The Italian expedition to Germany for the WBC’s annual convention turned out to be a complete disaster. Yassin Hermi and Davide Brito, both competing at the boxing event held at the Grand Elysée in Hamburg’s Rotherbaum district, suffered heavy defeats against their respective opponents, delivering performances well below expectations. Middleweight Hermi was outpointed by a wide margin by Turkey’s Serkay Comert, while heavyweight Brito was stopped via technical knockout in the sixth round by Frenchman of Russian descent Mourad Aliev.
Yassin Hermi vs. Serkay Comert – WBC Silver International Middleweight Title
The bout started at a relatively slow pace, with both boxers appearing tense and overly cautious in the first two rounds, more focused on avoiding mistakes than engaging in battle. Despite the lack of memorable exchanges, Comert appeared to have an edge in terms of reaction speed.
From the third round onward, Hermi tried to step up the pace, but the increased intensity worked against him. On the contrary, the more heated exchanges highlighted Comert’s superior solidity and precision, as he capitalized on Hermi’s forward pressure to land sharp counter punches.
After a more balanced fifth round marked by renewed caution, Hermi once again launched a determined offensive but ran into disaster. A quick series of hooks caught him off guard, forcing him to clinch desperately before eventually hitting the canvas.
From that moment on, the match became almost pointless. Hermi, his face swollen and visibly intimidated and disoriented, was at the mercy of his opponent. However, Comert refrained from going for the decisive blow, opting instead to play cat and mouse, racking up points on the scorecards without taking unnecessary risks.
The Italian fighter had one last burst of pride at the start of the tenth round, but his disorganized and imprecise offensive flurry quickly fizzled out, giving way to Comert’s more effective and concrete punches. The Turkish boxer was rightly declared the winner after dominating much of the fight.
Davide Brito vs. Mourad Aliev – WBC Silver International Heavyweight Title
It was evident from the outset that Davide Brito faced an almost insurmountable challenge. His opponent, taller, heavier, with longer reach, and significantly more powerful, had already showcased his exceptional physical attributes in his previous twelve fights.
The difficulties became apparent quite early. Aliev immediately took control of the center of the ring, forcing the Italian boxer on the defensive and effectively deploying his powerful left hand whenever Brito attempted to take the initiative.
Brito had his best moments in the first half of the third round, showing remarkable courage as he tried to confront his rival with speed and timing. However, Aliev quickly retaliated with violent blows, one of which sent Brito’s mouthguard flying into the fourth row.
The pattern of the fight became increasingly clear as the minutes passed. When Brito focused on quick footwork and a purely defensive strategy, he managed to limit the damage but had no chance of winning. When the Italian dared to take the initiative, he was punished by Aliev’s superior physicality.
After five rounds clearly dominated by the Frenchman, the sixth round proved decisive. Starting boldly, Brito was driven back to the ropes by a series of left hands to the face, eventually falling through the ropes following a powerful right hook to the temple.
The Italian struggled to his feet and re-entered the ring, but his unsteady legs and dazed expression left referee Cesar Castanon Varela unconvinced. The referee decided to stop the fight. Brito protested the decision, but this writer feels the match was already beyond saving.