37 years ago
Gianfranco Rosi vs Duane Thomas
Date: 3rd January 1988
Venue: Palazzo Dello Sport, Genoa, Liguria, ItalyTitle: WBC World Super-welterweight Title
Promoter: Top Rank & Roberto Sabbatini
Referee: Larry O'Connell
Tv: ESPN
Gianfranco Rosi
(
42
-
2
-
0
)
Weight: 153¼ lbs
Duane Thomas
(
29
-
2
-
0
)
Weight: 154 lbs
On January 3, 1988, the Palazzo Dello Sport in Genoa, Italy, played host to Gianfranco Rosi’s first defence of his WBC World Super-Welterweight Title against the hard-hitting American challenger, Duane Thomas. The fight, promoted by Top Rank in collaboration with Roberto Sabbatini, was set against high anticipation. Rosi, a meticulous technician known for his disciplined style and sharp counter-punching, had captured the title in June 1987 and was determined to establish his authority as a reigning champion. On the other hand, Thomas was a former WBC champion, arriving in Italy to reclaim the belt he once held.
From the opening bell, it was clear that Rosi had no intention of allowing Thomas to dictate the pace. The Italian champion, weighing 153¼ lbs, immediately established control with his crisp jab and fluid movement. Thomas, slightly heavier at 154 lbs, attempted to close the distance and impose his physical strength, but Rosi’s footwork and defensive awareness made him a difficult target to pin down. Every time Thomas lunged forward, Rosi met him with sharp counters, disrupting the challenger’s rhythm and frustrating his attempts to mount a sustained offence.
As the fight progressed, Rosi’s strategy became increasingly apparent. He expertly controlled the tempo, using angles and lateral movement to keep Thomas off balance. The American power shots often found only air or the champion’s gloves. By the fourth round, Thomas’s frustration began to show, as his inability to land clean shots was met with Rosi’s continuous peppering combinations and ring generalship.
In the sixth round, Rosi turned up the pressure. Sensing Thomas’s growing fatigue and waning confidence, the Italian champion began sitting down on his punches, landing clean combinations to both the head and body. Thomas’s responses slowed, and his corner’s instructions grew frantic as the round ended.
The decisive moment came in the seventh round. Now entirely in control, Rosi unleashed a flurry of precise, unanswered punches that forced referee Larry O’Connell to step in and halt the bout just 57 seconds into the round. Visibly exhausted and unable to defend himself effectively, Thomas had been thoroughly outclassed by the sharper, more tactical champion.
The scorecards leading up to the stoppage left no room for doubt regarding Rosi’s dominance. Sid Nathan scored the bout 60-55, Miguel Donate scored it 60-54, and Jean Deswert tallied 60-56—all favouring the champion. While Thomas had entered the fight with a reputation for power and aggression, he could not overcome Rosi’s disciplined game plan and sharp execution.
This victory marked a significant moment in Rosi’s career. Not only had he successfully defended his WBC World Super-Welterweight Title for the first time, but he had also done so with a level of control and confidence that underscored his reputation as one of the most technically proficient fighters in the division. For Thomas, the loss highlighted the gap in adaptability and precision between himself and the composed Italian champion.
Rosi’s performance that night in Genoa was a masterclass in discipline, timing, and calculated offence. It was a fight where brains triumphed over brawn, and a champion proved his worth with an intelligent and methodical dismantling of a dangerous challenger.