On his second attempt to claim the tricolor belt, Roberto Lizzi got it done. Last night, at the Villa York Sporting Club in Rome, the southpaw of Calabrian origins defeated Ovidiu Enache by decision to become the new Italian Cruiserweight Champion. The victory was awarded by unanimous decision: 98–92, 97–92, and 98–91, all in favor of “Mumma.”
The fight began at a relatively measured pace, but the first round still carried a scare: after a right hook from Enache, Lizzi was thrown toward the ropes, remaining upright thanks to their support. It’s hard to say with certainty if the punch landed on a valid target; if so, the rules would have demanded a count. The only available video footage shows Lizzi from behind, making it impossible to fully assess the incident.
Roles reversed in the third round. Enache launched a determined attack but lost his balance in the exchange, and Lizzi’s right hook easily brought him down. This time the referee, Enrico Terlizzi, officially called the knockdown, much to the astonishment of the Piacenza boxer.
As the rounds unfolded, the bout settled into a less exciting rhythm, with defenses mostly overshadowing offense. Lizzi’s punches, faster and more agile, were not always delivered with enough force to inflict tangible damage, and did not always land squarely on the knuckles. Enache’s blows, though thrown with determination, lacked speed and were thus more readable and easier to evade.
Truly significant moments were few and far between: a sharp two-punch combo by Lizzi in round four, a heavy right hook from Enache in the final moments of round five… flashes in the night that neither boxer sustained.
In the eighth, Enache made a generous attempt to turn the fight by lunging forward and pressing the action, but his attacks were stifled and neutralized by Lizzi’s defensive obstruction — curling up, lowering his head, and denying his opponent a clear target.
The two fighters often ended up in clinches, with the referee busy separating them to maintain continuity in the fight.
In the final two rounds, it was Lizzi who showed greater freshness and clarity, landing clean though not overwhelmingly powerful punches at opportune moments, enough to tip the balance in his favor. Enache, slightly fatigued, lost further fluidity and failed to give substance to his attacks.
The margins decided by the three judges seem overly wide to this writer. Personally, I scored it 96–93 for Lizzi, who deservedly took home the belt without demonstrating a clear dominance over his opponent. Many rounds were so light on notable action that they might have gone to either boxer. In the end, Lizzi’s speed advantage made the difference, allowing him to edge ahead in more rounds.
Still a result to frame for Lizzi, who, though not brilliant, was ready when it counted most — after a very respectable showing last year against Jonathan Kogasso — and did just enough to come home as Italian Champion.
Kudos to Ovidiu Enache nonetheless for trying, for controlling ring position and initiative for much of the ten rounds. Unfortunately for him, his actions lacked the unpredictability needed to break through his opponent’s astute defense. The knockdown suffered in the third round further complicated his path uphill.