Earlier today, the famed Campidoglio (Rome’s city hall) hosted the final press conference leading up to the much-anticipated clash for the WBC world cruiserweight championship between defending champion Giacobbe Fragomeni (26-1, 10 KOs) and mandatory challenger Krzysztof Wlodarczyk (41-2, 31 KOs), which will take place next Saturday at the Gran Teatro (3,040 seats). The mayor of Rome, Gianni Alemanno, was on hand. Both fighters looked confident and in tip-top shape. “I’m very proud to fight in Rome and have the utmost respect for Fragomeni,” said Wlodarczyk. “But I have come here to win. Hopefully there will be a level playing field.” Fragomeni, who will make the maiden defense of the crown won last October in Milan against Rudolf Kraj, said, “My opponent needs not worry about the judges. This fight will be fair and square. May the better man win.”
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The weigh-in will be held on Friday at 5PM at the Claridge Hotel. The card, promoted by Salvatore Cherchi’s OPI2000, will start at 8:10PM with six fights featuring local junior middle Emanuele Della Rosa, middleweight Emanuele Blandamura, cruiserweight Andrea Moretti and super lightweight Vittorio Oi. Mexican flyweight Arian ‘El Confesor’ Hernandez (14-1-1, 11 KOs) will be part of the show facing countryman Abel Ochoa (13-12, 9 KOs) over six rounds. The main event will be aired nationally by Rai Due starting at 11:15PM.