21.05.08 – by James Slater: 23-year-old Francesco Pianeta is an unbeaten heavyweight up-and-comer who lives and is based in Germany. Born in Cosenza, Italy, the fighter moved with his parents to Germany at the age of just six. Now beginning to make a name for himself as a boxer, the 6’5″ southpaw fights for his first major title this coming July 19th.
With no amateur background to really speak of (Pianeta was reportedly a Muay Thai fighter before turning pro – Muay Thai being Thai Boxing, and the youngster won nine out of ten fights) the 23-year-old has done well to be already challenging for any title. Currently 16-0(10), the southpaw won the WBC youth title last Saturday with an impressive 2nd round TKO over the Lou Duva-trained and previously unbeaten 22-year-old, Mike Marrone. Next up, in July, Pianeta will face Scott Gammer for the vacant European Union heavyweight championship.
Although he is now based in Germany, Pianeta says he still has loyalties to his Italian roots. Winning the Italian heavyweight title is another of the 23-year-old’s ambitions, with the world title being his ultimate objective. Willing to fight just about anywhere, the big southpaw who weighs in at around 245 pounds has boxed not only in Germany, but also in Poland, Switzerland, Belgium, Ireland and the country of his birth, Italy. The fight with Gammer takes place in Germany, as have his last three bouts.
Seemingly a reasonable puncher, with ten KO’s from his 16 wins, Pianeta will make quite an impression if he can become only the second man to stop the durable Brit in Gammer. The 31-year-old Welshman, who has a good record of 18-2-1(9), has been stopped only by Danny Williams – in nine rounds back in March of 2007. If Pianeta can stop the returning Gammer (he announced his retirement after a September points loss to John McDermott, only to change his mind) he will have himself a pretty notable victory – as well as his first major title.
With his youth, size and southpaw stance, Francesco Pianeta just might be a young heavyweight who goes on to fight for, and maybe even win, a version of the world heavyweight title. It is still early days of course, and much is still unknown about the Italian who calls Germany his home (his chin, for example, is still one big question mark), but keep an eye on him. The 23-year-old could be one for the future.