Italy’s Frank Chamizo claimed his fourth European title in a dramatic win over two-time world champion Magomedrasul Gazimagomedov of Russia on Sunday. The Italian scored the match-deciding takedown in the last 25 seconds of the game to secure gold against the Russian 5-3.
After winning his fourth European gold medal, Chamizo said this win was the sweetest because it was in front of his hometown Italian fans. “This (European title) is the best. It’s in my home; It’s the best,” he said. “European people say Italy doesn’t know about wrestling. Today, everyone was here to support me, and that’s amazing. I want to say thank you to the Italian people for coming.”
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Chamizo entered the European Championships ranked No. 2 in the world, trailing reigning two-time world champion Zaurbek Sidakov of Russia by 20 points. He grabbed the 22-point gold medal and is the new top-ranked wrestler in the world at 74kg.
“I’m wrestling in Poland. It’s a Ranking Series tournament and I want to come into (the Olympic Games) ranked No. 1,” he said.
In the finals, Chamizo scored an inactivity point in the first period, but conceded a left-sided single leg and fell behind 2-1.
In the second period, the Italian superstar fought off a near-takedown on the edge, and luckily for him, the refs awarded Gazimagomedov the one-point stepout point and not the two-point takedown, putting the Russian in front, 3-1. Chamizo, who trailed by two points, snapped Gazimagomedov to the mat and spun behind, but the Russian kicked out and surrendered the stepout point.
Chamizo trailed 3-2 when he jammed Gazimagomedov’s double-leg attempt with his heavy hips and spun behind for the match deciding takedown. “I knew he was coming. He needed to take my legs to win, he said. “If you want, you can come. I have a surprise for you.”
But there was still time on the clock and Chamizo nearly threw the match away with 10 seconds left.
He gave up a single leg and was one second away from giving up the step out. Chamizo held Gazimagomedov off long enough to defend his European crown from last year and win his fourth continental title. “The outside people say the match is too close. But, when you know you’ve trained good, you can do whatever you want.”
After the award ceremony, Chamizo stated he believes that Gazimagomedov is a lot better than the man that beat him in last year’s world finals, Zaurbek Sidakov. “(Sidakov) is a cool guy, and he’s training good, but I think (Gazimagomedov) is much better than him,” Chamizo said. “Look, (Sidakov and I) wrestled in 2018, and my training was about 50%. I didn’t perform. It was the same thing in 2019. My knee and ankle weren’t good. Right now, I’m good. But, where is (Sidakov)?”
Post-winning Ivan Yariguin title, the Russian had said, “In Russia, many understand that I will win against Sidakov, but perhaps we will not be allowed to meet on the mat because we don’t have a very transparent selection system”.
For now, Sidakov is the first choice to represent Russia at the Tokyo Olympics. But, Gazimagomedov’s Yariguin win and European silver-medal finish further his case that he deserves at least a wrestle-off to show just how worthy of a competitor he is.
