Andrea Sarritzu Rebounded From Title Defeats to Become a Two-Time European Champion
Andrea Sarritzu won the European flyweight championship on July 27, 2006, stopping Iván Pozo in the twelfth round in Milan. The victory reversed a defeat to Pozo in their first championship meeting the previous year.
The first world-title opportunities
From Quartu Sant’Elena in Sardinia, Sarritzu won a junior world silver medal in 1994 before turning professional in 1998. Victories over Job Tleru and Andrey Kostin brought international titles and helped him reach world championship contention.
He challenged WBO flyweight champion Omar Narváez in Sardinia on December 14, 2002. Narváez retained the belt by split decision after twelve rounds. Their rematch in Villasimius on August 9, 2003, ended in a draw, leaving the title with the Argentine.
European championship comebacks
After defeating Pozo in 2006, Sarritzu defended against Christophe Rodrigues and Lahcene Zemmouri and drew with Bernard Inom. Inom stopped him in the eighth round of their May 2008 rematch.
Sarritzu regained the vacant European title against Rodrigues in November 2009 and defended it against Alain Bonnel the following May. His third world-title opportunity came against IBF champion Moruti Mthalane in Cagliari on October 28, 2011. Mthalane retained the championship by seventh-round stoppage. Sarritzu continued competing afterward, including further European title contests against Silvio Olteanu and Valery Yanchy.
Sources
- Sport & Note: Sarritzu’s amateur and professional results
- La Nación: Narváez–Sarritzu first championship meeting
- Boxe Punch: Sarritzu discusses his international title route and championship career
- Title Histories: Sarritzu’s two European flyweight reigns
Article Tags
Boxing, Boxing History
