explosive punching power isn’t exactly a hallmark of the current Italian boxing scene, but there are a few fighters who stand out in this regard. One of them is undoubtedly Giovanni Sarchioto, a middleweight from Lazio with an imposing physique and a habit of scoring knockouts.
After a successful amateur career full of achievements and prestigious recognition, Giovanni is now making rapid strides in the professional ranks. His spectacular style and technical skills already earned him an invitation to fight at the iconic T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, where he scored a knockout win.
Further proof of how highly he’s regarded at the top levels of world boxing came with his inclusion in the exciting Boxing Grand Prix tournament in Riyadh, which features emerging global prospects selected by the WBC as the most promising. Unfortunately, Sarchioto was eliminated in the opening round, but the setback did little to shake his big ambitions.
We caught up with Giovanni to learn more about his career so far and his plans for the future.
At what age and how did your journey into boxing begin?
It started when I was 13, and as soon as I was old enough to compete, I had my first bout. I took up boxing out of pure passion, a passion that has driven me since I was very young. Boxing has always fascinated me more than anything else.
You had a strong amateur career. What was the best and worst moment during that time?
There were many great moments, but the one I remember with the most joy and nostalgia is when I won my first national championships in the youth category and was named the best boxer of the entire tournament. The worst moment came when I was eliminated from the European Youth Championships in Bulgaria.
Is there a past or present champion who inspires you?
There isn’t just one. I feed my imagination by studying fighters like Roy Jones Jr, Sugar Ray Leonard, Sugar Ray Robinson, and many other champions of the past.
After winning your first eight pro bouts in Italy, you had the honor of fighting at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, where you scored a dominant KO. How did that amazing opportunity come about, and what memories did it leave you with?
The opportunity came thanks to some amateur tournaments I took part in. I caught the eye of Shakur Stevenson’s coach, who kept following me afterward. He later invited me to Shakur’s training camp, and from there came the chance to fight on the undercard of his world title bout. Naturally, I jumped at the chance. It gave me a huge amount of experience, both in training and on a personal level. It’s something I’ll remember for the rest of my life.
Two months ago, you took part in the exciting and high-profile Boxing Grand Prix tournament organized by the WBC in partnership with Riyadh Season. The draw wasn’t particularly kind to you, matching you with Ukrainian southpaw Maksym Molodan—an elusive fighter with an impressive amateur background. What went wrong that night?
Things didn’t go as I wanted in Riyadh. I know I could have done much better, even though the Ukrainian is a good boxer. Unfortunately, I approached the fight the wrong way. I tried to fight at a faster pace than usual, since the format meant fewer rounds and I wanted to score points quickly, but by rushing things I fell into his trap.
I know I can bring out my best when I fight with composure and clarity. Even if I take a few moments during rounds to study my opponent, I usually shine once I find my rhythm. I lacked that in this fight. Honestly, I also felt the judges were a bit biased in his favor right from the start.
A month ago, the Italian middleweight title was contested at the Centro Pavesi in Milan. Did you watch the fight? What are your thoughts, and what would you say to the new Italian champion in your weight class, Dario Morello?
I was the mandatory challenger for the Italian title for over a year, and no fighter—including Dario Morello—accepted the opportunity to face me for the belt. Then, as soon as I left to compete in the Riyadh tournament, they arranged the match to crown a new champion in the division, since no one wanted to fight me.
At this point, I’m looking ahead. What I want is to get back to fighting on big stages like the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, maybe for a significant title. I know I can do it. Dario Morello is no longer on my radar—he will never accept a fight with me. I’m too dangerous for him.