Pressure Decides Budapest -100 kg Final for Pirelli

Gennaro Pirelli of Italy claimed -100 kg gold in Budapest after a demanding golden score final against Portugal’s Jorge Fonseca. The European champion’s relentless activity proved decisive in a contest where neither judoka registered a score in normal time.

Fonseca arrived with major experience and a record that includes two world titles, Olympic bronze at Tokyo 2020 and two grand slam victories. The 33-year-old Portuguese judoka had also taken bronze at the 2026 Upper Austria Grand Prix, setting up a high-level European final against the world number two.

Pirelli, 26, came into Budapest in strong form after winning the Ulaanbaatar Grand Slam and Lima Grand Prix in 2026. Those results added to previous grand slam titles in Tokyo and Dushanbe, while his European title had already underlined his position among the leading -100 kg athletes.

The final was shaped by Pirelli’s constant forward pressure. Fonseca received an initial Shido, before a false attack brought him a second penalty. With the score still level at the end of regular time, the gold medal contest continued into golden score.

Early in the additional period, Fonseca received a third Shido, handing victory to Pirelli. It was a tense ending to a final with little room for error, and one that rewarded the Italian’s sustained attacking intent.

Pirelli said he felt in great shape in Budapest and that the result gave him motivation for the Baku World Championships. He pointed to the importance of grip fighting and switching his attacking strategy from right to left against different opponents, while stressing that his focus remains on progressing step by step with his coach.

Pirelli left Budapest with another major result in a powerful 2026 campaign.

The first bronze medal contest saw Niiaz Bilalov defeat Bulgaria’s Boris Georgiev by Ippon. Despite receiving two Shido, Bilalov built a long attacking sequence across the tatami, using O-uchi-gari, Uchi-mata and Harai-goshi before completing the action with another Uchi-mata.

Switzerland’s Daniel Eich took the second bronze medal with a composed performance against Iosif Simin of Israel. Eich scored Yuko in the opening minute, then strengthened his lead midway through the contest with a right-sided Uchi-mata for Waza-ari. The two scores secured his place on the podium, achieving in Budapest what had slipped away from him on home soil at the Ecole Mont-Olivet Lausanne Grand Slam two weeks earlier.

Pirelli finished first ahead of Fonseca, with Bilalov and Eich sharing the bronze medals. For the Italian, the golden score win added another statement result to a season already filled with momentum.

Source: IJF.org

Image source: IJF / International Judo Federation