Fighter of the Week (5/1-5/7): Mauro Forte
In a scrap between two combatants with just 10 combined knockouts in 38 title fights, a first-round knockout really wasn't on the table as a realistic outcome. However, this is why they get into the ring. 29-year-old Undefeated Italian featherweight Rome, Italy Mauro Forte did just that. Forte scored the biggest win of his professional career, a first-round knockout of fellow Italian Francesco Grandelli. Forte set the record straight from their disputed 2021 draw, captured the European Featherweight title, moved his record to 18-0-2 (8), put himself in the world title picture, and captured our Fighter of the Week award.
It will likely take you longer to read this month's "Fighter of The Week article than it actually took Forte to score the biggest win of his career that captured him the award. Forte came out for his rematch with Grandelli, patient, sizing his opponent up and waiting for an opening. Grandelli stayed on the aggressive, popping out the jab and mixing in the right hand that kept coming up short. Forte refused to give ground and stayed in the center of the ring. With just over a minute left in the opening round, Forte landed a straight left that chin-checked his opponent. The first punch of consequence was landed and it affected Grandelli. He scored with it again just seconds later. After sizing him up with the first two straight lefts, Fort loaded up with the third one that landed perfectly on the chin of his opponent! Dropping Grandelli immediately. The fallen fighter made it to his feet but was not able to get on stable legs, causing the referee to step in and waive the bout off with just over 30 seconds left in the opening round, giving Forte the biggest win of his professional career.
The Roman Featherweight is closing in on becoming the first Italian world champion since Silvio Branco was elevated to WBA light heavyweight champion in 2007. It's been more than 15 years since Italy has been the home to a world champion, but Forte is closing in. Getting a title over any of the four current champions, Robeisy Ramirez, Luis Alberto Lopez, Mauricio Lara, and Rey Vargas, is going to be a daunting task. However, none of those names are seemingly unbeatable. Lopez, Lara, and Vargas seem very hittable, given Forte's movement and ability to get on the inside and box a bit from the outside gives him a fighting chance against any of those three names. Clever match-making could get the Italians into the world title picture in a hurry. Victor Morales is coming off a big win, and a win there would put him into the title picture, another prospect like Raymond Ford is a viable option that would put the winner on the title track, as is Arnold Khegai. A win of that magnitude puts the Roman warrior in line for a title shot in 2024.
