Matteo Signani wins a lackluster unanimous decision over Ruben Diaz
Boxing is a global sport where a fighter could spend their whole career as heroes in their own country. Sometimes they do not make it to the big stage. Yet, they still have the desire to compete until father time sends them home. This brings us to two-time EBU European middleweight titlist Matteo “Giaguaro” Signani (30-5-3, 11ko) making a second defense of the title against former EBU middleweight titleholder Ruben “El Destructor” Diaz (26-2-2, 17ko).
El Destructor spent the vast majority of his professional career fighting in Spain. He once captured the IBF Inter-Continental middleweight title. Diaz, at the age of 41-year-old, in an interview with Fightnews.com made it clear that win or lose, this is the final chapter of his career.
Giaguaro will have the advantage of fighting in front of the hometown crowd in Italy. He once held the WBA Inter-Continental crown and is on a seven-fight win streak. Despite also being 42 years old, he seems the fresher of the two, while being ranked #9 by the WBC and #11 with the IBF.
THE WINNER OF THIS FIGHT WAS FATHER TIME
Honestly, this fight produced more yawning moments for the majority of the contest than it did any action at all. The fight started as expected, with both men not doing much. Signani came forward, landing the jab and the occasional right-hand. Diaz also had little success but managed to land the overhand right once or twice.
Nonetheless, Signani’s slow jab was the most significant punch of the fight. Both men were clinching whenever they got in close, and there was a clash of heads in the sixth round that opened up a cut above the left eye of Diaz. It did spark a small exchange that saw both fighters throwing and landing right-hand haymakers.
The rest of the fight was uneventful as both men mostly postured and clinched their way to the final bell. Diaz, already in retirement mode, fought like someone looking to collect their last paycheck. The Italian fighter failed miserably in making a case as to why he should keep fighting as well.
The judges’ scorecards read 117-111, 116-112, and 115-113, all in favor of the Signani. Furthermore, the EBU titlist could be a future opponent for undefeated Commonwealth and BBBofC titlist Felix Cash. In this author’s honest opinion, after that performance, it is hard to justify making that fight.
By: Garrisson Bland
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