See Images and Videos of Leonardo in action during his amatuer and professional boxing career, and during his travels abroad whilst competing in the fight game.
ABOUT Leonardo Zappavigna
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Name: Leonardo Zappavigna |
Leonardo Zappavigna was born in Liverpool, NSW Australia in October 1987 and is of Italian descent. After starting fitness and boxing training mainly to get fit, he began to train more seriously under the tutelage of Tommy Mercuri, his first and current boxing trainer. He first entered the NSW amateur boxing ranks in 1999. A long and successful amateur boxing career followed. With a total of 81 amateur fights for 72 wins, he was a four time national amateur champion. The highlight of his amateur career was representing Australia in the 2006 Melbourne Commonwealth Games, winning a Bronze Medal in the 60kg Lightweight class.
Since turning professional Zappavigna has logged many impressive wins, winning and defending the Australian Lightweight title, IBO Asia Pacific Lightweight title, IBF Pan Pacific Light Welterweight title and in March 2010 Leonardo won the IBO World Lightweight Title in the U.S against tough Ecuadorian Fernando Angulo. The fight was televised nationally in the U.S via the Showtime network.
A strong, well built fighter with "stocky" frame, Zappavigna has dominated opponents with a skilful yet aggressive, boxer/puncher fighting style. Although an accomplished boxer he also has the power to knock his opponents out with either hand, and has featured in numerous "explosive" bouts in both the amateur and professional ranks.
This has seen him quickly become a favourite on "Thursday Night Fights" on Fox Sports, and gain a reputation as a hungry, willing boxer with a strong work ethic in the gym. In April 2007 Leonardo spent 4 weeks as one of Manny Pacquiao's sparring partners, in preparation for Pacquiao's bout with Jorge Solis. Leonardo was scheduled to fight on the undercard but his opponent pulled out on the day of the fight.
Family support has been important to Leonardo from day one, and he has always had the support and backing of his family (father Joe, mother Josephine, brother Dominic and sister Rosanne) and thanks them immensely. That backing, and his own personal drive and ambition, all combined with a wise and experienced training and management team (Tommy Mercuri, and Gary Shaw in the U.S) are all factors helping and guiding Leonardo to the elite boxing level, and getting him ready for the biggest possible fight of his life, a world title fight.
Leonardo Zappavigna in 2012
Leonardo's next fight is scheduled for March 2012 with an opponent yet to be announced. More information will be available soon.
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