A boxing event on the beach is hard to conceive in Italy, but OPI 2000 (Salvatore and Christian Cherchi) will make it a reality on Saturday June 16, in Fregene, the most exclusive beach close to Rome, the kind of place where actors, showgirls, wealthy businessmen and other V.I.P.s like to spend their vacation. It’s “Battle at the Seaside”, with three fights for a WBC title.
In the main event, Domenico Spada will face Mariusz Cendrowski for the vacant WBC Silver World middleweight championship. Spada is #8 in the WBC rankings, is a former WBC International middleweight champion, has fought Sebastian Zbik twice losing on points (but the first time the Roman fighter won a close decision, according to most experts), and built a record of 34 wins (18 by knock out) and 4 losses. Spada has beaten Cendrowski in 2008, but he doesn’t underrate his opponent: “Mariusz improved a lot since our first fight – Spada said – and his three wins in Germany two on points, one by ko) prove it”. Cendrowski’s record is made of 27 fights: 22 wins (8 within the distance), 3 losses and 2 draws.
WBC International super welterweight champion Emanuele Della Rosa will defend his belt for the third time against unbeaten Nasser Al Harbi (13 wins and 1 draw). The Roman boxer has a record of 28 wins (8 by ko) and 1 loss (by split decision against Sebastian Zbik). Della Rosa is rated number 11 by the World Boxing Council.
Very interesting for the Italian fans, the challenge between two unbeaten Italian middlweights: Emanuele Blandamura (16-0 with 3 kos) and Luca Tassi (15-0 with 7 kos). The WBC Silver International middleweight title will be on the line. Like Spada and Della Rosa, Blandamura has a strong following in the Lazio region and he is expected to bring many fans to the beach next Saturday.
Light heavyweight Alessandro Sinacore will debut against Hungarian journeyman Mihaly Kratki.
OPI 2000 will put 3.000 chairs on the beach and is expect a sell-out. The Italian press showed a lot of interest for the event, and OPI 2000 press office received about 40 applications for media credentials, which is strange considering that 95% of the journalists are writing only about the European soccer championships.
The show will be televised live by SportItalia 2, starting at 9.00 p.m. Italian time.
