Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship: Camozzi and Bicchi Debut in Florence

Wanny Palace from volleyball to boxing. Tonight, starting at 19pm, it will host the first Italian stage of the Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship, the most important world event of bare-handed combat: discipline founded in 2018 in Philadelphia by David Feldman. At stake in the key match of the evening is the world heavyweight title which will see the current holder, the American of Italian origins, clash Chris Camozzi and the Florentine Andrea Bicchi. This historic debut in Italy was made possible by Gabriel Ernesto Rapisarda, executive director of BKFC, with the support of Luigi Perillo, the project's operations director.

"In just three months we have managed to create one of the most important events of its kind, not only in Italy but also in Europe – says Rapisarda – and the fact that a Florentine will have the chance to win the world title makes everything even more magical". Why was it chosen for the debut? Florence Perillo then explains: "This city is the cradle of the Renaissance and the soul and heart of Calcio storico: it is from here that we will revive combat sports". Bicchi, born in 1996, after starting amateur boxing in 2014, found in combat a means to channel his energy and distance himself from the difficulties of street life. He established himself in Calcio storico but his career gained momentum in the world of mixed martial arts and Bare Knuckle where he demonstrated extraordinary skills with quick and decisive victories. In November 2023 he won the European title that consecrated him as one of the best fighters on the Old Continent.

"I think that when opportunities like these arise, there is a very specific reason - he commented -. There could not have been a better occasion to aim for the world title, here in Florence, at my home, in front of my people. Since they offered me the match I have concentrated only on this: it is what I want and I will do my best to get it".

Franco Morabito