Goliath against Goliath. This is how to describe the colossal fight between Arslanbek Makhmudov and Carlos Takam, Friday evening, at the Casino de Montreal. And it was Makhmudov, the favorite of the Montreal crowd, who ended up winning this major fight.
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Even the most avid cast iron pusher at your local gym wouldn’t have wanted to land in front of the punches of these two men, who both weighed over 260 pounds.
The Montreal-based Russian (15-0, 14 KOs) won by unanimous decision. The judges gave the Eye Of The Tiger Management protege a 96-92, 97-91 and 96-92 card. However, it was not an easy fight for his trainer Marc Ramsay.
Of course, it was a little more stressful than usual. Defensively, it could have been a little better. But there are still very good things that happened tonight.
Marc Ramsay, coach of Arslanbek Makhmudov
Makhmudov thus became the holder of three titles: in addition to those of the NABF and the NABA already on his record, he went to seek the prestigious Silver championship of the WBC (vacant).
“I’m happy, because I’ve never done 10 rounds, commented the 33-year-old fellow later. I needed this experience. »
“I sent him to solid school”
Still undefeated, Makhmudov had never passed the limit of seven rounds. And it was precisely during this engagement that the tide turned. He sent Takam (39-7-1, 28 KOs) to the mat for the second time in the brawl. The American seemed to lose his rhythm afterwards.
“It’s a big learning curve for him,” Ramsay said. It’s good to practice in the gym often, but doing it in a competitive environment is something else. »
PHOTO MARTIN CHAMBERLAND, THE PRESS
Arslanbek Makhmudov with his corner men.
The 10 round boxing match was very, very well fought. Maybe even more than many had expected. Especially after the fall of the American from the first seconds of the fight.
Throughout, Makhmudov and Takam exchanged well-placed shots. When one was hit, the other responded.
After the second fall, the favorite’s opponent continued to hit the target, but with less regularity. And, above all, the “Lion” in front of him was hungry.
This victory against “the guardian of the door of the real business says Ramsay, now puts the Russian on the high-speed train to big fights.
“It’s a complex file that I gave him,” he said. I sent him to solid school. »
This fight and this gala were notably broadcast on ESPN +, in the United States. A very nice showcase for the colt of promoter Camille Estephan.
“People know Takam is a big league guy,” he said. It’s a huge window for us. […] It is an excellent experience. »
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PHOTO MARTIN CHAMBERLAND, THE PRESS
Steven Butler gave his opponent, Mark Deluca, no chance.
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PHOTO MARTIN CHAMBERLAND, THE PRESS
Steven Butler gave his opponent, Mark Deluca, no chance.
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PHOTO MARTIN CHAMBERLAND, THE PRESS
Steven Butler gave his opponent, Mark Deluca, no chance.
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PHOTO MARTIN CHAMBERLAND, THE PRESS
Steven Butler gave his opponent, Mark Deluca, no chance.
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Butler, expeditious
“Dad, did you win your fight?” asked the children of Steven Butler by FaceTime, the day before this one. “No, my fight is tomorrow,” he replied.
They will wake up with a smile on their face on Saturday morning. The Quebec boxer (31-3-1, 26 K.-O.) won in an expeditious manner, Friday evening, against the American Mark Deluca (28-4, 16 K.-O.).
A victory by K.-O. technique at 2e round.
It moved me. I owe them a present, because dad went away for a week at the hotel. I promised them that I was going to give them a present because daddy had to go to work.
Steven Butler
A wag called out, “Freeze it, Butler! repeatedly, during the short fight. Steven, strong of his 35 professional boxing fights, was obviously already harnessed to the task.
Despite a well-contested first engagement, the fighter from Massachusetts fell a second time in the second round. He was still staggering during the official’s count.
Butler thus captured the NABF middleweight belt (160 pounds). Belt he wore at his waist in front of the microphones.
“It’s a victory that tastes good, declared the man who had just signed a third victory in a row on Friday. Don’t want, we had two falls, in Mexico and against [Ryota] Murata. It was very difficult times. But we got back on track. »
“I’m proud of what I’ve accomplished, and for not giving up when it was easy to do so. »
If he thinks he “deserves” to pierce the top 15 of his division, Butler is also aiming for a world title. But not before “a good two weeks with [ses] children “.
“I want to have the time and the tools necessary to face the elite. I don’t want to go and win a check. I live well now. I don’t need the money. My goal is to win a world championship. I turned 27 two weeks ago. I’m still young. »
PHOTO MARTIN CHAMBERLAND, THE PRESS
Thomas Chabot sent the Mexican Armando Ramirez to the ground at 2e round.
In undercard
Thomas Chabot – no, the Senators defender hasn’t found a second vocation – will only have been in the ring at the Casino on Friday. The pugilist from Thetford Mines (7-0, 7 K.-O.) won on the 2e round against the Mexican Armando Ramirez (3-2). An unequivocal victory by K.-O. technique, after a third fall by his opponent.
It was the first fight in seven months for Thomas Chabot; a hand injury has kept him sidelined all this time. “It was tough mentally,” he said. Although his physiotherapist tells him that discomfort may follow him “for a good part of [sa] career”, he intends to continue his immaculate journey as quickly as possible. From “next week”, he advances, rebellious.
Just before, Jean-Gardy François (3-0, 2 K.-O.) won by unanimous decision against the Mexican Andres Sanchez Ramirez (4-5-3, 2 K.-O.) after four rounds. A result that was not in doubt, given the many times Gardy hit the target.
François however found that he had made a “correct performance”.
“The guy had a lot of experience, and it showed. It took me a while to adjust. I wanted to place my jab, calculate my timing. But I’m satisfied. »
PHOTO MARTIN CHAMBERLAND, THE PRESS
Martine Vallières-Bisson lost her fight against Emma Gongora of France.
The French Emma Gongora (5-2) caused the surprise at the start of the evening. With energy and passion, she won against Quebecer Martine Vallières-Bisson (5-2, 1 K.-O.) during the second fight of the gala.
And this, even if the Marseillaise suffered two penalty points over the six rounds of this featherweight fight (126 pounds). But the unanimous decision of the judges as well as the constant ardor of the Frenchwoman were enough. Vallières-Bisson, from Le Moyne, was bardasser. The fractured nose, she also had to go to the hospital after her fight.
PHOTO MARTIN CHAMBERLAND, THE PRESS
Hamza Khabbaz sends a direct from the right to the face of Jose Gutierrez Bolanos.
As a curtain raiser, Montrealer Hamza Khabbaz (5-0, 1 K.-O.) won by unanimous decision against Mexican Jose Gutierrez Bolanos (2-6). Despite the latter’s record, Khabbaz did not dominate overly during the four rounds of this confrontation at welterweight (147 pounds). Suffice to say that the excitement caused by this fight did not spill beers at the Casino.