A packed crowd is expected tomorrow night at Milan’s Allianz Cloud, and the massive turnout is well justified by the high number of intriguing bouts scheduled. The TAF 11 event, organized by Edoardo Germani’s The Art of Fighting, will be headlined by the must-watch clash between Italy’s Dario Morello and Switzerland’s Faton Vukshinaj, valid for the EBU Silver middleweight title. Several other fights on the undercard also promise great action. The event will be broadcast on tape delay on Mediaset Channel 20 starting at 11:30 PM (Italian time).
Dario Morello vs Faton Vukshinaj – EBU Silver Middleweight Title
A crucial moment in the career of our “Spartan.” As Morello himself publicly stated, this bout will help him understand whether he truly has what it takes to go beyond national borders or if his level is incompatible with top-tier international stages. On paper, the matchup appears even and unpredictable, as reflected by the betting odds, which give both fighters an equal chance of victory.
Morello is riding high in confidence after nearly sweeping away the best middleweights in Italy. The “Spartan” comes off four consecutive wins that have allowed him to refine a style that may not appeal to everyone but has proven highly effective in practice. Constant footwork, continuous upper-body slips, and sudden, venomous counterattacks are the core ingredients of the riddle his recent opponents have failed to solve.
Vukshinaj, on the other hand, doesn’t have the same momentum, having been inactive for the past eleven months, but he still possesses sharp weapons that shouldn’t be underestimated. The Swiss boxer is extremely solid, as shown in his twelve intense rounds against the powerful Etinosa Oliha. He also packs respectable power, and combined with his aggressiveness and high work rate, this makes him a tough and durable opponent. However, Vukshinaj lacks unpredictability, relying mainly on wide hooks that could be easily read and countered by Morello’s reflexes and defensive timing.
Francesco Paparo vs Catalin Ionescu – Italian Super Featherweight Title
The 24-year-old Paparo is one of the most promising young talents on the Italian boxing scene. Fast, creative, coordinated, and blessed with explosive power that has already earned him several spectacular knockouts.
This time, he’ll face a very determined opponent: Ionescu is not one to step back or hold back his punches. The 28-year-old of Romanian origin loves to apply relentless pressure, trying to break down his opponent with heavy hooks.
On one hand, it’s worth noting that constant pressure was the key factor in Paparo’s only career loss, against Giuseppe Osnato. On the other hand, the defensive gaps and vulnerabilities Ionescu has shown in past bouts could prove fatal against Paparo’s lightning-fast counters. The home favorite clearly enters as the frontrunner in the odds.
Mohamed Elmaghraby vs Davide De Lellis – Italian Light Heavyweight Title
Both fighters are in great form and love to take the initiative, which could make their clash intense and entertaining, potentially ending before the full ten rounds.
Elmaghraby silenced the controversy surrounding his first bout with Stiven Leonetti—when his rival was wrongly denied a TKO victory—by decisively winning their rematch on points. The 29-year-old Egyptian-born boxer has since fine-tuned his game plan and now feels ready to strap the Italian title around his waist.
De Lellis, with a less spotless record including three defeats, is nevertheless coming off five straight wins and will give his all to keep that streak alive, which last May earned him the IBO Mediterranean title.
The main factor tilting the prediction in favor of “Momo” is his greater speed, which should allow him to strike first in the many close exchanges expected, thereby keeping control of the fight’s rhythm.
Jonathan Kogasso vs Brandon Deslaurier – 10-Round International Cruiserweight Bout
A smart choice bringing in Frenchman Deslaurier as the next opponent for Italy’s rising cruiserweight prospect. Kogasso has gone the full ten rounds only once in his career, so this fight could serve as valuable experience.
Deslaurier seems a perfect fit in this regard: the Frenchman has proven to be an extremely tough fighter, even going the distance with former world champion Mairis Briedis, to whom he lost only by decision in the summer of 2018.
His offensive tools, however, are far less impressive—he lacks both power and hand speed. Kogasso will therefore have a great chance to put his training to the test without too much pressure: a useful and necessary tune-up ahead of the major international challenges that are surely coming his way.
Other professional bouts on the card:
- Christian Mazzon vs Francesco Russo – Middleweights
- Komi Paul Amefiam vs Inoussa Nonkane – Cruiserweights
- Paolo Bologna vs Jonny Zeze – Super welterweights
- Gianluca Merone vs Simone Brusa – Middleweights