This Gianluca Branco...

Bard of Boxrec · Post by **Bard of Boxrec** » 20 Jan 2004, 11:04

Has anyone seen him fight? Tell me as much as you can. Does he have ANY way of beating Gatti? I want to win some money.

bennie · Post by **bennie** » 20 Jan 2004, 11:48

As far as I'm aware, Riddick, NOBODY in this country has ever seen him fight. It's amazing how long this bloke has been ranked as WBC number one and remained a total unknown. Howard Eastman has done a pretty good in emulating him, mind you.

REAL_DEAL · Post by **REAL_DEAL** » 20 Jan 2004, 12:11

if you watch the boring italian eurosport fights you have probably seen him, but you cant put name to face cause your often half asleep

REAL_DEAL · Post by **REAL_DEAL** » 20 Jan 2004, 12:20

speaking of eurosport

Wladimir Klitschko last fight is on eurosport, and maybe JohnCoyle last big fight?

on at 2000

The REAL McCoy · Post by **The REAL McCoy** » 20 Jan 2004, 13:39

McCoy seen him fight Allan Vester on eurosport a while back

Vester had just lost his first fight as a pro against Zab Judah the year before Branco stopped him in 10, it was a boring fight and Branco didn't look as good as his record would suggest, that was probably Branco's best win, coming against a guy who had a nice looking record but was easily beat the first time he stepped up in class

it would be a big surprise if the same thing doesn't happen to Branco on Saturday

steve689 · Post by **steve689** » 20 Jan 2004, 13:44

Dutch Windmill will probably have seen him fight, he is the main man on Euro Boxing and knows all the best Euro frauds. He can tell us if Branco is the real thing or not.

Bard of Boxrec · Post by **Bard of Boxrec** » 20 Jan 2004, 15:16

come on dutch speak up, i'm ready to slap some money down on branco...no sven ottke style bias please. just pure objectivity

bennie · Post by **bennie** » 20 Jan 2004, 15:19

Riddick Blowe wrote:come on dutch speak up, i'm ready to slap some money down on branco...no sven ottke style bias please. just pure objectivity

I would stick money on Branco at the odds being banded around. If he's anything like his brother, he can certainly look after himself and, I can't explain it, but I just have a feeling about Branco...he could be a damned good fighter.

MightyWarrior · Post by **MightyWarrior** » 22 Jan 2004, 06:33

BBC:

Branco gunning for Gatti

Gianluca Branco is determined to prove the sceptics wrong when he faces Arturo Gatti on in New York on Saturday.
The undefeated Italian challenges former world champion Gatti for the vacant WBC junior welterweight crown.

"People say I'm not worthy to be the number one contender, but on Saturday you'll see that I'm worth it," Branco said through a translator.

Branco, 33, is 32-0 with one drawn and 15 knockouts. The Gatti fight is only his second outside of Italy.

Gatti, 36-6 with 28 knockouts, held the IBF junior lightweight title from 1995 to 1997, giving up the crown to advance in weight class.

After thrilling bouts against Micky Ward and Ivan Robinson, the Italian-born American wants to reclaim a world throne for the first time in more than six years.

"I'm ready for the fight," Gatti said. "Branco is 32-0 but on the Saturday he will have his first loss."

Buddy McGirt, Gatti's trainer, is confident the 31-year-old has what it takes to take a second world title. distance.

"You will see a little bit of everything," he said. "I don't know if it will go the distance, but I know that Arturo will win."