Interview – Giovanni “El Mamba” Carpentieri: Bare-knuckle boxing is dangerous. It's not for everyone

Italian former professional boxer and bare-knuckle fighter Giovanni “El Mamba” Carpentieri attended Redneck Fight 15 at Špilberk Castle in Brno on October 3, 2026, as the coach of Valerio Grossi, who faced Czech fighter Bohumil Zahradník. Carpentieri, whose professional boxing record stands at 16 wins, 5 losses and 3 draws, also competed in bare-knuckle boxing, including a fight against Czech bare knuckle boxing P4P king Josef Hála. In this interview for Bare Knuckle Club, he discusses his fighter's ambitions, his experience with Jimmy Sweeney, his own career and the importance of safety in bare-knuckle boxing.

Have you ever visited the Czech Republic before or did you came just for the event?

No, I've never been here before. We came for event.

What do you think about the Czech Republic?

It's a nice place with nice people. I have friends here, so it's good to be here.

Have you ever attended a similar event at a castle?

It's an amazing place. We've never been to an event like this before.

You're here as the coach of Valerio Grossi, representing Team Carpentieri. Have you seen his opponent Bohumil Zahradník fight?

Yes, I've seen his fights. For us, there's nothing special about him. We have to win because Valerio wants to move forward in bare-knuckle boxing. We respect everyone, but we have to win.

So you respect Zahradník, but you believe Grossi is on a completely different level?

One hundred percent.

What are Valerio's greatest strengths? Is it his punching power or conditioning?

Power...

Would he also be ready for a five-round title fight?

We've been preparing for five rounds. We're ready to fight five rounds, of course.

What is Valerio Grossi's professional bare-knuckle record, and where did he have his previous fight?

One win, no losses, and one knockout. It was at Bad to the Bone in England.

Is Bad to the Bone connected to the original BKB organization and Police Gazette titles?

No, they're different organizations. Bad to the Bone became BYB, the promotion with the triangular ring. It's not the same as BKB.

Which bare-knuckle organizations do you follow? Do you consider BKFC the best Bare Knuckle promotion?

We follow all of them, including BKB, BYB and other promotions. I used to compete in bare-knuckle boxing myself, so we follow the sport closely.

As a former fighter and now a coach, what would you change about bare-knuckle boxing?

I think promoters should be more selective when choosing fighters. In some promotions, almost anyone can fight.

I don't think that's good. Bare-knuckle boxing is dangerous, and I really hope nobody suffers a serious injury.

It's not for everyone, even though many people want to fight. It should work more like traditional boxing, where fighters progress through different levels. There should be a first level, after that second level, and so on.

Who is the most best fighter you've worked with? Is it Valerio Grossi or someone else?

I used to train Jimmy Sweeney. Do you know Jimmy?

Of course. Jimmy Sweeney is most experienced fighter in bare-knuckle boxing history. Were you part of his coaching team?

Yes, I worked with his English corner team. We're going to fight for a title in December.

Which title will Jimmy Sweeney be fighting for in December?

BKFC Europe.

Speaking of BKFC, Czech fighter Josef Hála is also a champion in the organization. You fought him in Italy, didn't you?

Yes, he beat me...

Did you fight again after your bout against Josef Hála, or was that your last fight?

I stopped fighting because I had surgery. I would like to fight again, but I can't.

You also had a professional boxing career. Did you win any titles during your professional boxing career?

I won international titles, and I also fought for the Italian championship. I lost that fight on points. Seventeen wins, five losses, and three draws.

What is your experience with judging in Italy? Do you think judges sometimes favour local fighters?

It's the same in Italy and around the world. It happens everywhere.

Do you think judging is more impartial in certain countries?

More or less, it's the same everywhere.

Final thoughts from our interview with Giovanni “El Mamba” Carpentieri

Giovanni Carpentieri's experience as both a professional fighter and coach offers an insight into the challenges facing bare-knuckle boxing. Although he remains confident in the abilities and ambitions of his fighters, he believes promoters must take greater responsibility for selecting suitable competitors. Having ended his own fighting career following health complications, Carpentieri now focuses on coaching while advocating for a safer and more structured approach to the sport.

Source: Giovanni Carpentieri, BoxRec, Redneck Fight