PAVIA
Rebecca Nicoli’s Olympic dream is shattered in the second round. The 21-year-old boxer from Pavia surrendered on points (with a unanimous verdict) to Irish Kellie Harrington, in the lightweight match. Overall a more balanced match than the score suggests. «Like every meeting we feel in the days leading up to the race and we prepare the strategy – explains the master Gianni Birardi – we knew that she was facing the number one, but on the video call I saw her convinced of her means. The match played out differently than the judges’ scores. In the first round Rebecca started contracted and Harrington brought a few precise blows; from the second minute Rebecca began to take her time and for me she finished better than the Irishman. The second round was dominated by Rebecca but the judges left us perplexed by giving the Irishman a 5-0 and that’s it, only a knockout could turn the situation around. In the last round Rebecca scored more hits but only one judge awarded her to her. After the match she was still happy with what she did, let’s not forget that in November she had an operation on her hip, she was practically on crutches. I reminded her that she had also been “robbed” at the World Cup in India, then she started over and arrived in Tokyo. Now he will aim for the World Cup in October. He’ll be back in the gym soon to get ready with me, there are aspects to improve “.—
M.Sc.