Alessio Furlan

Furlan then fought US based Lebanese boxer Ahmed Kaddour, a former contestant on The Contender, the reality television series.

The fight went the full distance with Kaddour winning narrowly on points to inflict Furlan with the first defeat of his professional career.

In October 2005, Furlan faced Alexander Polizzi for the vacant IBF Mediterranean Light Middleweight Title in Rivarolo Canavese.

The fight took place on the undercard of a bill that included Alexander Povetkin, Timo Hoffmann, Robert Stieglitz and Alejandro Berrio.

Furlan was lined up to be the first opponent of what was being billed as "The Homecoming" of Irish fighter John Duddy in Dublin, Ireland.