The Paris Olympics are still in full swing, but for our national boxing team, the tournament is already over. There will be time to evaluate and reflect on what went wrong; for now, we present the complete story, divided into two parts, of the fights fought by our boxers.
Salvatore Cavallaro’s Olympics (80 kg)
Round of 32: Cavallaro (Italy) vs. Aykutsun (Turkey)
Salvatore’s Olympics start off poorly right from the draw. The Italian is one of only four boxers forced to start from the round of 32 instead of the round of 16, and if he advances, he will face the star Arlen Lopez, one of the two main favorites of the tournament.
The first round proceeds at a very slow pace: Cavallaro takes the center of the ring and applies timid pressure, but his punches are few and unconvincing; Aykutsun, on the other hand, stays at a distance and limits himself to basic one-two combinations. Very little happens, but the judges prefer the Turkish boxer’s greater composure.
Seeing himself behind, the Italian boxer tries to attack in the second round, but the result is disastrous: Aykutsun anticipates and counters him regularly, throwing Cavallaro’s attacks off balance and clearly winning the round.
Cavallaro’s pressure continues in the third round, but by now the situation on the scorecards is compromised: Aykutsun knows this and manages the generous but chaotic attempts of his rival without getting dragged into a brawl.
In the only round where both athletes showed intense boxing (the second), our representative visibly came out worse, and it was right that the Turkish boxer advanced in the tournament. Cavallaro doesn’t see it that way and, after the verdict, sarcastically applauds the judges’ work for a long time and then kicks the ropes before leaving the ring: an unjustifiable behavior not expected from an experienced athlete like him.
Sirine Charaabi’s Olympics (54 kg)
Round of 32: Charaabi (Italy) vs. Munguntsetseg (Mongolia)
The Italian starts very well, dominating the first two minutes of the first round, showing superior technique and timing compared to her rival, whose defense is repeatedly penetrated. However, towards the end of the first round, a slight drop in Charaabi’s offensive work is noticeable, foreshadowing what unfortunately is about to happen in the rest of the fight.
From the second round onwards, Charaabi’s athletic condition plummets unexpectedly and drastically: Munguntsetseg senses a great opportunity and attacks relentlessly while our boxer no longer responds to punches, merely moving and tying up desperately. The referee’s warnings follow one another, but the Italian can’t find solutions and continues to cling to her opponent to slow down the pace, receiving two penalty points in quick succession.
The situation doesn’t improve in the third and final round, which Charaabi begins with a burst of pride before once again succumbing to her opponent’s incessant pressure. The Italian clearly has no more energy and can only watch her Olympic dream fade away as she tries, with skill and effort, to limit the damage and reach the final bell unscathed.
The judges inevitably declare her defeat. Hours after the match, rumors circulate that Charaabi had an injury during the preparation for the games, which affected her athletic condition. A possible explanation for the sudden drop that rendered the Italian incapable of expressing her boxing in the last two rounds.
Giordana Sorrentino’s Olympics (50 kg)
Round of 32: Sorrentino (Italy) vs. Kyzaibay (Kazakhstan)
The Italian approaches the first round with her usual grit, stepping on the gas and initiating all the close exchanges. Kyzaibay counterattacks, throwing fewer punches but showing much more precision. At the end of the round, the judges seem to prefer the greater quantity of the Italian over the higher quality expressed by the Kazakh.
Realizing the judging criteria, Kyzaibay changes tactics from the second round. The Kazakh takes the center of the ring and, instead of waiting for her opponent’s attacks, anticipates her intentions by attacking and taking away her space. The match becomes chaotic and confusing, but the Kazakh’s greater physical strength stands out.
The third round is a repeat of the second: Sorrentino is uncomfortable not being able to set the pace, struggles with the physical vigor of her opponent in the clinch, and doesn’t change her tactical plan, not being used to boxing while moving backward.
In this case, there are no particular regrets since Kyzaibay proved to be a boxer of a higher overall level. Giordana Sorrentino put her heart into it but didn’t have the physical and technical means to solve the puzzle. The judges, with a touch of generosity, gave her a small initial advantage, but when the intensity of the fight increased, her chances of victory faded.
Alessia Mesiano’s Olympics (60 kg)
Round of 32: Mesiano (Italy) vs. Ozer (Turkey)
Alessia faces a challenging opponent, being a southpaw and taller than her, but she chooses the correct tactical setup from the first round. The Italian stands in front of her rival and makes it difficult to use the jab with a lot of feints and continuous in-and-out movement. Perhaps she lacks a bit in work rate, but a couple of lefts wake her up and push her to finish the round strong.
In the second round, Mesiano does even better: she continues to keep her opponent under pressure but this time throws more punches, showing clear superiority in timing. A round where she deserved unanimity from the judges even though she didn’t get it.
In the third round, Ozer tries everything, changing tactics and attempting a frontal assault, but the Italian boxer benefits from this, easily disengaging in the role of counterpuncher. The Turkish fighter’s rushes do no damage and allow our representative to counter effectively.
Overall, a clear victory and a high-level performance.
Round of 16: Mesiano (Italy) vs. Harrington (Ireland)
The challenge appears daunting on the eve. Harrington is the reigning Olympic champion and has a vast repertoire: power in both hands, stance switches, and a variety of punches typical of a professional boxer. Mesiano bravely tries to propose her boxing in the first round, but the difference in power is tangible and favors the Irish boxer.
In the second round, the Italian athlete gives her 100%, managing with enormous effort to keep the round balanced until the last 30 seconds, but Harrington doesn’t forgive mistakes: at every minor uncertainty, she scores and in the final part of the round finds the right openings to once again be preferred.
The third round is a nightmare for our boxer. Physical fatigue and the psychological awareness of not being able to overturn the fight take away her clarity and brilliance, facilitating Harrington’s work, who over the three minutes showcases her entire vast repertoire, fully deserving access to the quarterfinals.
As with Giordana Sorrentino, there are no recriminations or regrets, except for meeting such a strong boxer in the second round of the tournament. With a less unfortunate draw, perhaps Alessia could have made a few more steps towards the podium.