Francesco Grandelli gave it his all, but it wasn’t enough. The Italian featherweight fought valiantly through 12 rounds against European champion Cristobal Lorente, attempting to wrest the EBU title from him. However, the Spanish fighter emerged victorious via unanimous decision. The official scorecards read at the conclusion of the main event, organized by Opi Since 82 at the Palasport in Carbonia, were 116-111, 116-111, and 115-113, all in favor of Lorente.
The bout began at a cautious pace, with both boxers highly focused and reluctant to engage during the first two rounds, likely wary of taking an early blow that could jeopardize the match.
The intensity picked up from the third round onward, revealing the tactical dynamics of the fight. Leveraging his height and reach advantage, Lorente relied on a relentless barrage of straight punches to the head, while Grandelli, staying light on his feet, launched sudden two-handed flurries, primarily targeting the body.
The first four rounds were tightly contested, posing a significant challenge for the judges. However, as the fight progressed, Lorente gradually gained the upper hand thanks to his increasingly determined pressure, higher work rate, and heavier punches.
This power advantage was particularly evident, according to live accounts, during the seventh round, when Grandelli reportedly came close to being knocked down after absorbing a heavy right hand from Lorente. Unfortunately, viewers following the fight on DAZN, including this writer, missed the action as the seventh round and part of the eighth were not broadcast due to a technical issue.
The broadcast resumed in the eighth round, just in time to show an aggressive and determined Grandelli trying to shift the fight’s momentum. However, his overzealousness led to an unintentional low blow during a heated exchange.
The referee’s decision to deduct a point was not outrageous but seemed somewhat harsh, given that Lorente received multiple verbal warnings for infractions during the bout without any penalties being enforced.
In the final third of the fight, tactics gave way to raw grit and intensity, as both fighters prioritized courage over strategy. Grandelli finished the bout strongly, pushing for close-range exchanges despite his disadvantage in power and size. He cleverly clinched when necessary and utilized his quick hands to land effective shots up close.
Despite his spirited finish, Grandelli was unable to close the gap on the scorecards accumulated earlier in the fight. In the end, the judges rightly awarded the victory to Lorente, allowing him to remain the European champion.
Once again, as in his valiant effort against Nathaniel Collins in England, Francesco Grandelli returns home to applause but with a bitter taste for falling short of victory.
Grandelli continues to face challenges from a physical deficit that can be decisive at this level. However, his pace, bravery, and resilience make him one of the most exciting fighters to watch in Italian boxing today. We hope he will soon get another opportunity to showcase his talent on the international stage.