Hurricane Aleksejevs Stays Undefeated, Defends IBF European Title Against Falcinelli
Jevgenijs "The Hurricane" Aleksejevs (20-0, 10 KOs) made it 20 wins from 20 fights on Saturday night, defending his IBF European Middleweight title with a hard-fought split decision victory over Italy's Damiano Falcinelli (17-2-2) at Xiaomi Arena in Riga. The milestone victory — the 20th of his flawless professional career — was perhaps the toughest test the Latvian champion has faced, and one that proved he belongs among the very best middleweights in Europe.
The co-main event of the KOK '128 × Dream Boxing card delivered a tactical chess match between two elite European middleweights that had the sold-out Xiaomi Arena on the edge of their seats from the opening bell to the final round. Aleksejevs, fighting in front of his home crowd, showed the composure, skill, and heart that have made him one of the most feared fighters in the division and cemented his status as Latvia's premier boxing attraction.
From the outset, Aleksejevs established his trademark aggressive style, stalking Falcinelli behind a high guard and looking to cut off the ring. The Latvian champion's pressure fighting has been the foundation of his success throughout his career, and he came out determined to impose his will on the Italian challenger. In the opening two rounds, Aleksejevs worked behind a heavy jab and looked to land his trademark left hook to the body — a punch that has broken down many of his previous opponents.
However, Falcinelli proved to be no ordinary challenger. The tough Italian, who had lost just twice in 21 professional bouts — once to former world title challenger and once to a current European champion — came to Riga with a clear game plan to disrupt the champion's rhythm. Falcinelli's slick movement and sharp counterpunching caused Aleksejevs problems from the third round onwards, as the visitor began to time the champion's entries and land clean right hands over the top.
The middle rounds belonged largely to Falcinelli, who boxed with remarkable composure and technical sophistication for a fighter competing in a hostile arena thousands of miles from home. In the fourth and fifth rounds, the Italian found his range with straight right hands and quick combinations that snapped Aleksejevs's head back and drew appreciative nods from the ringside judges. The visitor's footwork was exceptional — he used lateral movement to avoid Aleksejevs's power shots and created angles that allowed him to land and move before the champion could set his feet.
"He was better than I expected," Aleksejevs admitted in his post-fight press conference. "Falcinelli is a warrior — I respect him immensely. His movement, his timing, his counterpunching — it was the best I've faced. He pushed me harder than anyone has before. But 20-0 speaks for itself. The Hurricane keeps going."
The sixth round proved to be one of the most dramatic of the contest. Aleksejevs, seemingly sensing that the fight was slipping away from him, came out with renewed aggression and trapped Falcinelli on the ropes. The Latvian unleashed a sustained assault, landing heavy hooks to both the head and body that forced the Italian to cover up and absorb punishment. A thunderous right hand late in the round visibly hurt Falcinelli, and for a moment it appeared the champion might score a stoppage. But the Italian showed extraordinary toughness, surviving the storm and even landing a sharp counter right hand as the bell sounded.
The championship rounds were where Aleksejevs truly showed why he is one of the most promising middleweights in European boxing. In the seventh and eighth rounds, the Latvian found the perfect balance between his aggressive instincts and tactical discipline. He began to feint more effectively, drawing Falcinelli's counters and then timing his own attacks off the Italian's reactions. His body work, which had been sporadic in the early rounds, became a constant weapon, with chopping right hands to the ribs and digging left hooks to the liver that gradually sapped Falcinelli's energy and mobility.
The ninth round was a war of attrition that encapsulated the quality of the entire contest. Both fighters traded heavy leather in the center of the ring, with neither man willing to give ground. Aleksejevs landed the cleaner, heavier shots, but Falcinelli's counters were sharp enough to keep the round competitive. The arena was deafening as the Latvian fans roared their champion on, and the atmosphere reached a fever pitch that rivaled any sporting event Riga has hosted.
Coming into the tenth and final round, most ringside observers had the fight extremely close, with some scoring it even. Aleksejevs, showing the championship mentality that separates good fighters from great ones, came out with everything he had left. He pressed forward relentlessly, throwing combinations from all angles and refusing to let Falcinelli dictate the pace. A beautiful left hook-right hand combination midway through the round rocked Falcinelli backwards, and Aleksejevs poured on the pressure for the remainder, closing the fight with a sustained assault that left no doubt about who wanted the victory more.
The judges' scorecards read 96-94, 96-94, and 95-95, reflecting the competitive nature of the contest. The split decision — with one judge scoring the fight a draw — highlighted just how close the fight truly was and how well Falcinelli performed on enemy territory. The Italian and his team could hold their heads high despite the defeat, knowing they had pushed one of Europe's brightest boxing talents to the absolute limit.
"Every great champion needs a fight like this," said Aleksejevs's promoter from EMX Sports after the result was announced. "Tonight, Jevgenijs showed he can win when it's not easy, when he's being outboxed in stretches, when the judges could go either way. That's what champions do — they find a way. And that's exactly what he did."
The victory represented far more than just another number on Aleksejevs's record. It was a statement of intent — a declaration that the 32-year-old Latvian is ready for the biggest challenges the middleweight division can offer. With a perfect 20-0 record, 10 knockouts, and the IBF European title firmly around his waist, the path to a world title shot has never been clearer.
With his perfect record intact and the IBF European strap still around his waist, Aleksejevs and his team at EMX Sports are now looking towards world title opportunities. Currently ranked WBC #4, the Latvian is knocking on the door of the biggest fights in the middleweight division. Names like Janibek Alimkhanuly, Carlos Adames, and Naseem Hamed Jr. have been mentioned as potential future opponents, and Aleksejevs has made it clear he is willing to travel anywhere in the world for the right opportunity.
"I've proven everything I can prove in Europe," Aleksejevs stated. "I want the world title. I don't care who has it or where the fight is. I'll go to America, I'll go to Asia, I'll fight on the moon if that's what it takes. The Hurricane is coming for everyone."
The event was promoted by EMX Sports in association with Dream Boxing and KOK, and broadcast live on DAZN to a global audience. The card drew widespread praise from boxing media and fans alike, with many calling it one of the best European boxing events of 2026 so far. For EMX Sports, the night was a resounding success — both of their headline fighters delivered memorable performances, and the company's reputation as one of the leading boxing promotions in the Baltic region continues to grow with every event.