Caroline Veyre does not hide it: she “needed to get out of the environment” of Boxing Canada.
Posted at 5:06 p.m.
The 31-year-old boxer, who enjoyed a fine 15-year career as an amateur, will deliver her very first professional boxing punches on Friday. She will face the Mexican Wendy Cruz Castro (0-2).
Because she “needed to experience new challenges”, yes. But also because what happened in the federation, “it had an impact”.
Let us recall the facts, which date back to last May. A shower of testimonies, starting with a letter signed by more than 120 people, criticized Boxing Canada’s technical director Daniel Trépanier for having notably created a “toxic climate” in the federation.
In the turmoil, he then submitted his resignation.
Veyre won gold at the 2015 Pan American Games. She was part of the Canadian team at the Tokyo Olympics. How did she experience this troubled period within the organization that had overseen her career for so many years?
“I didn’t learn anything,” she explained to the media gathered at the Casino de Montréal for the press conference preceding the July 29 gala. I was aware of all that. I wanted to remain silent, but it was difficult afterwards. »
Veyre also speaks of “relief”. “It felt good to get out of that environment. »
“Extremely disciplined”
His decision to make the leap to the pros surprised many. Starting with Yvon Michel.
“At that time, we thought that Caroline was a potential candidate for a medal in Paris” in 2024, he says.
The promoter says he reached an agreement quite easily with the pugilist. He tells.
“I get a text message. Caroline Veyre wants to meet me. Honestly, because I’m on the Board of Boxing Canada, I wasn’t soliciting. […] She came to the office. The first question I asked him was: “Why are you coming to meet me?” She said to me: “I want to box for GYM.” It made me so proud. It wasn’t very difficult. »
Michel’s only criterion was that it be well supervised. After a few visits to different gyms, she says the best place for her was with Danielle Bouchard and Stéphan Larouche.
“Obviously, I was very happy about that, remembers the promoter. She came back to see me. I offered him a contract and we agreed. »
Veyre rightly speaks of an “incredible team”.
I feel that I have progressed in three months. I learned a lot. I feel that I will succeed with them.
caroline veyre
Larouche notes how “extremely disciplined” his new athlete is.
“She wants to have a fresh start, illustrates the coach. She draws a line on her past. We learn to know each other. Me, I had described his fights on television in various Olympic Games. But I had never spoken to him before. »
” Break the ice ”
Veyre believes that she “had made the rounds, all the same, among amateurs”.
“I lived two Olympic cycles which allowed me to travel, to meet great athletes, full of styles. There, I feel ready for my professional debut. »
Already, she saw something new with the exercise of press conferences and weigh-ins the week before the fight. A very different context from amateur boxing tournaments.
“I find it more fun. Tournaments, I had to be ready for every fight. The next day, I had to be mentally ready. »
PHOTO STEPHEN HOSIER, CANADIAN PRESS ARCHIVES
Caroline Veyre at the Tokyo Olympics
Larouche warns that “it’s difficult, the professional debut, especially when you have had a big amateur career”.
“Getting your first punch no helmet. The gloves are smaller. It’s a completely different feeling. But she has so much amateur experience that she will make adjustments along the way. »
Michel speaks of “breaking the ice” during this four-round clash.
“I won’t hide from you that she’s probably the worst opponent she’s had in recent years when she was in Olympic qualification, or at the Olympics.
“But we’ll go quickly with her afterwards.” »