The announcement of Clemente Russo’s return to the ring — he is set to make his professional debut on November 21 at the Allianz Cloud in Milan, during TAF 14, an event organized by Edoardo Germani — has sparked heated debate among the general public. But what do those who competed at the highest levels of boxing, bringing Italian fans unforgettable moments and trophies, think about it?
At Boxe Punch, we got in touch with a large number of former champions to hear their views. Some, quite understandably, preferred not to comment. Others, being involved as coaches at the European Championships in Sofia, Bulgaria, were not contacted. Nevertheless, we collected no fewer than twenty opinions, which we present below in alphabetical order by surname.
Pietro Aurino
As I have always said, and as I still say, “every shoe eventually becomes a boot.” I know how hard it is to admit it: for me, the worst thing in my career was hanging up the gloves. I had been away from the ring for about ten years, then I came back and in the gym I felt like a phenomenon. I sparred and thought I was doing well, but once you step into the ring, it is a different story. At the time I had two fights, then I watched the videos and said enough. I told myself I wanted to be remembered as the Aurino people had always known, not as a 100-kilo Aurino who could not see the punches coming.
I do not want to criticize Clemente. As an amateur, he won almost everything, but professional boxing is something else. Even when he competed in the World Series of Boxing, despite being active at the time, he was already a poor version of himself. In fact, he lost inside the distance against Egorov. I wonder whether Clemente really knows what he is doing. I know he will be paid well, because Berlusconi is surely behind this event, but he lacks nothing: he has a job, he coaches the national team, so why damage his reputation?
He keeps saying bull**** about having beaten Usyk, having beaten Wilder… but he did that as an amateur. If he fought Usyk now, they would arrest Usyk for murder afterwards, because he would kill him.
I spoke about it with Biagio Zurlo, who was laughing. I told him: “Listen to me, I’m training, I turn 49 in November — would they let me fight Clemente Russo?” In my head I am convinced I could beat Clemente, I am convinced I could go six rounds, because I feel good in the gym, but that is not how it works: once the fight comes around, everything changes, and he knows that. If he wants to fight, let him fight, but he will not make a good impression. Maybe he will win, because Elmaghraby is small and does not hit hard, but can Clemente go eight rounds? That is the question. If he can, I would say there is a 99% chance he wins the fight. I will be there at ringside.
Vincenzo Belcastro
I think that if he still has the energy, it is right for him to try. Forty-four is a lot even for someone who never took breaks during his boxing career, but he could surprise us.
Stefania Bianchini
I believe Italian boxing is very, very sick if it needs, allows, or looks for… “clown shows” may not be the right word. Let us say “episodes” like Russo returning to the ring despite the rules saying he can no longer fight. They change the rules especially for him, they change the weight rules, the age rules… that is why I say Italian boxing is sick if it allows this, if it looks for visibility in such a strange way. I believe that if any other boxer, myself included, had made such a request, it would never have been granted.
It is becoming too much show business and too little boxing; it is turning into a circus instead of a ring. Do we need this? I do not know, maybe to attract money, but money is not everything: there is dignity, there is respect, and it seems to me that all of that is being trampled on. I think Russo should have turned professional back then, but, as they say, we all have a mortgage to pay, and if he had left his permanent job he might have ended up in financial difficulty.
Agostino Cardamone
I have enormous respect for Clemente Russo. If he feels up to it and believes he can do it without diminishing what he has been, then fine. Otherwise, it would be better not to spoil the memories people have of him. In any case, I send Clemente my sincere regards and wish him the best of luck.
Francesco Damiani
I know Clemente well. He spent practically his entire amateur career under my guidance, since I was a national team coach, first with Filimonov and then with others. Back then we tried to assess the possibility of him turning professional; we even went to America and were guests of Don King in Miami. Nothing came of it because he was not a true heavyweight. In the amateurs he fought at heavyweight because the limit was 90 kg, but he did not have the build to be a professional heavyweight. Still, we did look at the offer, because he wanted to do it and he had the résumé, given that at the time he was an Olympic silver medallist and world champion.
In the end we did the World Series of Boxing, which could be described as semi-professional boxing, and he did well, fighting several six-round bouts and even an eight-round final. If today he feels up to it and physically still feels capable, the first fights could be within his reach. Of course, if he were then to face people like Usyk or Hrgovic, things would become a little difficult physically.
My advice to him would be to think about it not twice, but four times. When I decided to retire, I received other offers too: they called me to take part in tournaments, to go to America and fight, but I did not go. Still, if he feels up to it, he knows how to box — just look at what he won during his career, against very high-level opponents as well. He beat Usyk in Beijing, he beat Tishchenko in Almaty… in short, he faced many boxers who are professionals today. Let us hope for the best, what else can I say… I have not spoken to him yet, but I wish him the best of luck.
Ciro De Leva
I have confidence in him, even though he is 44. Other boxers have stopped and then come back, without achieving anything good. When you completely interrupt your activity for a certain period of time and then return, you usually are not the same anymore. Many have tried, some have succeeded, but very few. When I went back to the gym three years after retiring, I could not even throw a punch properly anymore…
He, however, has always kept moving. He never stopped training, so he should not have major problems. He continued doing every day what he used to do when he was fighting. I do not know his opponent, so I cannot make a prediction, and every fight has its own story; but from an athletic point of view, I think Clemente will be ready.
Michele Di Rocco
As far as I am concerned, Clemente Russo is doing the right thing, because if he has the opportunity to get people talking about himself and about boxing, then he is absolutely right to do it. The problem is not him. The problem is those who run boxing in Italy — Italian managers and the FPI — who do nothing to help Italian boxing get going again at national and international level.
In my view, Clemente Russo is absolutely right to do what he is doing. He has his opportunities and he is making use of them, so I have nothing to criticize him for, far from it. On the contrary, he deserves admiration, so come on Clemente Russo! The real problem is Italian boxing, which is not working, but that is not Russo’s fault: it is the fault of the FPI and of many Italian managers.
Alessandro Duran
I am against comebacks, but everyone is free to do what they want. If Clemente believes it is right to step back into the ring and if he is capable of showing up in optimal physical condition, then he is right to do it. From a media standpoint, I think it is a fight that will attract attention; from a sporting standpoint, it is a completely different matter, because I wonder what future objective a 44-year-old could have if he wins this fight. I believe that when a boxer decides to leave the ring for good, his greatest victory is precisely resisting the temptation to step back into it. But these are personal choices.
Massimiliano Duran
Personally, I have always been against comebacks, but in this case my doubts are even greater. I consider Clemente an intelligent man, capable of looking after his own interests, but I am very afraid that this time he could get burned. My doubts are not only about his age, although age obviously makes anyone more vulnerable to punches. We are talking about an athlete who has always boxed as an amateur, who as far as I know did not achieve major results in the final three years of his career, who is used to fighting three rounds with anti-shock gloves, and who has decided to make his professional debut after five years away, over eight rounds and with different gloves.
I am very doubtful, to be honest. It cannot even be taken for granted that Momo would agree to take part in a fixed fight, because that night his own image will be at stake. I am afraid that what may look like a great marketing operation could come back like a boomerang. I would remind everyone that regulations were changed to allow this fight to happen. Let us just hope nobody gets hurt.
Mauro Galvano
What can you say about boxing… It has become a movie. Everything is far too media-driven. When you see Jake Paul fighting Mike Tyson, whose last fights had all ended in KO defeats and who is now worn out, when you see Holyfield coming back at 60 and getting knocked out in the first round — a great champion ending in a terrible way — what can you say?
Clemente Russo, in terms of attitude, has never really left the ring. He has always been brash; even when he coaches the national team, he always seems to want to be on the front line, a real narcissist. He is right to ride the wave, given that as an amateur he beat Usyk once and lost to him once. In my opinion, he is aiming for a rubber match that could earn him a big purse. This is not boxing, it is half a farce. I no longer believe in these things; I do not like boxing anymore.
Even the recent fight between Conor Benn and Ryan Garcia was absurd. Garcia is a welterweight, Benn is a super-middleweight. They made him drop three weight divisions and he was in pieces, completely drained, empty. He did not even take a punch and he went down: you cannot fight in a division that is not yours; he could barely stand on his feet. We made real sacrifices, and what could be done, was done; we did not do the impossible. Now you see a welterweight fighting a heavyweight — you see some truly absurd things.