Gennaro Pirelli captured the -100 kg title at the Grand Slam of Budapest 2026, defeating two-time world champion Jorge Fonseca of Portugal in the final to claim the gold medal and secure the number-one ranking in the world. According to reports from the tournament circuit, the 26-year-old Italian judoka dominated the competition in the Hungarian capital, capping off an impressive run of four consecutive victories over the past five months ahead of the upcoming world championships.
A Dominant Run Through the Budapest Draw
Fighting for the Fiamme Oro sports group, Pirelli navigated a demanding bracket on the final day of the World Tour event in Budapest. According to official tournament coverage, his path to the gold medal included victories over Japan’s Yuta Kasai, who fell to two yukos, and Great Britain’s Max Gregory, whom Pirelli defeated by ippon. He then overcame Romania’s Rares Arsenie through a accumulation of penalties before stopping Russia’s Niiaz Bilalov by ippon just 41 seconds into their match.
In the final showdown against Portugal’s Jorge Fonseca, a two-time world champion, Pirelli maintained his tactical and physical superiority. According to the source reporting, the bout extended into the Golden Score period, where Pirelli secured the victory via penalties after a grueling contest.
Climbing to World Number One
The triumph in Budapest marks Pirelli’s fourth title within a five-month span, following previous gold-medal performances at the European Championships, the Ulaanbaatar Grand Slam, and the Lima Grand Prix. These results propel the Italian athlete to the summit of the International Judo Federation rankings in the -100 kg division, establishing him as the primary contender heading into the global autumn showcase.
With this ranking leap, Pirelli will enter the World Championships in Baku—scheduled from October 4 to October 11—as the top-seeded athlete in his category. The Italian competitor now turns his focus toward securing his first career senior world title.
Italian Delegation Results in Budapest
Pirelli’s gold medal was part of a productive weekend for the Italian judo team in Hungary. The squad finished the event with two podium finishes, following Odette Giuffrida’s bronze medal in the -52 kg category on the opening day of competition.
In the -90 kg division, Italian European champion Christian Parlati started strong with an ippon victory over France’s Alexis Mathieu. However, Parlati’s tournament ended prematurely in the round of 32 due to an injury sustained during a ne-waza exchange following a controversial action by his Moldovan opponent, Mihail Latisev. Teammate Kenny Komi Bedel added a seventh-place finish in the same weight class.
Next Steps on the Road to Los Angeles 2028
The Budapest Grand Slam served as the eleventh stop on the World Tour and the fifth major circuit event offering crucial ranking points for the Olympic qualification cycle toward the Los Angeles 2028 Games.
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