Alessio Lorusso, the return of the tattooed boxer: “The children like me and I fight for the social. I defend the European Championship, but then I want the World Cup”

“I still have some legroom left.” We had done the account of Alessio Lorusso’s tattoos before he won the European rooster championship. “We’re still at that. After winning the title, I didn’t even have time to get a celebratory one. I’m a boxer from morning to night. Devastating, very hard preparation, even away from my girlfriend. I even bought a house near the gym”. Lorusso does not stop. After the European Championship, two more times in the ring without putting the title on the line. “I can’t have one match a year, I don’t like to live on income. I have to breathe in the ring often”. Engine always running therefore, and Saturday in Monza a fundamental crossroads against Thomas Essomba, English born in Cameroon. Don’t deceive the record with a few defeats, he had matches with a notable specific weight: “He’s a tough guy, used to fighting away from home, he faced the best. It will be a battle but I want to keep the crown at all costs”.

Lorusso is famous for being the most tattooed boxer in the world. Has anything changed since European champion?
“Yes. My boxing quality is also more appreciated, and I hope to grow further. Within the year I want to fight for the world title, I know the strongest fifty by heart and now that the ‘Monster’ has risen in category ( the phenomenal Japanese Inoue, ed) I play with everyone”.

Not particularly original. Everyone dreams of the World Cup…
“And who spoke of dreams. The world championship would be a point of arrival, the result of a lot of work”.

Maybe it would inflate the bank account a little
“Maybe… In Italy it’s difficult to live on professionalism. Thanks to my sponsors, I’m succeeding at this stage, but it’s tough”.

But first you have to beat Essomba.
“Many kids from the Monza curve, the Davide Pieri, will come. When I can, I’ll go to watch a few games with them. The curve is a bit like boxing, it saves many kids from the dangers of the road”.

That may be the case, but scenes like that of the AC Milan players reporting to the fans in La Spezia…
“It was very ugly, but this does not change the social function that curves have for young people”.

Speaking of social issues, you are also very involved in promoting Paralympic boxing
“We have a wonderful relationship with Simone Dessi (symbol of para-boxing in Italy, ed.) for now it had to be blocked. I try to make people understand that the disabled person makes the same sacrifices as other boxers. For now, he doesn’t weigh in, but para-boxing is boxing to all intents and purposes. The federation is helping me on the subject, even if it is clear that the matter is delicate and must be tackled with all precautions”

Lorusso in private. In the post match with Perez we saw her treat her mother like a sister
“She’s 61, but I see her as a little girl. We have a great relationship, but that doesn’t mean that sometimes we end up arguing, even badly.”

Are you thinking about starting a family?
“I’d like to become a father. I go very well with the children, when I take my partner’s son to school I am very successful among his friends. And many children come to watch my matches”.

You have been a somewhat restless boy. Tell us the values ​​that a young person should believe in.
“I’ll mention two: determination and constancy. When you believe in something it’s not enough to dream about it, if you don’t put in your daily commitment you won’t get there”.

The Monza meeting live on Dazn starting at 8pm