Who is Andrea Pesce?
Dave ‘The White Rhino’ Allen returns to the ring this Friday, August 27th at the Ponds Forge Arena, Sheffield, after 18 months away, when he takes on Andrea ‘Thunder’ Pesce.
Not much is known about Pesce to UK fight fans so BBN dug up some info on the visiting fighter:
Andrea Pesce
Italian fighter Andrea Pesce (7-13-3, 2KOs) was born in Roma, Lazio on February 14th, 1985 and is currently 36-years-old.
He is Italy's 13th ranked heavyweight on BoxRec, but remarkably began his boxing career as a super-welterweight.
He kick-started his pro career in April 2012 with a points victory over experienced Slovakian Julius Rafael, who was entering into his 53rd bout.
He then lost his next three fights – all six-rounders – until he got another victory over fellow Italian Giuseppe Rauseo in fight number five in Lazio.
Standing at 5’9’, Pesce has fought as a super-welterweight all the way up to heavyweight. His weight for fights has ranged from 150lbs all the way up to 266lbs!
The journeyman has only won two from his last 10 contests.
The orthodox fighter has only ever fought outside of his homeland twice, when he met Milans Volkovs in his 18th fight ending via second round KO defeat in Latvia, and in his last fight in the Ukraine when he lost via technical decision to Andriy Rudenko in July this year. His other 21 bouts were all in Italy. His fight with Allen in the UK will be just his third appearance abroad.
Andriy Rudenko (34-5, 20KOs) is the most notable fighter on Pesce's resume. The No.2 Ukrainian, second only to Oleksandr Usyk, has faced the likes of former World heavyweight champions Alexander Povetkin and Lucas Browne; European titleholder Agit Kabayel; as well as China’s rising star Zhilei Zhang and Briton Hughie Fury – he lost but went the distance with all five.
His forthcoming clash with Dave Allen will be his third fight in 56 days, having fought in June, July and August!
You can find dozens of Andrea's fights on YouTube boxing channel BOXE ITALIA here: https://www.youtube.com/user/BoxeItaly
Editor's Notes:
Pesce is fleshy, slow and cumbersome and should be a walkover for Dave Allen, who I believe will stop him in rounds one or two. His short, stocky, compact shape allows him to throw short powerful hooks and body blows but he doesn't seem to have the strength to hurt his opponents or knock them out. It's hard to believe that this scrappy heavyweight was once a sharp welter/middleweight that could skip around the ring on his toes and land sharp jabs and one-twos, and now weighs over 18 stone for his fights!
Dave Allen has said that he won't be in the same form he once was before, when fighting on the biggest platforms, but that he will be as fit as he needs to be for an opponent like this. It's hard to tell whether he will want to get a few rounds in or if he will decide to blow Pesce away early to make a statement and entertain the fans. Anything could happen in heavyweight boxing, one punch could change it all, but it's hard to see Allen havng any difficulties with Pesce and should be able to finish the fight any time he wants.
Stats
Age: 36
Division: Heavyweight
Bouts: 23
Rounds: 115
Height: 5' 9"
KO Ratio: 8.7%
How to watch Dave Allen vs Andrea Pesce
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