## Q&A: SALVATORE CHERCHI

Salvatore Cherchi is a pronoun of the Italian boxing. He is not only an influential promoter but also an important representative of almost all highly ranked world contenders out of Italy such as the late Tito Lectoure in Argentina. Cherchi (pronounced gke-r-keyh), 55 years young, this time arrived in Japan as a promoter of the WBC top ranked bantam contender Simone Maludrottu who will have a mandatory shot at Japanese defending champ Hozumi Hasegawa tomorrow (Thursday).

Q: How about the current boxing situation in Italy?
A: Boxing is still popular among people, and we usually have some fifty to sixty promotions in a year, featuring European or Italian national title bouts.

Q: Who are outstanding Italian boxers now?
A: Super-welter Michele Piccirillo, super-light Gianluca Branco, European flyweight champ Andrea Sarritzu and WBC international middle champ Domenico Spada.

Q: Isnft there any preference over heavier boxers to smaller boys in Italy?
A: No, if he is a good boxer, we love him regardless of his seize and weight like Maludrottu and Sarritzu.

Q: Which do general Italian aficionados like, boxers or punchers?
A: Our people, generally speaking, prefer technical boxers to less skillful punchers, but also love hard-punchers to expect to watch knockouts such as Rocky Matteoli and Mauricio Stecca.

Q: Historically speaking, who are great boxers Italian has ever produced?
A: Former world junior middle and middle champ as well as ex-Olympic gold medalist, Nino Benvenuti, formidable junior welter champ Dulio Loi, Sandro Mazzinghi, Rocky Mattioli and Bruno Arcari.

Q: All were very excellent champions. Especially Benvenuti defeated Emile Griffith twice out of three, and Loi was so elusive and skillful that he beat legendary Carlos Ortiz also twice out of their trilogy. Then, who are current young prospects to be regarded as future world champs?
A: WBC#9 international middle champ Domenico gVulcanoh Spada (25-1, 13 KOs) and unbeaten welter Luciano gBazookah Abis (21-0, 9 KOs).

Q: How about Italian TV situations? Do your televisions pay well?
A: They have good interests in showing competitive European title bouts and/or Italian national title games. They pay fairly well. For example, this Hasegawa-Maludrottu WBC title bout will be broadcast by RAI TV.

Q: Do Italian boxing fans show interests in watching superfights in the US or England like De La Hoya-Mayweather, or Joe Calzaghe-Mikkel Kessler bouts?
A: Yes, of course. Our fans not only watch boxing games in Italy but also like to see big fights in the US, because boxing is such a greatly international sport as football (soccer).

Q: Outside of Italy, there are some excellent boxers with Italian blood such as Juan Martin Coggi, and please tell me who.
A: Joe Calzaghe, Joe Mesi, Victor Galindez, etc. Calzaghefs father Enzo is like my hermano (brother).

Q: Have you had good connections with Argentine boxing fraternity?
A: Yes, there have been many Italian-blood in Argentina, and the late Tito Lectoure often accompanied excellent Argentine boxers such as Carlos Monzon (against Denny Moyer in 1972), Victor Galindez (against Yaqui Lopez and Richie Kates, both in 1977), et al to Italy.

Q: Who do you think of a future of the Italian boxing?
A: I, as a leading promoter, believe that Italy has a very bright future in boxing. In the last world amateur championship tournaments, Italy gained four medals and won the gold in the heavy and cruiser categories.

Q: Will these medalists turn professional in the near future?
A: Some of them will become pro after the Olympic Games in China this year.

Q: How long have you been involved in the boxing world?
A: For 33 years since I became a manager.

Q: Then, how long as a promoter?
A: (after counting) 26 years, following the footsteps of great promoters Umberto Branchini, Roberto Sabatini, etc.

Q: Grazie (thanks).
A: Prego (Not at all).

Q: Grazie, I hear Italians usually exchange Grazie-Prego greetings three times.
A: Once is enough (laugh). You and I are both busy.

PS This interview was made in Spanish.

END

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