This coming Saturday in London, British super-middleweight contender Frank Buglioni (17-1-1, 13ko), enters far and away the biggest fight of his professional career when he tackles Russian WBA (reg) champion Fedor Chudinov (13-0, 10ko), in front of what is sure to be a roaring partisan crowd at the SSE Arena.
Despite entering as a significant betting underdog for the fight, ‘The Wise Guy’ has warned that he is not to be underestimated or written off, and that the oft-referenced porous defence that saw him stopped by Belarusian trial horse, Sergey Khomitsky inside 6 rounds in April of last year, won’t be a problem on the night.
Following that fight, in order to begin rebuilding afresh, Buglioni switched from trainer Mark Tibb’s to Paschal and [former world champion] Steve Collins, operating out of their ‘Celtic Warriors’ gym in Dublin. Speaking to FrankWarren.tv, he insists they have more than helped tighten up the defensive part of his game.
“I have been working on my defence with Steve Collins, who knows all about being the underdog in world title fights,” he said, brimming with confidence at the fact that if he was to be challenging any of the champions, then the relatively inexperienced Chudinov is arguably the best bet.
The Russian – who is set to be trained by future Hall of Fame Inductee Roy Jones Jr on the night – won his title by upsetting Germany’s Felix Sturm in his last fight back in May, and Buglioni has seen some very real positives that he believes will more than keep him a live dog in the fight.
“Apart from Sturm, who was a blown-up middleweight, he has not fought the standard of opposition I have. He says I’m easy to hit but he may be in for a shock.
“I am bigger than him. I have a reach advantage so if he wants to land his shots he’s going to have to take a few of mine. And I’m the biggest puncher he’s ever faced.”
Buglioni was last seen stopping Mexico’s Fernando Castaneda in July, in a fight that followed on from May’s battle against old amateur rival, Lee Markham – a tough battle that was correctly ruled a draw. Should he upset the odds on Saturday and claim the 2nd tier WBA strap, then he will be mandated to fight big-punching German Interim champ, Vincent Feigenbutz.
A fight between Chudinov and Feigenbutz has reportedly already been agreed in principle, such it seems is the Russian’s attitude to the fight. He has promised to “rip into Buglioni like a shark,” and is promising a knockout victory.
The fight will be live on Boxnation in the UK.
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