This Zappa Plays a Violent Tune

The first time Leonardo Zappavigna stepped into a boxing gym, he had no intention of swapping punches, venturing in to have fun with friends. The 10-year-old generated a head-turning sound the first time he hit a bag, convincing trainers to give him a closer look. The skinny kid confirmed suspicions by developing into a fine amateur, winning four national titles en route to a 72-9 amateur record. Zappavigna registered his best international performance by winning the Bronze medal at the 2006 Commonwealth games, where he was bested by England’s celebrated southpaw Frankie Gavin (currently an undefeated prospect in Frank Warren’s stable of boxers). Understanding that his style was not ideal for the Olympic scoring system, Zappavigna chose to turn pro at age 18, instead of staying in the amateur program for a crack at the 2008 Beijing games.

Australian by birth and Italian by descent, it is not surprising that Zappavigna found a fistic soulmate the first time he saw an Arturo Gatti fight. "I like to unleash a bunch of punches like Arturo, who was just a warrior, I’ve always loved Gatti. He always came to fight." YouTube footage highlights of “Zappa” confirm his adoration for Gatti, but when watching an entire fight of Zappavigna, you get the idea he can do more if challenged to do so by an opponent. Abilities he professes to, telling The Sydney Herald, “I think adaptability is the key, being able to fight the fight you need to fight on a particular night. The big thing for me now is to stay busy, keep learning.” Watching Zappavigna go 12 rounds with Gairy St. Clair, you can see traces of his other favorite boxers like Roy Jones Jr., Mike Tyson, and Naseem Hamed.

Stylistically, Zappavigna seems easy to categorize at first glance, but, as previously mentioned underlying skills are not done justice in YouTube knockout compilations. He is mostly a volume puncher, who could be called a brawler, if it were not for clever footwork. He commits to his punches more than an average volume guy, but does not limit himself in the body attack the way the majority of pure power-punchers do. His kayo percentage could be even higher, but Zappavigna tends to swarm at any hint of vulnerability instead of taking a step back to better evaluate how to finish an opponent. His chin could be a question mark, twice dropped by winless Junmar Dulog in his fourth fight and also by Ryan Langham in their Australian title fight. He is a big junior welterweight with a lot of bulk centered on broad shoulders, who uses his strength to enhance forward momentum and channels his entire weight into punches. A big right hand is the coup de grâce of choice. Zappavigna’s pressuring style hardly allows for a forward step by his opposition.

In only his fifth professional fight, less than six months into a burgeoning career, Zappavigna won the Australian lightweight title against Shane Kelly. The southpaw was a six-year pro, 12 years Zappavigna’s senior, but never fought again after a three-round demolition. That was followed by another test against then-undefeated amateur rival Ryan Langham, who represented Australia in the Beijing Olympics. Zappavigna’s mental strength was tested when he was dropped in the first round, but he recovered to knock Langham down four times in the following two rounds, scoring the stoppage when Langham’s corner threw in the towel. In that fight, Zappavigna also overcame a cut over his left eye, which he did not allow to affect him mentally. Zappavigna simply accelerated his already breakneck pace, not allowing the cut to be targeted by Langham.

Trainer Tommy Mercuri, who has been with Zappavigna from Day One, seems perfectly suited to polish his diamond-in-the-rough. “I knew the first time he walked in my gym door, at the age of ten, that he had a very special talent. He had so much natural ability and he picked things up so quickly.” Mercuri broadened his thoughts, “A talent like this comes along once every 10 or 20 years, maybe only once in a lifetime. He’s got speed, power, great hand-to-eye coordination, and he’s very determined. If he lost a fight in the amateurs, he’d be crying for days - that’s how much he hates to lose.” He also had what other amateurs lacked in the unpaid ranks. “He had 90-odd amateur fights, but he was always schooled as a pro. I know he won’t go off the rails because his head is in the right place.”

The quick study has done more than simply pick up ring wisdom via victories in public ring appearances; Zappavigna has been sparring elite fighters since his amateur days. Three years ago, he accepted an invitation to spar with Manny Pacquiao for four weeks, and has been in training with fighters of varying weights from Vic Darchinyan to Anthony Mundine. He has also faced off with local heroes Ryan Waters and Shannan Taylor (who had their own tastes of competition at the world level) with the training headgear on. Zappavigna has also shared the ring in sparring with former titlist Lovemore Ndou, who told senior Australian boxing journalist Ray Wheatley. “He [Zappavigna] has outstanding ring skills and good power. I am sure he will be Australia’s next world champion.”

The hyper-aggressive style Zappavigna employs has built “Lenny Zappa”- that moniker has a nice ring to it; you have to admit- a solid reputation in Australia. He is a fan favorite on their "Friday Night Fights on Fox Sports” series, and ratings are measurably higher when he is featured. His management could have continued to exploit that route with handpicked opponents, but they feel Zappavigna is ready to jump onto the world stage. It should be noted that after two consecutive impressive wins over Tommy Browne and Gairy St. Clair, in late 2008 and early 2009 respectively, that Zappavigna’s level of competition had disappointingly decreased. That changes now, with Zappavigna signing a promotional contract with Gary Shaw, and a new chapter begins with American television exposure. His new promoter has no problem putting the pressure on his latest attraction. “’Lenny Zappa’ is the goods – the whole goods. His hairstyle is reminiscent of Kostya Tszyu but, more importantly, so is his power.”

Zappavigna’s arrival on the big stage heralds a tough task in the form of Ecuadorian Fernando Angulo. Based in Venezuela, Angulo started boxing at age 16, going 20-5 as an amateur. The 29-year-old brawler has logged twice as many pro rounds as Zappavigna, 213 to 88, and gained a reputation upsetting former champion Eloy Rojas on the road. That reputation was actually enhanced in a world title loss to Juan Diaz, in 2006, when Angulo’s grit and determination won admirers. That never-say-die characteristic was instilled early in Angulo, running away from an abusive home at age ten. He picked coffee and cacao bean on farms to survive, and foraged on the outskirts of the jungle for anything that could sustain him. After the Diaz loss, Angulo outhustled undefeated two-time Olympian Patrick Lopez, and scored a win over Damian Fuller before winning an IBF title eliminator against Filipino toughman Ranee Ganoy. Juan Diaz described Angulo as “a Ricardo Mayorga-type of fighter. He is real strong, and he is a little awkward.” An apt comparison.

The relaxed Aussie is not apprehensive or intimidated by the prospect of facing a known distance fighter in his American debut. Zappavigna told Australian journalist Sean Cunningham, “I hope to shock him in the first round with my power, keep the pressure on, then hopefully knock him down.’’ He did deliver a qualifier to the statement, in case Plan A did not come about as envisioned. “I’m pretty good at adapting if I have to during a fight. For this tough opponent, some thought went into defense.” Thoughts of defense will have to become more prevalent as Zappavigna climbs boxing’s slippery slopes, which he openly acknowledges. “I’ve become a bit more smarter in my style of fighting. I do think about getting caught, but I’m smart about it and just try to keep the pressure on.” Concluding, “I can brawl, but I can box too, so I just adapt to the situation I’m in at the time.”

The young man seemingly has the temperament and personality outside the ring to morph into a major attraction. One of three children, he apprenticed as a cabinet maker before focusing on boxing solely. Zappavigna has been dealing with expectations from his amateur days. One prominent feature by the Australian News Service hailed him as the next Jeff Fenech, a national hero and boxing Hall of Fame inductee, before Zappavigna’s medaling performance at the Commonwealth Games. He says the comparisons are of no concern. “I always put pressure on myself, I always want to perform.” On dealing with the pressures of becoming a role model outside the ring, Zappavigna was equally circumspect. “I don’t find it difficult to separate Lenny the person from Lenny the fighter. You can be a good guy out of the ring, and a mean guy inside it.”

You can contact Marty at mmulcahey@elpasotel.net or www.facebook.com/fivedogs