Focus on Diego Lenzi: Strengths and Weaknesses of Italy’s Heavyweight Hope

Recently returned from Sheffield, where he competed in the 2024 World Boxing Cup Finals, earning second place, Italy’s heavyweight boxing hope Diego Lenzi, known as “El Toro”, is now focused on his imminent debut in the professional arena. The debut is set for December 15 as part of the TAF evening at the Centro Pavesi in Milan.

The Italian athlete is preparing to pursue two extremely ambitious goals in parallel: his declared aim to stand atop the podium at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics and his aspiration to join Guido Vianello as one of Italy’s internationally acclaimed professional heavyweights.

With less than two weeks before Lenzi takes his first step into professional boxing, let’s analyze the strengths and weaknesses of this charismatic Italian puncher.

Sheffield: A Bittersweet Experience at the World Boxing Cup Finals

Given his hunger for victory, it’s fair to assume that Diego returned from the English tournament somewhat disappointed not to have won the trophy. Yet the adventure began well, with a semifinal victory against the lanky German boxer Nikita Putilov, who had eliminated him from the Under-22 European Championships a year ago. This time, Lenzi attacked and intimidated his opponent right from the start, even knocking him down in the second round, easing up only in the final three minutes.

The final against Brazil’s Joel Ramos Da Silva, however, didn’t go as expected. Truthfully, under professional judging criteria, the Italian athlete would likely have been declared the winner since his opponent appeared to be engaging in soft boxing, with punches that were light and barely noticeable. However, under amateur rules, the judges opted to reward the Brazilian’s composure and precision over Lenzi’s more aggressive but disorganized attacks.

Strengths: Remarkable Power and Excellent Variety of Punches

One of “El Toro’s” most significant assets is his ability to deliver tremendous power in his punches. It’s no coincidence that about a third of his victories as an amateur ended before the final bell, and in many of the fights that went the distance, Lenzi still managed to score knockdowns. His most impressive knockout blow? In the opinion of the author, it was the devastating right hand that floored the seasoned Croatian Marko Milun, just seconds before the end of a match held in Croatia before a hostile crowd—a bout Lenzi ultimately lost on points due to questionable refereeing in favor of the home athlete.

Another ace up the Italian fighter’s sleeve is his exceptional variety of punches. His first coach, Emanuele Orlando, founder of “Pugilistica Alto Reno Michele Adduci”, has always focused obsessively on the technical refinement of his athletes, and the results are often evident. During his second Youth Italian Championships, with only nine bouts under his belt, Lenzi dazzled the audience in Roseto degli Abruzzi by momentarily unsettling the heavy favorite Vincenzo Fiaschetti with a textbook uppercut. Since then, his arsenal has expanded considerably, and today he can inflict damage with a wide range of punches and combinations.

Weaknesses: Short Breath and Poor Distance Control

One of Lenzi’s main weaknesses is managing his stamina. Too often, in the most crucial bouts of recent years, the Italian fighter has seemed to lose focus and sharpness after intense exchanges, starting to breathe heavily and showing less continuity in his offensive pressure. It’s hard to say if this is due to emotional tension or the considerable muscle mass he’s developed over time, but it’s an issue that needs urgent attention. In the professional ranks, the number of rounds increases, and lapses in intensity could prove costly.

Another area that needs improvement is his “distance control.” At times, Lenzi throws punches from too far away, making himself predictable or exposing himself to dangerous counters. At other times, he lunges at his opponent and leans against them, eliminating the space needed to unleash his most effective blows. Mastering the ability to find the perfect position moment by moment to maximize the performance is partially instinctive and thus hard to train. However, it must become a top priority for Lenzi to ensure his impressive offensive tools don’t go to waste in ineffective attacks.

Sliding Doors: A Future Like Kabayel or Romanov?

Lenzi’s style has evolved significantly over time. During his early years, Diego utilized the ring more broadly, often adopting a counterpunching strategy, letting his opponent take the initiative before looking for openings. Interestingly, during the few months I trained at the same gym as him between 2019 and 2020, I compared him to Eddie Chambers—the quick and technical American heavyweight who challenged Wladimir Klitschko in 2010.

Today, five years later and with much more weight on his frame, “El Toro” clearly draws inspiration from different role models. One potential example to follow could be Agit Kabayel. With his relentless pressure, determination, and ability to close gaps and work effectively on the inside, Kabayel has been upsetting bigger names in the heavyweight division.

However, emulating the German fighter will require a significant leap in quality. If Lenzi retains his current flaws, he risks ending up with a professional career more akin to Evgeny Romanov. Some may remember the Russian for his emphatic victory over a young Deontay Wilder in the amateurs, but Romanov has failed to live up to expectations as a professional, collecting underwhelming victories before suffering a heavy KO defeat earlier this year in February.

The Two Key Ingredients for Success: Work Ethic and Humility

The variables influencing Diego Lenzi’s career trajectory are, of course, countless, but two stand out above the rest. The first is his work ethic. “El Toro” does not possess such extraordinary talent that he can afford to step into the ring in anything less than peak condition. He must therefore dedicate himself completely to his preparation. Fortunately, this shouldn’t be an issue: even during his earliest days in the gym, Lenzi was a tireless worker, never missing a training session. It’s safe to assume that his relentless dedication remains intact as he aims for the pinnacle of his sport.

The second crucial factor will be humility—an essential quality for recognizing one’s weaknesses and working to address them. Today, Lenzi presents himself both in the ring and on social media as extremely brash: mocking opponents with his hands down, kissing his Olympic rings tattoo on camera while shouting, “They’re mine!” and frequently adopting the demeanor of an established champion.

If these behaviors are merely a strategy to mask inner insecurities or a tool to boost his popularity, there’s little cause for concern. However, if Lenzi truly believes he has already learned all there is to learn and considers himself a phenomenon in the ring, he will inevitably face a rude awakening sooner or later. Let’s hope that “El Toro” can refine his skills, maintain his determination, and bring many trophies to make Italian fans proud.

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