Live report – Press Tribune, PalaTiziano, Rome
In the main event of 110 FPI – Roma Boxing Night, Mauro Forte successfully retained his European Silver Bantamweight Title by delivering a highlight-reel knockout against the courageous Vincenzo Picardi in the tenth round. A bout of exceptional technical quality that had remained closely contested for long stretches was ultimately decided by a true champion’s punch, landed by Forte at a moment when the Rome native appeared to be taking control of the contest.
As expected, the fight began in very even fashion. The two boxers split the opening two rounds: Picardi had the edge in the first, immediately showcasing his class, while Forte responded in the second, which also featured a controversial moment. Picardi lost his balance while slipping a punch and was struck as he was falling. The referee chose not to issue a count, although in our opinion the rules warranted a knockdown.
The contest then evolved into a battle of timing—a classic fight for purists and lovers of technical boxing, with both men exchanging feints, counters, changes of direction, and constant footwork. This tactical pattern allowed Picardi to capitalize on his experience and ring intelligence. The Casoria native would keep the rounds competitive before finishing strongly in the closing seconds, the moments that often leave the biggest impression on the judges.
Forte appeared to figure out his opponent’s strategy during the fifth round, when he increased both his work rate and aggression, clearly getting the better of the exchanges. That made it all the more surprising to see him spend nearly an entire minute of the following round backed into a corner. It was an unusual tactical choice that yielded little reward—apart from provoking the frustration of this writer, who had to lean out from the press row to keep that hidden section of the ring in view.
From the seventh round onward, the Rome native gradually began to take command of the fight. This was made possible both by a slight but noticeable decline in Picardi’s pace and by Forte’s own improvement, as he became increasingly sharp and effective with his offensive work.
The momentum had clearly shifted, and in my opinion the hometown favorite won three consecutive rounds, erasing the advantage his opponent had built during the first half of the fight. Forte’s superiority never became outright domination because Picardi continued to answer with remarkable composure and timing, but inside the PalaTiziano there was a growing feeling that the fight now had a new man in control.
That feeling became reality in dramatic fashion in the tenth round. Forte landed a surgically precise left hook to the liver, sending the Campania fighter crumpling to the canvas in obvious agony. The referee’s count proved academic. Picardi tried to get back to his feet but was unable to recover in time, slumping over the ropes before being counted out.
Mauro Forte deserves enormous praise for the way he approached this fight. It was far from easy for a boxer who has always relied on technique, timing, and in-and-out movement to face an opponent who had turned those very qualities into an art form, first reaching the highest levels of amateur boxing and then refining them even further as a professional.
The Rome native was willing to concede a few rounds early on, but he managed his energy superbly, growing stronger as the fight progressed. He intelligently identified his opponent’s weaknesses before punishing him suddenly with a genuine champion’s punch.
The only criticism we feel compelled to make of Mauro—comic as it may sound—concerns his hairstyle. His hair repeatedly fell into his eyes, forcing him to brush it back with his gloves at least thirty times during the fight. It was an unnecessary distraction that would be better avoided in future bouts, perhaps with a slightly shorter haircut.
Finally, we cannot close without paying sincere tribute to Vincenzo Picardi. Although he will turn 43 in October, he arrived for this fight in outstanding physical condition, offering yet another demonstration of his exceptional professionalism. We do not know whether this disappointment will lead him to hang up the gloves, but if it does, he will leave the sport with his head held high. Anyone who loves boxing in Italy can only thank him for everything he has given inside the ropes.