“Boxing is not brutality, it’s art. God blessed me with incredible hand speed: a tool to be used. What else am I supposed to do but fight?” declared 1990s boxing icon Roy Jones Jr. Words that resonate perfectly with the spirit of The Art of Fighting – TAF, hosted at the Allianz Cloud in Milan.

Before a packed arena — clear proof that this discipline has never faded from the Italian sporting DNA — 3 titles found their home last weekend: the Italian Light Heavyweight and Featherweight titles, conquered respectively by El Maghraby (read the full article here) and Paparo; and the prestigious EBU Silver belt, secured by Morello.

Yet beyond belts and knockouts, what emerged within Milan’s four ropes was a celebration of the noble art itself: boxing in its highest, most expressive form, where physical mastery becomes a creative act, an athletic performance that transcends sport to touch the realm of art. And that is precisely how we approached it with the evening’s winners, exploring each fighter’s personal mark of authorship: their nickname, and the values and stories that give it meaning.

What does the concept of the ‘noble art’ mean to you, when applied to boxing?

Dario ‘Spartan’ Morello: “I believe art is the very essence of being human: something expressed through different channels, including boxing. Boxing is exactly like art: everyone interprets it in their own way, and you can see the stylistic differences from one fighter to another. After all, someone far greater than me once said, ‘The ring is my canvas.’ Inside those four ropes, I feel like a soul singer with a huge Afro, too bad my vocal cords aren’t quite at that level.”

Jonathan ‘Black Mamba’ Kogasso: “It’s no coincidence boxing is called the noble art. What we do is elegant and violent at the same time: you need to master every aspect of it. You have to know how to box, how to hit, how to take a punch. I’m trying to master all of that. Right now, I see myself as a technical artist: sometimes I let myself go into exchanges, but I know that one day that side of my boxing will be just as important.”

Francesco ‘King Papachenko’ Paparo: “For me, the art of fighting is synonymous with life. In fact, it is life. I give my whole life to this discipline because it helps me grow: it changes me, both in character and in mind. It shapes me, just like life itself does. Winning an Italian title, in this form of art, to me means one thing: sacrifice.”

Mohamed ‘Momo’ El Maghraby: “Boxing is art by definition. And it’s an ongoing journey. On that journey, the Italian title was something I expected: something I earned, something I worked for. So a night like this feels almost natural to me: it’s something I had already lived within myself. Deep down, I always knew I would reach this point.”

Paolo ‘Gladiator’ Bologna: “The art of fighting is about measuring yourself: discovering who you truly are in that ring. Everyone brings their own art into it. There are warriors, technicians, brawlers, madmen, calm souls. Inside the four ropes, I’m a crazy puncher. But outside the ring, I’m just a normal guy.”

Christian ‘La Iena’ Mazzon: “The art of fighting has many shades. In my case, it’s more introspective: a battle against myself, in everyday life. When fighters step into the ring, their character comes out too. For me, boxing is discipline: a constant pursuit, a constant lesson. I do this sport, and I absorb its values, to fight my own demons.”

Paul ‘Silverback’ Amefiam: “The art of fighting is a way of life, because what boxing puts in front of you is, paradoxically, life itself. You have to face your fears, your insecurities, all the things that make you human. Others learn to confront them through different paths. For me, boxing has been essential in teaching me how to live, how to test myself, how to overcome every obstacle, and to go beyond my limits. That’s what boxing represents to me.”

Simone ‘White Tiger’ Brusa: “It’s an art that constantly tests you: one that demands courage. When you fight abroad, like I did in Spain, with just five people in your corner, you have to be solid. And you have to be yourself. I’m Simone, I’ve been fighting in this world for many years, and matches like tonight’s still move me deeply. My grandfather Giancarlo once fought at the PalaLido; I fought here at the Allianz. I’m honoured to carry forward a family art.”

What’s the essence behind your nickname?

Dario ‘Spartan’ Morello: “I’m ‘Spartan’ in my approach to the ring, and only in that. As the years go by, every match feels more and more like a crossroads. Every fight is the most important fight of my career. Since I’ve dedicated my whole life to this discipline, I can’t accept the idea of losing. I’m willing to give everything for it, even my life. That’s where I feel ‘Spartan’. In everything else? Definitely not. Not even in the abs department.”

Jonathan ‘Black Mamba’ Kogasso: “As many might guess, ‘Black Mamba’ comes from the great Kobe Bryant. I’ve always been a huge fan. I see similarities between us, both physically and stylistically: I’m agile, I’m technical, and I can be lethal. This nickname feels like mine; it fits me perfectly.”

Francesco ‘King Papachenko’ Paparo: “I want to be the King: the king of the ring. I’m the one in charge. ‘Papa’ comes from my surname, and ‘Chenko’ is a tribute to a ring icon like Lomachenko, who’s been a big inspiration to me. The nickname ties it all together, and honestly, it sounds great. ‘King Papachenko’ just works; it fits like a glove.”

Mohamed ‘Momo’ El Maghraby: “I don’t really have a nickname. ‘Momo’ is just short for my name, nothing more. And I want it to stay that way, because people know me as Momo. There’s only one Momo: inside and outside the ring. I don’t change depending on the fight or the situation. Momo is Momo.”

Paolo ‘Gladiator’ Bologna: “My nickname comes from Calcio Storico Fiorentino. I made my debut there when I was just a kid: 18 years old. People saw me on the field, going up against fighters twice my age, and they’d ask, ‘Who is that kid?’ They started calling me ‘Gladiator’, and the name stuck. Today, the people of Santa Croce in Florence follow me everywhere. They came all the way here to Milan, paid their own way, and stood by me. In the ring, I represent them: my family, and their love.”

Christian ‘La Iena’ Mazzon: “My friends started calling me ‘The Hyena’ because of the intensity of my training: the aggression, the shouts that come out when I let the real punches fly. Being a hyena means facing life with hunger, never letting anyone step over you.”

Paul ‘Silverback’ Amefiam: “The nickname comes from the idea that a silverback has a calm nature — but is extremely territorial. The ring is my territory. Anyone who steps into it is a threat. I’ve grown into that name. Right now, I still feel like a ‘Baby Silverback,’ but fights like tonight’s help me grow closer and closer to the full definition of who I am — both as a boxer and as a Silverback.”

Simone ‘White Tiger’ Brusa: “The White Tiger has several meanings. Above all, resilience. In the past I broke my jaw, went through a serious surgery, but I came back to the ring, even when everyone thought I was finished. I’m not saying it’s something anyone could do, but I know one thing: I’m no longer afraid of punches. I’ve been reborn, in a way. And that animal embodies exactly how I feel every time I step into the ring.”