#FreestyleFriday: Watch top Americans take on World champion Frank Chamizo of Italy
by Taylor Miller, USA Wrestling
Photo from FloWrestling.
Two-time World champion Frank Chamizo (ITA) has become a fan favorite on the international scene not only because of his wrestling but also because of star power. He most recently grabbed a silver medal at this week's Individual World Cup.
Since defecting from Cuba in 2013, Chamizo has competed at three different weight classes: 65 kg, 70 kg, 74 kg and 79 kg. As a result, he has come across several of the USA’s best freestyle wrestlers, including Frank Molinaro, James Green, Jordan Burroughs and Kyle Dake.
Check out some videos and descriptions of the series below:
vs. Jordan Burroughs
Chamizo has come face-to-face with 2012 Olympic champion and four-time World champion Burroughs five times…kinda. Burroughs has collected holds the edge in the series with a 4-1 record, defeating Chamizo at a super match at the 2018 Beat the Streets, the bronze-medal match at the 2018 World Championships, the 2019 Dan Kolov International and the 2019 Yasar Dogu finals, which resulted in a Chamizo forfeit.
Chamizo secured a win on criteria over Burroughs at the 2018 Yasar Dogu finals.
Below is their 2018 medal matchup.
vs. Kyle Dake
Earlier this year, Chamizo agreed to meet two-time World champion Kyle Dake up at 79 kg/174 pounds for an all-star match, hosted by FloWrestling. It was an exciting bout that resulted in a win for Chamizo.
vs. James Green
As far as I can find, two-time World medalist Green has wrestled Chamizo twice, with them splitting the matches. At the 2015 Grand Prix of Spain final, Green defeated Chamizo for the final. Unfortunately, I couldn’t find that video, so below is the 2017 World finals, where Chamizo took the gold.
vs. Frank Molinaro
This one was a heartbreaker for USA. Molinaro, who shocked the U.S. field to make the 2016 Olympic Team, advanced to the Olympic bronze-medal match. Waiting for him on the other side of the mat was World No. 1 Chamizo. This match literally came down to seconds and inches. Check it out below.
Read More#
U.S. pushes all five men’s freestyle wrestlers to semifinals on day one of U20 World Championships
Lockett wins gold, Villasenor gets bronze, USA places second at U17 World Championships in men’s freestyle
Villasenor, Lockett advance to semifinals in men’s freestyle at U17 World Championships
Kenny & Blaze go for gold, Mantanona & Ryder to seek bronze at U17 Worlds in men’s freestyle