Gianluca Branco


Gianluca Branco is an Italian former professional boxer who competed from 1995 to 2014. He held the European super-lightweight title twice between 2001 and 2009, the European Union welterweight title from 2012 to 2013, the European welterweight title from 2014 to 2016, and challenged twice for a world title in 2004 and 2006. Gianluca is the younger brother of former boxer Silvio Branco.

Professional career

Branco made his professional debut on 7 April 1995, knocking out Aladar Horvath in six rounds. Fighting almost exclusively in his native Italy, he would spend the next nine years undefeated, save for a points draw against Viktor Baranov on 19 October 1998. Branco won his first major regional championship—the vacant European light-welterweight title—on 23 June 2001, with a majority decision victory over Gabriel Mapouka. Two successful defences of the title were made, against George Scott on 17 November 2001 and Allan Vester on 9 March 2002.
On 24 January 2004, Branco fought for his first world championship—the vacant WBC light-welterweight title—against veteran Arturo Gatti. This was also Branco's first visit to the United States, where Gatti was an established star. Branco started off well, counterpunching the combinations of Gatti, until the latter injured his hand severely by landing a punch on Branco's hip in round five. Gatti then had to rely entirely on his jab to stay out of trouble for the remainder of the fight. By the tenth round, with the fight still close, Gatti turned the tide decisively in his favour when he scored a knockdown against Branco. By the end of twelve rounds, Gatti won a clear unanimous decision to hand Branco his first loss.
Branco would receive a second opportunity at a world title on 4 March 2006, this time against WBO light-welterweight champion Miguel Cotto. From the opening round, Branco had no answer for the undefeated superstar, who stopped him in eight rounds. On 16 May 2008, Branco won his second European light-welterweight title. Despite suffering a knockdown in the second round, he went on to claim a split decision over the defending champion Lynes. Branco made one defence, on 19 December 2008, stopping Juho Tolppola in nine hard-fought rounds.
Having moved up in weight, Branco made his first of two attempts at winning the European welterweight title, on 26 March 2010, but lost a UD to Matthew Hatton. On 10 November 2012, Branco won the vacant European Union welterweight title with a UD over Krzysztof Bienias. Once defence was made, on 22 February 2013, in a UD victory against Lukasz Maciec. On 22 November 2014, Branco succeeded in his second attempt at winning the now-vacant European welterweight title, by forcing Rafał Jackiewicz to retire in his corner after six rounds.

Professional boxing record

No.ResultRecordOpponentTypeRound, timeDateLocationNotes
53Win49–3–1Rafał Jackiewicz6, 3:0022 Nov 2014Palazzetto dello Sport, Terracina, ItalyWon vacant European welterweight title
52Win48–3–1Konstantins SakaraUD621 Dec 2013PalaBadminton, Milan, Italy
51Win47–3–1Łukasz MaciecUD1222 Feb 2013Palazzetto dello Sport, Montalto di Castro, ItalyRetained European Union welterweight title
50Win46–3–1Krzysztof BieniasUD1210 Nov 2012Palazzetto dello Sport, Civitavecchia, ItalyWon vacant European Union welterweight title
49Win45–3–1János PetrovicsTKO6, 0:2811 Nov 2011Palazzetto dello Sport, Pontedera, Italy
48Win44–3–1Semjons MoroseksPTS627 Nov 2010Palazzetto dello Sport, Civitavecchia, Italy
47Loss43–3–1Matthew HattonUD1226 Mar 2010Goresbrook Leisure Centre, London, EnglandFor vacant European welterweight title
46Win43–2–1János PetrovicsPTS611 Jul 2009BJK Akatlar Arena, Istanbul, Turkey
45Win42–2–1Juho TolppolaTKO9 19 Dec 2008PalaLido, Milan, ItalyRetained European light-welterweight title
44Win41–2–1Colin Lynes1216 May 2008PalaRuffini, Turin, ItalyWon European light-welterweight title
43Win40–2–1Nico SalzmannPTS829 Feb 2008PalaLido, Milan, Italy
42Win39–2–1Laszlo KomjathiTKO4 8 Dec 2007La Palestre, Le Cannet, France
41Win38–2–1Arek MalekPTS631 Jul 2007Centro Polifunzionale, San Genesio ed Uniti, Italy
40Win37–2–1Adam ZadwornyTKO1 8 Oct 2006PalaLido, Milan, Italy
39Loss36–2–1Miguel CottoTKO8, 0:494 Mar 2006Coliseo Rubén Rodríguez, Bayamón, Puerto RicoFor WBO light-welterweight title
38Win36–1–1Farid El HouariTKO4 22 Jul 2005Campione d'Italia, Italy
37Win35–1–1Ariel Francisco BurgosTKO6, 2:3512 Mar 2005Mazda Palace, Milan, Italy
36Win34–1–1Vasile HertegTKO2 24 Jul 2004Civitavecchia, Italy
35Win33–1–1Nasser LakribTKO4 8 May 2004Civitavecchia, Italy
34Loss32–1–1Arturo GattiUD1224 Jan 2004Boardwalk Hall, Atlantic City, New Jersey, USFor vacant WBC light-welterweight title
33Win32–0–1Michel RaynaudPTS65 Nov 2002Villa Erba, Cernobbio, Italy
32Win31–0–1Massimo BertozziPTS613 Sep 2002Hotel Marina Piccola, Puglia, Italy
31Win30–0–1Allan VesterTKO10 9 Mar 2002Montecatini Terme, ItalyRetained European light-welterweight title
30Win29–0–1George Scott6 17 Nov 2001Civitavecchia, ItalyRetained European light-welterweight title;
TD after Scott was cut from an accidental head clash
29Win28–0–1Gabriel Mapouka1223 Jun 2001Massy, FranceWon vacant European light-welterweight title
28Win27–0–1Frederic TrippPTS617 Feb 2001Padua, Italy
27Win26–0–1Adejoussi AdewaleUD622 Dec 2000Monfalcone, Italy
26Win25–0–1Slobodan VlaovicPTS617 Jun 2000Bovezzo, Italy
25Win24–0–1Slobodan VlaovicUD618 Mar 2000Ferrara, Italy
24Win23–0–1Francesco CioffiPTS63 Dec 1999Milan, Italy
23Win22–0–1Gheorghe ParaschivTKO216 Oct 1999Bondeno, Italy
22Win21–0–1Horia DobreTKO1 7 Aug 1999Civitavecchia, Italy
21Win20–0–1Francesco CioffiUD624 Apr 1999Ferrara, Italy
20Win19–0–1Nassim YahiaouiPTS618 Dec 1998Brindisi, Italy
19Draw18–0–1Viktor Baranov819 Oct 1998Bari, Italy
18Win18–0Andile NongazaTKO4 28 Jul 1998Civitavecchia, Italy
17Win17–0Massimo BertozziPTS109 May 1998Aulla, ItalyRetained Italy light-welterweight title
16Win16–0Elyes Mahdjoub826 Feb 1998Civitavecchia, Italy
15Win15–0Elyes MahdjoubPTS629 Nov 1997Novara, Italy
14Win14–0Antonio StrabelloKO6 28 Aug 1997Forte Michelangelo, Civitavecchia, ItalyRetained Italy light-welterweight title
13Win13–0Francesco CioffiPTS1030 May 1997Castellammare di Stabia, ItalyWon vacant Italy light-welterweight title
12Win12–0Lajos NagyTKO4 13 Feb 1997Palazzetto dello Sport, Civitavecchia, ItalyWon vacant WBU Intercontinental light-welterweight title
11Win11–0Abderzek Oulad LaarbiTKO1 28 Dec 1996Castel Mella, Italy
10Win10–0Angel FernandezTKO1 12 Dec 1996Palazzetto dello Sport, Civitavecchia, Italy
9Win9–0Janos ZsirosTKO1 8 Aug 1996Town Square, San Mango d'Aquino, Italy
8Win8–0Rene OrlovskyTKO4 2 May 1996Palazzetto dello Sport, Civitavecchia, Italy
7Win7–0Rene OrlovskyTKO4 20 Jan 1996Palasport, Marsala, Italy
6Win6–0Hamit RiahiPTS64 Jan 1996Civitavecchia, Italy
5Win5–0Fabio Marinoni627 Sep 1995Petrosino, Italy
4Win4–0Mario Spadaro5 5 Aug 1995Tatti, Italy
3Win3–0Maurizio BonitoKO4 26 Jun 1995Cinigiano, Italy
2Win2–0Mauro BarigelliKO3 3 Jun 1995Civitavecchia, Italy
1Win1–0Aladar Horvath6 7 Apr 1995Rome, Italy