Vito Mielnicki Jnr will face unbeaten Samuel Nmomah in a 10-round middleweight bout at the ANB Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Mielnicki, 21-1 (12 KOs), turned professional in 2019. At the time, Mielnicki was just 17. Since then, he has experienced the growing pains of being a young professional fighting on televised cards. He suffered a majority decision loss to James Martin in 2021. Since training with Shields, Mielnicki, now 23, believes he has grown as a fighter.
“Ronnie and I have grown exponentially in these last few camps,” Mielnicki told BoxingScene. “It really has been just me and him down there. I used to have my father down there with me, and a few other guys with me, but Ronnie and I have really just locked in putting in work every day.”
The difference for Mielnicki is Shields’ patterns and predictability at the Texas-based gym. Shields provides a structure that Mielnicki of Roseland, New Jersey, enjoys working with. He also has a lot in common with his trainer. They are, for example, both fans of sports outside of boxing, as well as laidback personalities.
“He is consistent,” Mielnicki said. “I know what I am going to get out of Ronnie every day.”
Mielnicki has been sparring Marquis Taylor, David Stevens, and Austin Deanda for this camp. In the past he has sparred Jermall Charlo and Andreas Katzourakis. Mielnicki is also handling his jet lag in a different way. He spoke with BoxingScene on Monday and explained that despite fighting in Saudi Arabia, he is staying on East Coast time. (He goes to bed at 7:30 or 8:00 AM and wakes up at 4:00 PM.”
This comes at a time when Mielnicki’s career is at a turning point. He has recently left his promoter, Top Rank Inc., after signing with them in 2024.
“Recently, Top Rank and I parted ways,” Mielnicki Jnr said. “I am at the crossroad where I can either elevate my career or - which we are not even going to talk about - take a step back.”
Nmomah, 21-0 (5 KOs), is an undefeated fighter based in Novara, Piemonte, Italy. Nmomah, 28, will be fighting for the first time outside Italy since turning professional in 2016. Mielnicki is looking to reestablish himself, as already in his sixth year as a professional some fans have formed opinions on who he is as a fighter.
“There are positives and negatives that come with being a young fighter on TV,” Mielnicki said. “Especially as a young guy, they see all the aches and pains that you are going through on the come-up.”
Mielnicki recently bought a home in Texas, and believes that he is now becoming a different type of fighter entering this bout.
“I feel now I have really come into my own,” Mielnicki said.
