Debut between Kickboxing professionals for Davide Barbieri, athlete originally from Jonadi, who a few days ago trod the ring of the prestigious Petrosyan Mania event, held in Crotone and broadcast live on Dazn.
The young Vibonese fighter, trained by Maestro Emanuel Crisao of the Raion team (Beautiful Body Center), took part in the pre-card of the Gala challenging, in a K1 match without protections, the fortrere Andrea Megarelli of the Team Satori in Milan. After a heated and particularly balanced comparison, Barbieri gave way to the points at the end of the three regulatory shots.
An important opportunity, despite the defeat, as underlined by the master Crisa himself:
“We are very satisfied with how it went, beyond the result. Davide offered an excellent performance, considering that he had only a month and a half of notice and had to manage an injury that kept him stopped for ten days in the middle of the preparation.”
The event saw the participation of some of the best athletes on the national and international scene and has gone out several titles: an Italian title, one European and the world title Wako Pro, conquered by the Crotonese Fabrizio Ruggero, winner against Turkish Erdal Golgek.
For Barbieri it was a historical debut: it is the first athlete of the province of Vibo Valentia to make his debut in the Lega Pro of Kickboxing, a goal achieved among a thousand difficulties, as still highlighted by Crisao:
“Preparing a match of this level is very hard: it takes a real team work between sparring, physiotherapy, nutrition and lots of sacrifice. Davide gave everything, physically and mentally. He followed the food plan to the letter, he trained 4-5 times a week, facing long trips while the others were on vacation. It is a sign of a rare determination.”
Now for the Vibonese athlete it is time to finish, but the debut among professionals already represents an important page for local sport, often forced to confront structural deficiencies and few opportunities. Barbieri, on the other hand, is the concrete demonstration that talent, dedication and spirit of sacrifice can lead far away, even starting from peripheral territories.