An outstanding performance, far exceeding expectations, wasn’t enough for Armando Casamonica to convince the judges to award him the victory over Canada’s dangerous knockout artist Lucas Bahdi. However, the Italian left the ring with his head held high after a closely contested match. The judges awarded Bahdi the win via Majority Decision with the following scorecards: 95-95, 96-93, and an absurd 98-92.
The Roman boxer entered the ring well aware of the challenge he faced and the danger posed by his opponent, who just four months ago delivered one of the year’s most spectacular knockouts against the unfortunate American prospect Ashton Sylve. Not wanting to risk a cold knockout, Casamonica fought cautiously for the first round and a half before loosening up and showcasing his repertoire.
From the third round onward, the match turned into a tactical chess game, with both fighters looking to outwit each other as counterpunchers. Bahdi used his left jab more frequently to control the distance, loading up his right hand whenever his opponent moved in. Casamonica, on the other hand, continually changed his angles of attack and combinations to remain unpredictable.
While Bahdi’s power advantage was evident, the Italian displayed greater initiative and creativity in breaking through his opponent’s guard during the middle rounds. Particularly effective were Casamonica’s right hooks, which found their target on Bahdi’s temple by circling around his left jab.
Casamonica’s shining moment came in the seventh round when a series of powerful hooks caught the Canadian off guard at center ring, thrilling the audience. However, Bahdi never allowed himself to be discouraged by his difficulties in landing cleanly on the Italian, maintaining his focus throughout.
As Casamonica’s brilliance began to fade slightly, Bahdi seized the opportunity to step up his intensity, landing sharp, explosive punches. The Italian continued to respond with grit and determination, but as the fight progressed, his legs appeared more static and heavy, forcing him into more close-range exchanges.
In a crafty move, Bahdi taunted Casamonica at the end of the ninth round, clearly aiming to rattle him before the final three minutes—and it seemed to work. The Roman fighter lost his cool, attempting to approach Bahdi’s corner after the bell, only to be restrained by the referee and his trainer.
Whether this incident distracted Casamonica or fatigue simply took over is hard to say, but in the final round, he was clearly outmatched. Bahdi landed a series of heavy blows, and the Italian struggled to respond with the sharpness he had shown earlier.
The judges chose to reward Lucas Bahdi’s greater power at the expense of Casamonica’s more varied and imaginative boxing. There’s nothing scandalous about this decision: this writer had it scored as a 95-95 draw and believes the match’s outcome often depends on home-field advantage. However, the scorecard from judge Nathan Palmer, which awarded the Italian fighter only two rounds, is perplexing and suggests either clear bias or an unusual judging standard.
As mentioned at the outset, Casamonica can return to Italy with his head held high, knowing he showcased significant qualities on a prestigious stage. His excellent performance will undoubtedly attract attention, and it’s safe to bet that more exciting opportunities will soon come his way. Despite the loss, yesterday’s match provided him with invaluable experience to better prepare for future challenges.