History meets destiny. That’s how Armando Casamonica explains his sudden upturn in fortune. After all, he has suddenly been gifted the biggest boxing stage to showcase his talent and boxing prowess and represent his family and his legacy. The Italian boxer wants to leave a mark when he stands before thousands of fans. But the question is whether he can pull off a heist against Lucas Bahdi. Or will the Italian boxer be a merely last-minute replacement to fill up the space on the cards?

Casamonica grabbed the opportunity to fight on the Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson undercard as a late replacement when Corey Marksman bowed out of the fight with an injury. This has shifted the narrative around the fight, as it now offers fans a stylistic matchup and an incredible underdog story, much like Rocky but a tad bit off, without the gold and glamor. So, before the fight goes live, let’s have a look at how the two boxers stack up.

Lucas Bahdi vs. Armando Casamonica: Tale of Tape

Bahdi, 30, has carved out a reputation as a destructive fighter with a focus on aggression and a power-driven style. This has helped the Canadian fighter build an impressive resume and an unblemished record of 17-0 with 15 KOs. His rapid surge is mostly attributed to his perfect blend of aggression and high guard, which aided him in toppling Ashton Sylve with a KO of the year sequence, including a double right straight and left hook in his last fight. His KO ratio of 88.24% also suggests the same as his penchant for knockouts.

The Ontario native put his dimensions to good use to produce these performances. His height of 5’9″ (175 cm) and reach of 68.0″ (173 cm) allow him to pressure his competitors and employ combinations to break them down. It’s no wonder he is a top-ranked lightweight boxer in the IBF and WBA rankings now. But will he continue his ascendance or will his juggernaut take a hit?

Casamonica, 24, is the younger of the two and has fewer fights under his belt. His style is typical of a pressure-puncher and a volume hitter. The Roma native relies on his coming-forward technique and his volume punching to swamp his opponents and then overwhelm them. It’s the same style that earned him a national championship. But what creates the buzz is his mastery over the art of hitting, dodging, and dancing around, which helped him amass an unbeaten record of 14-0 with 3 KOs.

As Casamonica prefers breaking down his foes throughout 10 rounds, his KO ratio is not high. It only clocks 21.43%, which suggests his good stamina and ability to maintain a consistent output. However, he carries a disadvantage in size, as he stands tall at 5’6″ (168 cm). Will this 3-inch height disadvantage pose a hurdle for him in taming Bahdi?

Prediction: Who wins it?

What separates Bahdi from the rest? It’s his threatening knockout ability. While employing constant pressure, he unloads heavy punches and combinations to shatter his competitors’ defense. Besides, ‘Prince’ is excellent at cutting off the ring, controlling the distance, and knows how to finish fights early.

While he does all this, he also remains elusive, slipping away, and creating openings. His high-risk approach makes him an exciting watch and a dangerous fighter to trade punches with. Therefore, Casamonica will find it hard to employ his forward-coming style due to the size difference between the two.

Bahdi can keep ‘La Furia del Quadraro’ at length and unleash his powerful blows without coming inside, whereas Casamonica will see his weapons nullified. While Casamonica has the chin to absorb blows and launch counterattacks, he might not be able to replicate the same against a fighter of Bahdi’s caliber. Then there is the difference of experience between the two.

This is Casamonica’s first fight outside Italy, whereas Bahdi is now used to putting on a show before a large crowd. Casamonica also has some scope to grow and mold himself into a better boxer. Meanwhile, Bahdi is currently in his prime. So, we have Bahdi winning this encounter. But you shouldn’t be surprised if Casamonica rises to the occasion and produces an outing worth remembering for ages.

What do you make of this coming fight between Lucas Bahdi and Armando Casamonica? Who do you think will leave the arena with a win? Let us know in the comments below.