05.05.09 – by Damian “andyZOR” Markut – The Cruiserweight fight nobody is talking about. This bout is scheduled for 12 rounds on May 16 in Rome, Italy. Newly crowned WBC champion Giacobbe Fragomeni (26-1, 10 KOs) from Milan, Italy is set to make his first mandatory defense against former IBF champ Krzysztof Wlodarczyk (41-2,31 KOs) from Warsaw, Poland. Fragomeni won the title in Italy when he defeated tough contender Rudolf Kraj from the Czech Republic. The fight went to the judges score cards when a clash of heads occurred in the fight. Fragomeni won the fight 77-74 on all judges score cards. Fragomeni, in my eyes, lost the first two rounds but bounced back and won all the following rounds..
Other than the Kraj fight, Fragomeni is known also for fighting David Haye, who is lined up to fight Wladomir Klitschko in June. Although Fragomeni lost this fight by TKO in the 9th round, he did give Haye a tough fight with his come forward style and tough chin. After the Haye fight, Fragomeni went on to fight fellow countryman Vincenzo Rossitto, billed as who is the best Italian Cruiserweight. Fragomeni went on to win that fight on points thus securing his spot as the best Italian Cruiser. Fragomeni than went on to have two more fights before his shot at David Hayes vacated WBC title vs. Rudolf Kraj.
Krzysyof “Diablo” Wlodarczyk won the vacant IBF title in late 2006 by defeating Steve “USS” Cunningham via Split Decision in Wlodarczyk’s hometown, Warsaw, Poland. Though some think the fight was close, the flight was more dominated by Wlodarczyk while landing the more cleaner and effecting shots. A rematch was in effect in Katowice, Poland. Wlodarczyk this time lost via majority decision. Cunningham controlled most of the pace this time around and landed the better shots. Wlodarczyk also took a knee in round 4, claiming he was thumbed in the eye.
After the Cunningham fight, Wlodarczyk went on to fight 4 more fights, in which all of them resulted in a TKO/KO victory. Two of them victories were in the first round. After the wins, Wlodarczyk secured his title shot for the WBC.
Wlodarczyk is also known for beating former IBF title holder Imamu Mayfield in early 2006, a fight in which was controlled by Wlodarczyk giving him the Unanimous Decision victory. Wlodarczyk also beat Ruediger May, a former EBU Cruiserweight champion, by TKOing him in the 10th round.
Wlodarczyk also holds the only knockout victory over tough gatekeeper Ismail Abdoul, by TKOing him in the 12th round. Something David Haye, Tomasz Adamek, Enzo Maccarinelli, Marco Huck, Rudolf Kraj, Enad Licina, and Giacobbe Fragomeni himself, couldn’t do. Wlodarczyk is also no stranger in fighting in Italy. Vincenzo Rossitto, who was undefeated at the time, was TKOd in the 10th round of a scheduled 12 in late 2001. Rossitto at that time was in his early prime stages of his career, unlike the one that Johnathan Banks had trouble with in mid 2008.
On with the fight:
Wlodarczyk seems to have the better defense between the two. Fragomeni has a plodding come forward type style, one that truly fits him, and a not so stellar defense. He is really tough and has a strong chin. Fragomeni has a mear 11 KOs in 21 fights, and by what I have seen, seems to be light hitting which I believe will not trouble Wlodarczyk what so ever. Wlodarczyk is known as a hard hitting cruiser with a 73% KO ratio. Judging from the Kraj fight, Fragomeni is open a lot to right hooks, which is Wlodarczyk’s specialty and best punch.
There is absolutely no doubt in my mind that Wlodarczyk hits much harder than Kraj. Fragomeni likes to apply pressure all the time, kinda of like a Margarito. He comes forward and throws it his all and also with his semi bobbing and weave tactics. Personally, I think Wlodarczyk can handle Fragomeni’s pressure and style, even though showing some early troubles in the Gabor Halasz fight.
I think age will be a factor in this fight as well. Wlodarczyk is still a young kid at 27 years old, with Fragomeni pushing 40. Fragomeni is no clincher either, unlike Steve Cunningham, and that will give Wlodarczyk a advantage in my opinion. Fragomeni does hold his guard quite well, but he seems to be open most times and Wlodarczyk will take every single advantage. Wlodarczyk is 1-0 in Italy, and he knows what he needs to do. But never count out Fragomeni. He has proved time and time again his toughness.
Prediction:
Wlodarczyk likes come forward guys like Fragomeni. I think it Fragomeni’s style suits Wlodarczyk. Wlodarczyk might get in trouble maybe once or twice, like he did in the Halasz fight, but he is capable as he has often proved to be able to recover and deliver the punches and the knockout.
Wlodarczyk holds a lot of advantages as does Fragomeni, with one being the fight being in Italy.
Personally, I can see Wlodarczyk winning on points, but he has to be very convincing. Fragomeni is a judge friendly style fighter.
I see Wlodarczyk winning the first couple rounds with his quick opening pace that he has shown after his Cunningham loss. Fragomeni will steal some of the mid rounds with his pressure and nice left hooks. But with the nice jabs and power punches that Wlodarczyk throws, Fragomeni will be able to take them early on, but can he take them threw out the fight?
Fragomeni has a great chin, but I think Fragomeni will tire out in the later rounds due to Wlodarczyks power punches and barrage, especially the right hook. Wlodarczyk will produce a knockdown in the later part of the fight and work on that and get the TKO stoppage. I see this kind of like Froch – Taylor but with Wlodarczyk winning more rounds than Froch did in his fight.
My Prediction: Wlodarczyk TKO11