Luca De Franco ... at The Sweet Science

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Features by Luca De Franco

	[Nov 20, 2006] Calabrese Brawlers Not many people know that Calabria produced some of the best Italian fighters of the last 30 years. The most famous is Giovanni Parisi, the only...

	[Nov 16, 2006] Giacobbe Fragomeni, The Next Italian Star In Milan, no boxer is more loved than Giacobbe Fragomeni. Every time he fights, thousands of people chant "One of us, Giacobbe is one of us!"

	[Nov 5, 2006] Stefania Bianchini Retains WBC Flyweight Title Last Saturday, WBC flyweight champion Stefania Bianchini was the star of a major show held in the Principality of Monaco (South of France).

	[Oct 31, 2006] The Best Heavyweight Champion of the Last 28 Years In most all-time rankings you won't find Larry Holmes, but he surely was one of the greatest heavyweight champions ever.

	[Oct 22, 2006] A Talk With Gerry Cooney On March 17, 1972, Madison Square Garden hosted the Golden Gloves and 20,000 people filled the building. They went wild when a local kid named...

	[Oct 16, 2006] A Talk With Jake LaMotta I called Mr. LaMotta and told him that I got the number from Angelo Dundee. The legendary middleweight champion, asked me: "What can I do for you?"

	[Oct 11, 2006] On Sunday, Milan Was Like New York Last October 8 in Milan, one of the biggest cards of the last ten years was promoted by Salvatore Cherchi.

	[Oct 3, 2006] A Talk With The Best Female Boxer In The World There's no doubt about who's the greatest female amateur fighter of all times: flyweight Simona Galassi.

	[Sep 25, 2006] Giovanni Parisi Wants The World Title In Milan on October 8, Giovanni Parisi, 41-4-1 with 29 KOs), will be back in action facing European welterweight champion Frederic Klose.

	[Sep 20, 2006] Where To Box In South Florida If you are in Miami Beach and are looking for a gym where to train seriously, South Florida Boxing is the place to go.

	[Sep 11, 2006] Talking Boxing with Angelo Dundee I met dozens of top guys in New York, Florida and New Jersey and nobody ever said a bad word about Angelo Dundee.

	[Sep 5, 2006] Francesco Pianeta: Heavyweight Prospect Sauerland Event knows how to turn a fighter into a world champion on the five continents; just look at Nicolay Valuev.

[Aug 29, 2006]
Andrea Sarritzu: Sardinia's Rocky Balboa
The best fighters to come out of Sardinia are Simone Maluddrottu and Andrea Sarritzu, the only Italians on top of the European scene.  More ...

[Aug 23, 2006]
Manuel Siaca, Entrenador de Campeones
July 27 at the famed Velodromo Vigorelli in Milan, Manny Alejandro Siaca challenged Silvio Branco for the interim WBA light heavyweight belt.  More ...

[Aug 14, 2006]
The Dutch Scene
France, Germany and Denmark never had many top fighters, but the best of them were very good. The European country with very little tradition in boxing is Holland.  More ...

[Aug 7, 2006]
The Capitol of Italian Boxing
Milan is famous mainly as a shopping town. Milan is also known for its historical sites. Not many people know that Milan is also the capitol of Italian boxing.  More ...

[Aug 2, 2006]
Italy Goes Back On Top
During my trips to New York, Florida and Las Vegas, I noticed that old-time Italian champions, and not only Nino Benevenuti, are still remembered by the boxing community.  More ...

[Jul 24, 2006]
Manny Siaca, Following The Steps Of Puerto Rican Greats
Next July 27 at the famed Velodromo Vigorelli in Milan, Manny Siaca will challenge Silvio Branco for the interim WBA light heavyweight belt.  More ...

[Jul 17, 2006]
Italy Goes Back To The Glory Days
On July 27, the biggest show in Italian history will take place in Milan. For the long-time Italian fight fans, it is a throwback to what boxing used to be.  More ...

[Jul 11, 2006]
Simona Galassi, Simply The Best
This exceptionally talented Italian flyweight (110 lbs) Simona Galassi won three consecutive world championships.  More ...

[Jul 3, 2006]
Exclusive Interview with Ramon Dekkers
He was born on September 4, 1969 in Breda (Holland) and gained this status by KOing all his opponents in Europe.  More ...

[Jun 21, 2006]
Joe Calzaghe's Training Secrets
Joe Calzaghe is considered the greatest Welsh fighter ever and on the same level as the legendary champions of the past.  More ...

[Jun 18, 2006]
Ulli Wegner, A German Legend
Ulli Wegner was born on April 26, 1942 in Stettin (which today belongs to Poland) and fought 176 amateur bouts.  More ...

[Jun 8, 2006]
What's Next For Nicolay Valuev?
The fans who grew up watching the saga of Rocky Balboa, would immediately think of Valuev as the real-life version of Ivan Drago.  More ...

[May 31, 2006]
What's Next For Markus Beyer?
Last May 13, WBC super middleweight champion Markus Beyer defended his title against Sakio Bika in Zwickau (Germany).  More ...

[May 24, 2006]
Alexander Abraham, A Star In The Making
Alexander Abraham is under contract with Sauerland Event and that gives him many opportunities to prove just how talented he is.  More ...

[May 16, 2006]
The State of Boxing in Germany
To better understand the state of boxing in Germany, I flew to Berlin and interviewed Sauerland Event's Mr. Hagen Doering.  More ...

[May 12, 2006]
Exclusive Interview with Nicolay Valuev
He is the first-ever Russian to become world heavyweight champion, he is undefeated and is promoted by Sauerland Event.  More ...

[May 9, 2006]
Exclusive Interview with Joe Calzaghe
After his annihilation of Jeff Lacy, magazines, newspapers and websites even put Joe Calzaghe in their pound-for-pound rankings.  More ...

[May 1, 2006]
Vincenzo Cantatore, Cruiserweight Contender
He won the Italian heavyweight title, then choose to compete among cruiserweights becoming European and WBC international champion.  More ...

[Apr 25, 2006]
Angelo Dundee Talks About The Past
What makes the old fighters so special? Maybe they were just tougher, because they fought 20 times a year and never quit.  More ...

[Apr 21, 2006]
Northern Stars
In Italy, there are some fighters who compiled a good record, got a big following in their region and received at least an opportunity to show their talent in a major international event.  More ...

[Apr 18, 2006]
Italy: The New Generation
One of the myths about the Italian boxing scene is that when Silvio Branco, Cristian Sanavia, Gianluca Branco, Paolo Vidoz and Michele Piccirillo retire, nobody will take their place.  More ...

[Apr 12, 2006]
Cristian Sanavia Challenges Beyer and Calzaghe
On June 5, 2004 in Chemnitz (Germany), Cristian Sanavia won a split decision against WBC super middleweight king Markus Beyer.  More ...

[Apr 4, 2006]
Interview with WBC Super Middleweight Champion Markus Beyer
Markus Beyer won the WBC world super middleweight title three times and defended it against the top-ranked contenders.  More ...

[Mar 31, 2006]
Paul Malignaggi, the Next World Champion
During one of my stays in New York City, I called Bruce Silverglade to ask him when I could visit Gleason's Gym.  More ...

[Mar 27, 2006]
The 100th Anniversary of Primo Carnera
The Ambling Alp was born on October 26, 1906 in Sequals (in the Friuli Venezia Giulia region of northeastern Italy) and died there in 1967.  More ...

[Mar 20, 2006]
The Italian Women's Boxing Scene
When the most famous Italian kickboxer, Stefania Bianchini, decided to switch to the noble art, she had to move to Germany to get a license.  More ...

[Mar 13, 2006]
Gianfranco Rosi, IBF/WBC Light Middleweight King
Gianfranco Rosi worked his way up to the top like the old-timers did, getting his first shot at the world title eight years after his pro debut.  More ...

[Mar 7, 2006]
Roberto Sabbatini: For 15 Years, the Foremost Italian Promoter
From 1986 to 2001, Roberto Sabbatini was the most important promoter in Italy, like his father, who will be inducted into the IBHOF next June.  More ...

[Mar 2, 2006]
Patrizio Oliva, The Only Italian Boxer Who Did It All
In Italy, there's only one boxer who can claim to have been involved in every aspect of the sport at the highest level: Patrizio Oliva.  More ...

[Feb 22, 2006]
Jesse Reid, Trainer of World Champions
Reid is one of the most successful trainers around. He has coached nine world champions and was involved with many more.  More ...

[Feb 20, 2006]
Michele Piccirillo, The Italian Gentleman
Michele Piccirillo has been Italian champion. He has won the European, WBU and IBF world titles. His record is 44-3-1 (28 KOs).  More ...

[Feb 15, 2006]
Gianluca Branco: "I'm Ready For Cotto!"
Next March 4, in Bayamon (Puerto Rico), Gianluca Branco will fight Miguel Angel Cotto for the WBO light welterweight title.  More ...

[Feb 8, 2006]
Devon Cormack, Kickboxing World Champion and Boxing Trainer
Devon Cormack is one of the best American kickboxers of the last few years.  More ...

[Feb 2, 2006]
Women Kickboxers in the Ring
Some kickboxing champions who made it big in boxing are Bonnie Canino, Regina Halmich and Lucia Rijker.  More ...

[Jan 31, 2006]
Vito Antuofermo, a Real Tough Guy
Vito Antuofermo's brawling style was perfect for the American fans, and his unwillingness to quit gained him a "tough guy" reputation.  More ...

[Jan 27, 2006]
Loris Stecca, One of the Best Fighters of the 1980s
Loris Stecca is one of the few Italian boxers who faced mostly foreign fighters, a strategy his manager employed for the best men in his stable.  More ...

[Jan 25, 2006]
Maurizio Stecca, Olympic and WBO Champion
As an amateur Stecca won the Italian, European and Olympic titles. He also won the gold medal during the 1983 World Cup in Rome.  More ...

[Jan 23, 2006]
Interview with Paolo Vidoz
Paolo Vidoz is one of the best Italian boxers of the last ten years. His record is 20 wins (12 KOs) and just 2 losses. The second defeat was at the hands of Nicolay Valuev in Germany.  More ...

[Jan 20, 2006]
Massimiliano Duran, the Best Italian Cruiserweight Ever
Duran was good enough to win the WBC world championship against a great champion like Carlos De Leon.  More ...

[Jan 17, 2006]
The Other Ring Sports
Kickboxing is a generic word used for fights where two men are allowed to throw punches and kicks, but it has very little in common with muay thai, savate and K-1 Grand Prix.  More ...

[Jan 13, 2006]
Nino Benvenuti on Carlos Baldomir
Carlos Baldimir's win against Zab Judah is reminiscent of Carlos Monzon's victory over Nino Benvenuti.  More ...

[Jan 10, 2006]
Alessandro Duran, Second Generation Champion
Duran is a name that brings to memory many great fights, especially in Italy, because three Durans made it big in the ring.  More ...

[Jan 5, 2006]
Juan Carlos Duran, a Legend of European Boxing
Even though Juan Carlos Duran was born and raised in Argentina, he can be legitimately called a legend of European boxing.  More ...

[Jan 3, 2006]
Kickboxers in the Ring
As anybody in the boxing business will tell you, kickboxers know nothing about defense because they think that kicks are enough to keep opponents away.  More ...

[Dec 30, 2005]
Sumbu Kalambay, one of the best middleweights of the 1980s
Kalambay never turned down a challenge, even if that meant going to Monte Carlo, Paris, Atlantic City, London, Toulon, Las Vegas and Leicester.  More ...

[Dec 26, 2005]
Francesco Damiani, the Best Italian Heavyweight since Primo Carnera
Francesco Damiani was one of the few Italian heavyweights to make a big impression abroad.  More ...

[Dec 22, 2005]
Angelo Dundee Talks Heavyweights
During his 60+ years in the fight game, legendary trainer Angelo Dundee has been involved with five heavyweight champions.  More ...

[Dec 19, 2005]
Big-Time Boxing Back in Milan
For the third time in one year, big-time boxing returned to Milan. Until the 1980s, Milan was the top boxing city in Italy.  More ...

[Dec 16, 2005]
Luigi Minchillo, the Italian Warrior
During my visits to boxing gyms in the United States, I was asked many times about Luigi Minchillo.  More ...

[Dec 13, 2005]
Giacobbe Fragomeni, Italian Cruiserweight Sensation
We met Giacobbe Fragomeni during a break from his training and asked about his future as a prizefighter.  More ...

[Dec 5, 2005]
Giovanni Parisi: "I want the Euro Crown"
On December 20, Giovanni Parisi will be back in the ring for an eight round fight to be held in Bergamo, north of Milan.  More ...

[Nov 27, 2005]
Vincenzo Cantatore Loses to Johnny Nelson
The fight between WBO cruiserweight champion Johnny Nelson and Vincenzo Cantatore had been much anticipated in Italy.  More ...

[Nov 25, 2005]
Boxers and K-1 Grand Prix
Semmy Schilt won the K-1 World Grand Prix tournament held at the Tokyo Dome and won $400,000. No wonder professional boxers are so attracted by K-1.  More ...

[Nov 22, 2005]
Giorgio Campanella: "When I Knocked Oscar Down"
Giorgio Campanella had an outstanding amateur career, winning four Italian titles and the European championship at super lightweight.  More ...

[Nov 16, 2005]
A Conversation with Nino Benvenuti
Nino Benvenuti won the Italian and European middleweight titles and became world champion at junior middleweight and middleweight.  More ...

[Nov 13, 2005]
A Conversation with Bruce Silverglade
Gleason's Gym was founded in 1937 by Italian-American Roberto Galiardi and over the years has hosted 124 world champions.  More ...

[Nov 11, 2005]
Silvio Branco: "I want Fabrice Tiozzo!"
He won the Italian middleweight championship, the WBU middleweight and super middleweight belts, and the WBA light heavyweight title.  More ...

[Nov 8, 2005]
Diaz Melero Dominates Zoff
The fight between Stefano Zoff and Juan Carlos Diaz Melero had been much publicized in Europe, because it was an opportunity to verify the real value of both competitors.  More ...

[Oct 31, 2005]
The State of Boxing in Italy
Many people love to say that boxing in Italy is in crisis. The journalists take that as an excuse to write about soccer, cycling, basketball, volleyball, car and motorcycle racing.  More ...

[Oct 30, 2005]
Stefano Zoff wants to be back on top
Zoff built his reputation as a tough Italian brawler, fighting top opposition in France, Belgium, Germany and Wales.  More ...

[Oct 24, 2005]
Alicia Ashley, Queen of Women's Boxing
The people who think women's boxing should be banned say that nobody likes a woman with a broken nose or a cut eyebrow.  More ...

[Oct 20, 2005]
Gianluca Branco: "I want Arturo Gatti"
Branco is one of the best Italian fighters of the last ten years, winning the Italian and European super lightweight titles.  More ...

[Oct 18, 2005]
A Conversation with Al Certo
I met Al Certo a year ago in a Jersey City gym. Actually, it could hardly be called a gym: it was a room, with a boxing ring and two heavy bags.  More ...

[Oct 10, 2005]
Pietro Aurino: The Killer Targets Tarver
The Italian Pietro Aurino has become one of the most respected fighters in the light heavyweight and cruiserweight divisions.  More ...

[Oct 7, 2005]
Nicolay Valuev, The Next Heavyweight Champion?
Do you remember the old saying "The bigger they are, the harder they fall?" It perfectly fits Nicolay Valuev.  More ...

[Oct 5, 2005]
Paolo Vidoz Retains European Heavyweight Title
Italian Paolo Vidoz defended his European Heavyweight Title against Great Britain's Michael Sprott.  More ...

[Oct 3, 2005]
A Conversation with Angelo Dundee
Born on August 30, 1921 in Philadelphia as Angelo Mirenda, Angelo Dundee has won so many prizes that he lost count.  More ...