European boxing: Signani loses, no anti-doping can take him back

Italy in boxing loses the only European professional title in their possession in the Massy ring (France), but the lack of doping control at the end of the match should give it back to them. The protagonist of the misadventure is Matteo Signani, the Jaguar of Savignano sul Rubicone (Cesena), an agent of the coast guard for whom time never seems to pass. At 43 years and 40 matches played, thanks to an almost monastic life, he has the physique of a boy and on Friday evening he confidently faced the trip to the lair of Anderson Prestot, 16 years younger and 6 cm taller, record 25 victories and 2 defeats. It is his third defense of the European middleweight title for Signani. Belonged in the past to sacred monsters such as Marcel Cerdan, Tiberio, Mitri, Nino Benvenuti and Carlos Duran, just to name a few.

Suspended for injury

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The match goes badly, because Prestot injures himself in the left eyelid (Signani in the left cheekbone) 48 ”from the end of the fourth round. According to Finnish referee Anssi Perajoki, the injury is caused by a fortuitous head butt. If he had stopped the match at that moment (by the end of the 4th round) the verdict would have been a technical draw. Instead he continues and stops at the start of the 5th round. When the regulation provides for the reading of the cards and the technical decision on the points. The three judges all have 50 to 46 for Prestot who wins and snatches the title from Signani. However, the doping control is not carried out. According to what the organizers reported to the Italians, because the doctor in charge is positive for Covid. Now Opi Since 1982, which manages Signani’s career, will appeal to the European federation (Ebu) asking that the verdict be changed to no contest. Thus the title would remain in Italy.

Signani and his coach

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“The verdict is a scandal – comments Signani -. The doctor of the meeting wanted to suspend in the 4th round, but the referee decided to take the match to the 5th to allow Prestot to win. I told him it was a shameful behavior . But the worst came later, when I was up to midnight and a half waiting in vain for the doctor for doping control “. “Apart from forcing the referee – confirms his coach Gian Maria Morelli – a European title cannot be awarded without doping control, it is written in black and white on the Ebu regulation. For this reason I am confident in the appeal that we will present through the lawyer of the Italian Federation. As for the match, the strategy was to suffer in the opening rounds and then beat the Prestot pace when he had none. Matteo was pressing him, two more rounds and he would drop. The referee’s decision prevented us from carry it out “.

Two other Italians

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In the coming months, Italy will have the chance to win two more European titles with Alessio Lorusso (bantamweight) and Mauro Forte (featherweight), challengers of Sebastian Perez (vacant title) and Jordan Gil (champion) respectively.