At the Palazzetto dello Sport (Saturday 29 June) the ISKA world title defense (heavyweight category). The world champion Mattia Faraoni opposed to the Romanian champion Danut Hurduc.
(by Davide Pollastri) – “Oktagon Tsunami” returns to the Capital and does so on the occasion of its historic 27th edition, under the aegis of CSEN (Sports Promotion Body) and in collaboration with Fight1 Of Carlo Di Blasinext Saturday 29 June at the Palazzetto dello Sport in Rome (totally renovated after interventions by the Roma Capitale Sports Department led by Alessandro Onorato). In total 34 athletes (22 of which are Italian), 17 high-level challenges, 10 countries represented, 3 ISKA world titles, 1 Co-Main Event and 4 Super Prestige Fights. Great focus on kickboxing, but also space on Mixed Artial Marts (with three matches to follow).
Among the novelties of Oktagon Tsunami Roma also the presence of Eleonora Daniele (popular journalist and TV presenter from 2003 to today) in the role of “godmother” of the event. Since 23 October 2023 he has hosted Storie di sera, a spin off of Storie Italiane, on Rai 1 and in the late evening.
The Pharaohs World Cup to become a legend
The international Oktagon show is the jewel in the crown of the Italian fighting scene. For the occasion, the most awaited match is the ISKA World Championship (the acronym stands for International Sport Kickboxing Association), which will see the holder of the belt (in the category up to 95kg (“heavyweight”), the Roman kickboxer Mattia Faraoni, opposite to the Romanian champion Danut “the Happy Killer” Hurduc. The 33-year-old athlete originally from Bârlad (a town in the Vaslui district) presents himself in the capital with an enviable record score: 52 matches played (with 46 victories to his credit). the main event of a card (starting time from 5.30 pm) made up of 17 high-level challenges: 3 ISKA world titles, including the most awaited one (i.e. Faraoni vs Hurduc) and 14 international matches in the different weight categories ).
Great partners and the guarantee of DAZN visibility
The Capitoline tournament sees the patronage of the Sports Department of Rome Capital and that of the Lazio Region. At a sponsorship level, Tsunami Nutrition (title sponsor of the event), RTL 102.5, Leone Sport 1947, Wide, Printable, Il Corriere dello Sport (media partner), Clappit.com (ticketing partner) and Never Give Up (not profit partners). DAZN confirms itself as the “home” of combat sports: as per tradition, it will broadcast the main card matches worldwide, confirming the growing appeal of kickboxing not only on the Italian market. A unique opportunity to make Oktagon’s exclusive format appreciated (even abroad).
Oktagon promotes the healthy values of Sport
The Capitoline event will also be an important driving force for the promotion of the values of sport, especially among the youngest (for this reason the organization of the event has provided free admission for many boys and girls from Roman schools), with the kickboxer Mattia Faraoni as testimonial ideal of the “fight against violence” in all its forms. In recent months, the world champion has participated in a tour of the schools of the capital, comparing himself with many young people, but, above all, becoming an incredible emulator. Sport, therefore, as synonymous with sacrifice, determination, discipline and respect for the opponent. Values that must be an integral part of each of us, never accepting in the ring, or even more so in everyday life, to derogate from them, furthermore falling into the trap of violence. Kickboxing therefore presents itself as an ideal vehicle in terms of communication. A discipline capable of providing important lessons using the example given by its champions, ready to fight in the ring but always respecting their opponent. In addition to this, the organizers have linked up with a non-profit partner (Never Give Up), which has always been involved in the social sphere with many initiatives, information and awareness-raising among the general public, also aimed at fundraising.
Spotlight on the three ISKA world challenges
The most important event of “Oktagon Tsunami Roma” is the defense of the ISKA world title between Faraoni and Hurduc. Technically it is an “ISKA WORLD TITLE FIGHT” (best of 5 rounds, 3 minutes each). Two other ISKA world championships (K1 specialty) are scheduled in the event program: Rudi Mendes (POR), K1 champion, will be opposed to Petrisor Alin Calin (ROM) in the weight category up to 70 kg, while Paolo Cannito (ITA) is expected by Hamada Azmani (MAR – naturalized Spanish) in the category up to 57 kg. The Oktagon Tsunami card has also been enriched with four “Super Prestige Fights”. The first sees the Italian-Ukrainian Taras Hnatchuk against the Georgian Davit Kiria (cat. weight up to 72.5 kg); in the one up to 77 kg the Moroccan (naturalized Italian) Musta Haida will be opposed to the Englishman Jamie Bates. Martine Michieletto’s return to the Capital On the women’s level, the popular 31-year-old Aosta Valley athlete Martine Michieletto (in the up to 57 kg category), multiple ISKA world champion in kickboxing and Muay Thai (under contract with the Asian promotion One Championship), will face the 26-year-old Eva Guillot, “Alverna” athlete of the French K1 national team, already winner of several “pro” titles in recent years (he is part of the Boxing Crussol Team Guillot).
A separate discussion, in the heavyweight category (the same category where Mattia Faraoni fights), the Romanian, naturalized Italian, Yuri Farcas deserves, called to a real test of maturity in the “Co-Main Event” of Oktagon Tsunami Rome. He will face the experienced Portuguese fighter Bruno Susano. For both, a success in Rome would mean relaunching themselves in “One” (as in the case of the most expert Lusitanian athlete) or strengthening their position and media exposure (as for Farcas who fights for the Kombat Mirafiori team). The two kickboxers (in the category up to 95 kg – best of three rounds of three minutes each) are known by the general public for the devastating power of their punches.
Italian challenge in the shadow of the Rising Sun Among the 17 matches included in the “Oktagon Tsunami Roma” card (including 3 of Mixed Martial Arts) there are two with a retro flavour, which will make those who remember nights spent watching on TV dream, at Thursday evening, the popular K1 WGP. We are referring to the arrival of the Japanese team (included in the Rizin circuit), made up, specifically, of Aito Suenaga (cat. -63.5kg) and Aito Kanda (cat. -67kg). They will be opposed, respectively, by two top Italian fighters in the remaining two “Super Prestige Fights”: Domenico “The Stone” Lomurno, 25-year-old WKU world champion (cat -63.5kg), from the Cifarelli team of Altamura (Ba), will face Suenaga; Roberto “The Butcher” Oliva, ISKA intercontinental champion (cat. -67kg), always linked to the Raini Clan of Rome, will be opposed to Kanda.
The two Japanese rivals are absolutely not to be underestimated, because they come from the emerging Rizin circuit, which, in the metropolis of Tokyo (always the “parlor” of combat sports), is rivaling the more well-known “K1”. Also interesting is the transversal challenge of the two Italians, who, in past years, met at Evolution Fight Rosolini in Oliva’s weight category (in a match won by the latter with a majority). Roberto Oliva, “The Butcher”, is considered a rising star in the firmament of Italian kickboxing. This fighter, who, at just 18 years of age, became international champion in the -67 kg category, boasts a prestigious series of titles to his credit. As anticipated, in 2020, in Tokyo, he won one of the most prestigious titles in the world, the ISKA intercontinental muay thai title against the very strong host, Hiroki Maeda, in a five-round match. Roberto Oliva, barely an adult at the time, was the first Italian athlete to win a very popular belt in the Land of the Rising Sun.
From RiminiWellness to the Palazzetto dello Sport in Rome
This year RiminiWellness (the international event organized by Italian Exhibition Group dedicated to fitness, sport and well-being in movement) hosted, for the first time in its history, the quarter and semi-finals of “Superfighter”, a popular kickboxing tournament created and organized by Leone 1947 (historic brand and undisputed leader in Italy in the sale of combat sports items). As many as 24 professional athletes, divided into 3 different weight categories (–60kg, -65kg and –70kg), challenged each other in the ring of the “Leone 1947 Arena”, giving life to exciting direct elimination matches with the technical-organisational support of Fight1. A unique opportunity for six athletes (all of great technical level and with growth projections not only nationally) to show off in front of an audience that completely filled the available seats in the Leone 1947 Arena. Three fighters come from Southern Italy (two from Campania, one from Sicily), three from the North (two from Piedmont and one from Lombardy), confirming the vitality of our movement spread across the entire national territory.
THE “SUPERFIGHTER by LEONE 1947” FINALS INSIDE THE OKTAGON LEAD CARD
Kickboxing Fight Code Rules Pro -70kg Antonio Mosca [San Shou Thai – Campania] vs Riccardo Allena [Olimpo Academy – Piemonte Kickboxing Fight Code Rules Pro -65kg Abdo Toma [Dynamic Fighting Club – Lombardia] vs Alessandro Farina [Team Farina Sporting Center – Campania] Kickboxing Fight Code Rules Pro -60kg Fabio Zeccola [Fighter’s Heaven – Piemonte] vs Tommaso Spampinato [16 Corde Club – Sicilia] The Pre card is completed, again in the same category (up to 59kg), by the challenge, to be followed, between Leonardo Caputi (ITA) and Samuel Andolina (Italian-Maltese athlete) and by the all-Italian challenge in the category up to 78kg between Andrea Storai and Gino Coriolano. The event program is enriched by three MMA matches: the Serbian Alexsandar Coti will face the Apulian Michele Clemente (already winner at Oktagon Torino in 2023) in the category up to 61.2 kg; Francesco Fornasieri is instead expected by Samuel Donato. Finally, another Italian derby will see Simone Manno against Alessio Freguglia. Both of these two challenges are in the weight category up to 70.3 kg.
START OF COMPETITIONS: Pre card 5.30pm Lead Card 6.10pm Main Card 7.40pm End of event midnight.
