Italian flyweight Christian Chessa wants to make a name for himself in the US

Christian Chessa was always a victim. He couldn't escape it growing up on the streets of Milan, Italy. Chessa was always bullied. He looked at himself in the mirror and wanted to do something about it. Everything he tried, it seemed, was judged by his greatness. Chessa was a small child. When he was 10, he looked like he was eight.

So, he gave up kicking in soccer, where he was pushed around the field and rarely picked to play because of his size, and decided to do something about the abuse he was taking—and he took up boxing.

No one is pushing him today.

“Il Bambino” is a 20-year-old budding, 5-foot-5, flyweight who loves the Italian saying: “Nella botte piccola c'è il vino buono,” which means, “In small barrels, there's good wine. ” In other words, good things come in small packages.

About to turn 21 in August, Chessa (5-0, 5 knockouts) is managed by BWAA 2022 Manager of the Year Peter Kahn, and trained by Javiel Centeno, Xander Zayas' trainer. Chessa is looking to build boxing and his name in the United States.

Christian Chessa wants more wins in the US (Photo by Javiel Centeno Jr.)

What drives him inside is the memory of a 10-year-old child who used to be picked on.

“I remember walking into the boxing gym that first day and I knew I could do my best,” said Chessa, who speaks and can read Italian, Spanish, English and French. “I knew I could only rely on myself. The first time I went to the gym, they put me in the kids' session, with the kids just starting out. When I did well against them, they promoted me to the younger players at a higher, higher level. When I was put in the first division, I was doing work at the age of 11 for boys who were already fighting.

“They were abusing me a lot. At that time, I felt a little scared. I was smaller and smaller than everyone else, and it made me want to show the boxing coaches that I could beat the older, bigger kids. I knew I had to try harder than the older kids. I made up my mind. I was at the gym every day at the same time. As time went on, I saw the coaches put more work into me than the older boys.”

Javiel Centeno has high hopes for Christian Chessa (Photo by Javiel Centeno Jr.)

That indicated to Chessa that he was very good at this boxing thing. Chessa is the youngest of three boys. His middle brother is 35 years old and he was the one who introduced Christian to boxing (his older brother is 37). Christian was 14 years old when he committed himself to boxing.

“It was more than a commitment, I am passionate about boxing,” he said. “I knew I had to go to the United States if I wanted to do something in boxing. Even in school, I always said I wanted to be a professional boxer. All the work I did, I didn't want to pay the rate. I always wanted to be a champion.”

He came from humble beginnings. His father works at the airport and his mother is a custodian of the local school. Christian was on the Italian national team, although he did not trust the Italian youth system.

In 2021, Chessa and Kahn met while training in Boca Raton, Florida, with Centeno. Through Centeno, Chessa met Kahn.

“Peter was very happy to hear what everyone was saying about me, and I could see in Peter's eyes what he thought of me, and it was good,” said Chessa, whose five fights were in Italy. “My next fight would like to be in the United States. I came here to find a team. I got only average quality in Italy. Getting my VISA is my first goal, then show everyone how great I can be. Hopefully in the next two years, I would like to fight for the title. I just want to fight here and start my career in the USA It would be a success. My dream is to live here.”

When he first saw Chessa, Centeno fell in love with her. Chessa was accompanied by a strength and conditioning coach. Love the Sweatbox Boxing Gym by Centeno. Centeno liked the pop he heard from Chessa's punches.

“We had an argument and I thought to myself, 'This kid has pop, and some heart,' because he had a kid who beat him by at least 20 kilos,” Centeno recalled. “We invited Christian again the next time he came to the US. You got a great job. Christian has that relentless violence. He has the same strength as Arturo Gatti, with strength in both hands and a more refined defense. As a flyweight, he is always in the mix with the big boys, and has done a lot of rounds with Isaac Dogboe, Henry Lebron, Charlie Sheehy, the 135-pounder. He brought in the work. They didn't take him lightly, because Christian knows how to show up.

“What I would like to do is to work with him more. We brought Peter in and we want to start testing the Christians. I know you have heart and courage. I want to see what his speed and power does to guys at his weight.”

Recently, Centeno had Chessa with the young welterweight. Before long, the welterweight was spitting in his mouth due to Chessa's pressure.

“We want to shake Christian up a bit, try to shut him down for a while and see what he can do,” said Centeno. “We don't want many people to know about him. But I feel that good things are yet to come.”