On April 18, Angelo Peña will defend his WBO Intercontinental title against Frenchman Karim Guerfi at the Stadtheater Bern.
When the lights go up in Bern’s Stadttheater on April 18, there will be no role distribution as there usually is on stage. This time there will be no room for staging – just hard fists and pure drama. “Two Rivals, One Champion, No More Words” is the motto of the main fight at the fourth edition of “Boxing not Theater”. The unbeaten local hero Angelo Peña defends his WBO Intercontinental title against the experienced Frenchman Karim Guerfi – a fight that has long been more than just a mandatory defense.
A champion on the way to the top
Peña, 30 years old, grew up in Ostermundigen near Bern and is currently regarded as the greatest Swiss hope in professional boxing. Eleven fights, eleven victories – the Bernese fighter’s clean slate remains spotless. Peña impresses with his powerful fighting style, variable technique, agility and enormous physicality. In his last three title fights, he has left no doubt about his superiority. However, Karim Guerfi, the most experienced opponent of his career to date, now awaits.
Guerfi: The experienced challenger
Karim Guerfi is no stranger to the international boxing circuit. The 37-year-old Frenchman from Marseille has an impressive career: 41 professional fights, several European championship titles (EBU) and duels with top international opponents such as Michael Conlan and Jordan Gill. His last fight in November 2024 ended with a clear T.K.O. victory against Frenchman Terry Le Couviour. With 33 wins (10 by knockout), 7 defeats and one draw, he is one of the most experienced active boxers in Europe. His style? Technically clean, agile and with a feel for the right moment.
Delay and provocations
The fight was actually supposed to have taken place in 2023. However, Guerfi preferred another offer at the time and subsequently dropped out due to injury. “A mix of great respect for Peña and poker for the fight purse,” suspects promoter Leander Strupler, who has been trying to make the fight happen for months.
While the Bernese champion quietly prepared for his next title fight, Guerfi opted for a different strategy. The Frenchman used social media to provoke his opponent: “Easy work”, “It’s time to fight” – messages under Peña’s training pictures were intended to fuel the feud. Probably his most creative attack? A picture of a Petit Suisse fruit quark with the comment: “J’aime bien les petits Suisses” (I like the little Swiss).
“This fight is personal”
Peña did not get involved in the verbal banter, but he did take note of the words. “He kept insulting me personally via Instagram. I never responded – but this fight has a personal touch for me,” says Peña.
The Swiss with Dominican roots is preparing for the fight in Las Vegas – under the guidance of Cuban training legend Ismael Salas, who has already coached world champions such as Guillermo Rigondeaux and Jorge Linares. There, Peña is fine-tuning his strategy to not only defeat an experienced opponent like Guerfi, but to dominate him.
Experience against advancement
Peña has never been put under serious pressure in the ring. His offensive fighting style and physical strength have made him unassailable to date. But Guerfi is more than just another challenger. The Frenchman not only has more experience, but also considerable ring intelligence. The question is: can he neutralize the Bernese’s physicality?
Good Friday will show whether Peña’s steep rise will continue – or whether the routine and cleverness of the challenger from Marseille will gain the upper hand. Only one thing is certain: the public can expect a high-class fight at international level.
Text: Press release / Swiss Pro Boxing