It is against the tough Argentinian Sebastian Ezequiel Aguirre that Mazlum Akdeniz will try to win his 20e victory in as many fights on May 16, in a Yvon Michel Group card on which the name of Marie-Pier Houle does not appear, since she will pay the price in her first final on Quebec soil a few weeks later.
Akdeniz (19-0, 8 KOs) will not put his World Boxing Council (WBC) Continental Americas super-lightweight belt on the line against Aguirre (19-4, 12 KOs) during of this finale presented at the Cabaret du Casino de Montréal.
“He’s a guy who is still tough and who went nine rounds against [Steve] Claggett, Akdeniz noted. I want to show that I can stop him before him. I want to go get my 20e victory, but I would like to get a nice knockout too. »
Akdeniz could well put his belt back into play in the coming months, he who has decided to stay at 140 pounds, after having fought a fight at welterweight (147 pounds) against Sébastien Bouchard.
As for Aguirre, if his name means anything to Quebec boxing fans, it’s that he recently faced Claggett in Montreal. The latter had inflicted his only defeat on him by knockout. in his career, while Aguirre was not back in the ring for the 10th and final round scheduled for that evening.
High level preparation
Akdeniz will have a golden opportunity to fine-tune his preparation for this fight as he will fly to England in the coming days, where he will participate in Josh Taylor’s 21-day training camp ahead of his second clash against Jack Catterall.
“The experience will be multiplied by 1000, because we have never had the opportunity to put on the gloves with a guy of this level,” said Akdeniz. This will really show me if I’m ready for the world championships or not. If I get “eaten” in the sparring, I will know that I am not there yet. But I trust myself and I am convinced that I will deliver the goods. »
“When we receive calls for our boxers to go to training camp like that, we always tell those who invite us that if they are looking for punching bags, we will not be insulted, but it will not be for us, noted Yvon Michel, president of GYM. In this case, we were looking for a good left-hander capable of providing good opposition. That’s what we do in these cases: we send guys who can challenge the boxers during their camp. »
A first for Houle
Houle (10-1-1, 3 KOs) was initially scheduled to return to the ring the same night as Akdeniz, but instead got something she had long awaited from her promoter: securing the final of a gala.
Yvon Michel agreed to comply with the arguments of his boxer’s manager, Yves Lévesque, and to offer her a date “her own”. GYM has therefore added a date at the Cabaret du Casino de Montréal, on June 20.
“I’m excited, you have no idea,” she told the representative of The Canadian Press. I haven’t slept for three days; I can’t keep a secret! […] The Cabaret was a full house at the last gala, and I hope to experience the same thing again with me in the finale. »
Houle, ranked fourth in the WBO and eighth in the IBF, will then face Karla Ramos Zamora (11-10-1, 4 K.-0.), the same one who had passed the KO. to Jessica Camara at Place Bell in March 2023.
Houle and his clan hope that by defeating Zamora, aspiring no 2 at WBC and no 11 in the IBF, she will be able to recover her position in the WBC rankings and thus position herself to challenge – or be challenged – by the Irish Katie Taylor, who holds the four belts in the division.
“I think after Zamora I will be ready to go back [en championnat du monde], said Houle. I’ve seen different styles, different boxers recently. I’m making my mark at 140 pounds — this will be my third fight at that weight — so I feel ready. »
“It’s through the work she does in the gym that we see that she is ready,” added her coach, Sébastien Gauthier. His last sessions of sparring were on another level. »
Clavel continues his comeback
It is rather Kim Clavel (18-2, 3 KOs) who will secure the semi-final of the gala featuring Akdeniz. She will then face the American Katherine Renee Lindemuth (6-2, 2 KOs).
Clavel also had confirmation that her choice to remain active — and to score a victory — was the path to follow, she who rose to the ranks of aspiring no 1 in the International Boxing Federation (IBF) and no 2 in the WBC, in addition to maintaining his fifth ranking in the World Boxing Organization (WBO).
“We go back up the stairs quietly. It makes me think of when I became Canadian champion and then lost: I had to go through the Golden Gloves again, Clavel imagined. Starting over, I have done it often in my life, in many spheres. I am resilient, I am persistent and I work hard. This is one of the qualities of my team: we work hard every day. »
“I don’t feel like I’m starting again at the bottom of the stairs, because what I’ve achieved, my experience, is acquired. This will help me get back to the top. The goal remains the same, and I remain convinced that I can succeed. »
The spectacular Derek Pomerleau (8-0, 6 KOs), Abed El Safady (6-0, 2 KOs), the protégé of the Grant brothers Theo Osuwu (3-0-1, 2 KOs. -O.), as well as Winner Bondo and Ayoub Maanni, who will make their professional debut, will also be there.
Fans who cannot come to the Montreal Casino will be able to follow all the action on GymBoxe.tv.