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Sports Oakville Beaver By Herb Garbutt OAKVILLEBEAVERSTAFF 31 · Thursday, September 13, 2012 OAKVILLE BEAVER · www.insideHALTON.com SPORTS EDITOR:JONKUIPERIJ Phone 905-845-3824 (ext. 432) Fax 905-337-5571 email sports@oakvillebeaver.com · THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2012 31 Oakville boxer holding nothing back in pursuit of title If there's one thing Phil Lo Greco knows, it's to give the fans what they want. Known as the Italian Sensation, his fights aren't quite Rocky Balboa (`The Italian Stallion') and Apollo Creed slugging it out in the middle of the ring. But Lo Greco doesn't exactly hold back, either. You'll rarely see him wrapping up his opponent or waiting for the action come to him. "I'm aggressive, I like moving forward and going toe to toe. It's a style the fans like," he said. While that often draws comparisons to Arturo Gatti -- famously known for his willingness to trade punches and absorb punishment -- Lo Greco said his style is still rooted in the defence he learned, and was critical to his success, as an amateur. "Gatti used to leave himself open," Lo Greco said. "I'm not just walking in and swinging. I'm trying to set myself up for it. I'm not going in blind. I am very aggressive but I'm still trying to get hit as little as possible." It is a style that has served him well in every stage of his career. Lo Greco, who now calls Oakville home, got an early start in the sport after moving back to Canada from Italy with his family. "I was a very energetic kid," he said. "My father always liked boxing and I would watch it with him. When I was 10, he brought me to a gym." Lo Greco climbed the amateur ranks and made the Italian national team. While serving in the Italian army, he was a contender for a spot on the Olympic team in 2004 but ERIC RIEHL / OAKVILLE BEAVER / @HALTON_PHOTOG instead decided to focus on pursuing a professional career. Since his pro debut in 2006, PERFECT AS A PRO: Oakville boxer Phil Lo Greco (left), pictured during a 2009 welterweight fight, is 24-0 with 13 knockouts since turning profesthe 28-year-old has compiled a spotless 24-0 sional in 2006. record, with 13 knockouts. In June of 2010, Lo Greco won the WBC release to announce the signing. "He has a the undercard of a Bernard Hopkins fight in rently ranked 12th by the WBC and 13th by International welterweight title with a fan-friendly style and he has proven to be a Atlantic City in March. the WBA, and Le Greco hopes a victory in a ninth-round knockout of Slawomir draw in Canada and Italy, but our goal is to In July, Lo Greco got his first taste of box- couple of months will propel him into the Ziemlewica. By that time, he had already bring him to the United States and I know ing in Las Vegas, fighting Brandon Hoskins top 10. caught the attention of he will be just as popular at Mandalay Bay in a fight televised on "Training is hard. Fighting is fun; it's the Golden Boy Promotions, the "I'm not going in blind. here." ESPN2. And a taste was exactly what it was. easy part," he said. "I've worked 18 years to company operated by former I am very aggressive, The deal with Golden Boy He knocked down Hoskins twice in the first get to this level and I know how hard I've world champion Oscar de la has helped, getting Lo Greco minute and the referee stopped the fight worked. I deserve to be in this position." but I'm still trying to get Hoya. on higher profile cards and after just 95 seconds. While he's proud of what he's achieved, Lo Greco signed with hit as little as possible." into bigger boxing venues "I wish all fights were like that," Lo Greco Lo Greco still wants more. And just like Golden Boy in March, a move where he'll be seen more. said. "Fighting in Vegas is every fighter's when he's in the ring, he's not going to hold that has helped raise his pro- Professional boxer and "It's up to me to take dream. That's where the big fights are and to back. Oakville resident file. advantage of the opportuni- be a part of that atmosphere, you feel the "If you're a boxer, you want to be the "We're excited to have Phil Lo Greco ty," Lo Greco says. energy of Sin City. You want to perform best," he says. "This is my opportunity to Phil Lo Greco on our team So far, he's rewarded there." shine." and we believe he has what it takes to Golden Boy's faith in him by winning his Lo Greco is currently in Montreal preparbecome another Golden Boy Promotions first fight with the promoter, a six-round ing for a Nov. 3 bout in Atlantic City (his -- Herb Garbutt can be followed world champion," de la Hoya said in a unanimous decision over Hector Orozco on opponent has yet to be named). He's curon Twitter @Herbgarbutt