Yesterday, at the Palazzetto dello Sport in Viale Tiziano, Rome, one of the most exciting and entertaining Italian derbies of the year took place. In the main event of the card organized by De Carolis Promotion, Mirko Geografo defeated Pietro Rossetti by split decision, capturing the vacant EBU Silver welterweight title. The victory, narrowly achieved, came after a sensational match in which both fighters gave their all. The official scorecards read: 115-114, 113-115, 115-114.
The first round immediately set the tactical tone for the fight, with Rossetti controlling the center of the ring, applying pressure with his characteristic two-handed flurries, while Geografo relied on his superior technique and longer reach, repeatedly landing straight shots and moving swiftly on his feet.
The early stages saw a slight dominance from Rossetti, who appeared to possess more power than his opponent, especially in the second and third rounds, where he smothered Geografo against the ropes with relentless pressure and even managed to land shots in the clinch by freeing one arm before the referee could intervene.
An unfortunate incident in the fourth round, an accidental headbutt that opened a nasty cut on Geografo’s cheekbone, seemed to spell trouble for the 33-year-old Roman. However, it was from that moment that the tide of the fight began to shift.
To avoid running out of steam, Rossetti had to lower the frenetic pace he’d set up to that point, and Geografo quickly seized the opportunity to showcase his linear boxing, elegant style, and excellent timing. This allowed him to progressively close the early gap and bring the fight back to a more balanced footing.
The seventh round was magnificent, with the first half featuring a revived Rossetti launching aggressive attacks, determined to turn the tide. However, in the final moments, Geografo responded with a series of sharp and powerful shots at the center of the ring.
As the rounds went by, Rossetti’s punches seemed to lose some of their power, allowing Geografo to box with less caution and gain an increasing advantage round by round.
A peculiar episode occurred at the end of the ninth round when the referee suddenly stopped the clock, held Rossetti at the center of the ring, and, after observing his face, touched his own forehead while addressing the four sides of the ring. Commentator Patrizio Oliva interpreted the gesture as an official warning, but the referee did not raise his finger as is customary to indicate a point deduction, suggesting that he might have only been signaling that the small cut on Rossetti’s face was caused by a head clash rather than a punch.
Rossetti’s brave but sometimes reckless attempts to mount an offensive left him vulnerable to counters, and in the tenth round, a right hook from Geografo brought “The Butcher” to his knees. The referee decided not to start a count, deeming it a slip, though the situation remains unclear even after reviewing the footage.
In the final two rounds, whether due to fatigue or feeling confident he’d done enough to secure the win, Geografo significantly lowered his work rate, focusing mainly on containing Rossetti’s relentless advances.
Rossetti truly gave his all, but his fatigue made it difficult for him to land meaningful shots, often hitting with the inside of his glove or even the wrist. Nonetheless, the determined 26-year-old managed to win the last two rounds thanks to his aggression, complicating the judges’ task.
Personally, I scored the fight with a two-point lead for Mirko Geografo, who, in my opinion, should have also been credited with a knockdown. Therefore, I agree with the final verdict delivered by the judges. That said, given the close nature of the bout and the excellent display of skill from both fighters, a rematch would certainly be welcomed and desirable.