On the night of TAF8, held at the Allianz Cloud in Milan and broadcast on delay on Mediaset20, a war for the Italian super welterweight title had been anticipated for days. In the blue corner, the challenger Damiano Falcinelli, accompanied by the great trainer Italo Mattioli. In the red corner, the reigning champion Paolo Bologna and his coach Ricci. Needless to say, every time Paolo fights, it feels like a home match thanks to the overwhelming support of the Azzurri from Florence’s historic football scene.
Paolo was making his first title defense after winning the belt in Ferrara last December against Federico Schinina, where I had the privilege of watching ringside another incredible performance from both fighters.
Falcinelli, on the other hand, was focused solely on reclaiming the Italian title he had already won in his career.
Both fighters were in great shape with perfect weight. The 28-year-old southpaw from Florence, the 31-year-old orthodox fighter Damiano, more experienced with a greater number of fights and international exposure.
Bologna started aggressively, skipping the usual feeling-out phase. Falcinelli, however, remained composed, kept his hands high, and countered Bologna’s attacks. By the end of the first round, Paolo had to step back and catch his breath after an explosive and overwhelming start.
The second round began much like the first, with Bologna on the attack and Falcinelli waiting with his guard high, though he risked absorbing a few too many body shots. The fight grew increasingly tense, with both fighters visibly determined and on edge.
An incredible start—an all-out war! Even in the third round, Bologna continued landing a high volume of punches, especially to the body, while Falcinelli kept responding with uppercuts to the chin, a shot he kept attempting and eventually found success with.
In the fourth round, Bologna slowed the pace, often making Falcinelli miss before countering. Falcinelli, however, seized the opportunity to win the round, taking advantage of Bologna’s slight dip in intensity.
The fifth round saw Damiano maintain control of the center of the ring, landing precise straight punches and uppercuts. Bologna took serious risks, dropping his guard and absorbing heavy right hooks. The high pace of the early rounds started taking a toll midway through the fight.
Falcinelli continued his relentless attack with his signature right uppercut, while Bologna fought back shot for shot, even though he appeared in trouble in the sixth round. What an incredible battle!
Falcinelli pressed forward with both hands, throwing punch after punch. Bologna was in serious difficulty but gritted his teeth to honor his first title defense. He kept absorbing heavy blows, and his face bore the evidence.
By the eighth round, Bologna adapted, unable to fight on the front foot as usual. However, with immense determination, he managed to stay in the fight against a more calculated Falcinelli, who began to fade physically.
Damiano still controlled the center of the ring in the ninth round, but after hearing the judges’ scorecards, Bologna realized he had a chance and needed to hold on. He moved more, took fewer risks, and tried to contain his opponent.
Final round—both fighters knew these last three minutes were decisive. Falcinelli remained the cleaner boxer, but Bologna showed incredible resilience, refusing to back down. The final minute was an all-out war, with Falcinelli giving everything and Bologna not conceding an inch. WHAT A MATCH!
What can I say? A war was expected, and a war it was—a fight worth the price of admission alone. The scorecards read a draw (95-95; 96-94; 94-96), allowing Bologna to retain his title by the skin of his teeth. But massive credit must also go to Falcinelli and his coach Mattioli for their tactical preparation and an outstanding fight against a relentless opponent.
A fair result based on how the fight played out, opening up new opportunities for both fighters after an absolutely excellent performance. It’s always a pleasure to witness such thrilling matches, full of tension yet mutual respect. These are the fights that elevate our boxing—thank you, guys!