Tommy McCarthy upset the odds in Trento, Italy, on Friday evening to win via split decision, handing Fabio Turchi his first professional career defeat and claiming the WBC International cruiserweight title. The judges’ scorecards read 116-112, 113-115, 112-116 in favor of the 28-year-old from Belfast.
The "Stone Crusher" was making his first title defense six months after defeating Sami Enbom in April to claim the green and gold cruiserweight belt. Turchi was tipped to become one of Italy’s top fighters, but the night didn’t go to plan.
After a cagey start to the bout, Turchi (17-1, 13 KOs) tried to force the fight, but he was caught by a short right hand in the second round that seemed to give McCarthy (16-2, 8 KOs) the confidence to come forward and land his shots. Turchi was warned by the referee in the fifth round when the fight turned scrappy, and he received a cut just below the left eye when the pair accidently clashed heads in the seventh.
McCarthy continued to pick his shots as the swelling around Turchi’s eye worsened as the fight drew on; the ringside doctors examined his eye twice in the 10th round. With the fight still in the balance, Turchi came out strong in the 11th round, but McCarthy was able to soak up all that the 26-year-old Italian could throw at him. With both men exhausted and going toe-to-toe in the final round, McCarthy managed to hold on for the win.
Undercard results
- Matteo Signani def. Gevorg Khatchikian; Signani won the vacant EBU European middleweight title
- Francesco Grandelli def. Reece Bellotti; Grandelli won the vacant WBC International silver featherweight title
- Samuel Gonzalez def. Jayro Duran; Super lightweights
- Dalton Smith def. Marko Radenovic; Super lightweights
- Valentino Manfredonia def. Milos Jankovic; Super middleweights
- Mirko Natalizi def. Alexander Benidze; Super welterweights