Boxing | Managing congestion in the same division, a challenge for promoters

(Montreal) Eye of the Tiger Management has three boxers ranked in the top 5 world at 168 pounds and two others in the top 10 at 175 pounds. Groupe Yvon Michel has already found itself with a world champion and his mandatory opponent — Adonis Stevenson and Eleider Alvarez — in its stable. How do boxing promoters deal with congestion in the same division? As tactfully as possible.

“We have been quite strategic about the diversification of federations,” explains Camille Estephan, president of EOTTM. Christian [Mbilli]for example, a lot of effort is put into the WBC. [Osleys] Iglesias is an IBO champion, but we’re putting a lot of effort into the IBF. We’re trying to take different strategic paths to make sure we don’t have to face each other in our own stable before they’re world champions.”

Mbilli (28-0, 23 KOs) is coming off a brilliant unanimous decision victory over Sergiy Derevyanchenko. He is ranked number one in the world by the World Boxing Council, number two in the World Boxing Association (WBA), and number three in the International Boxing Federation and World Boxing Organization (WBO).

In addition to his International Boxing Organization belt, Iglesias (12-0, 11 KOs) is also the No. 5 contender in the WBC, in addition to being No. 12 in the IBF. And we must also count on Erik Bazinyan (32-0-1, 23 KOs) — who will face Jaime Munguia on September 20 —, ranked No. 2 in the WBO, No. 4 in the WBA, No. 6 in the WBC and No. 7 in the IBF. Could the solution be to organize “fratricidal” fights?

“Where we are right now, we really take care of each file separately, individually,” notes Marc Ramsay, head coach of EOTTM, but also personal coach of Mbilli and Bazinyan. “We push guys in the rankings, we try to make the best decisions possible. It doesn’t matter what Christian, Iglesias or a guy like Wilkens do [Mathieu] who will slowly start to climb the rankings, we try to make the best decisions for them when the time comes.

“It would depend on the economic aspect,” Estephan says. “If these are very profitable fights for them and it advances their career, I will have to do it. It is my responsibility to maximize their sporting opportunities and their income. Would it be interesting for me? Honestly, no. Not at all.” […] It would be difficult, but if we have to do it, we will do it.”

Yvon Michel, president of GYM, had skillfully monetized for nearly two years the postponement of the optional defense that Stevenson, then WBC light-heavyweight champion, was to deliver to Alvarez. If the latter obtained financial compensation each time, his frustration was perceptible.

“Our situation is very different than Eleider Alvarez’s, because Eleider was blocked by Adonis Stevenson,” Estephan said. “On our side, if you look at 168 pounds, you have Christian who is moving up quickly. He has established himself as a No. 1 and a star in international boxing. People are now talking about him as a potential opponent for Canelo and a possible world champion. We’ll see what Canelo Alvarez does: will he fight Terrence Crawford? Will the belts become vacant? Could Christian fight him in May?”

“We also have Erik Bazinyan who is going to fight Munguia, so he has the opportunity to fight in big-time, high-paying fights that could allow him to position himself for a world championship in the event of a victory. So yes, we have several high-caliber boxers in the division, but they are not in a position where they are blocked.”

12 months critical

The next 12 months will be very important for EOTM, which will try to maximize the positions of its boxers in the rankings.

“Whether it’s Christian, Bazinyan or Iglesias, all three of them have to fight a world championship fight in the next 12 months,” Estephan says.

“That’s the goal. With Mbilli, we’ve just moved on to the next step. We’ll see how the industry moves after his last victory,” Ramsay said. “In Iglesias’ case, it’s a little trickier, because he’s very good and we’re convinced he can beat big names in the division right now. At the same time, he doesn’t have many fights. We’re trying to take it one at a time, to take the right opponents who will make him progress as a boxer and in the rankings. But if he continues to break down doors like he’s been doing since the beginning, it’s very possible that we’ll end up in the world championship in 2025.”

Perhaps the most unknown to Quebec boxing fans, Iglesias is impressive. A brute, the Cuban has fought only 38 rounds in 12 fights. His punching power is both his best calling card and his worst enemy: no one will want to take the very big risk of fighting him for a meager paycheck. Estephan will have to dig deep into his pockets to optimize his development.

“It’s already started,” Ramsay said with a laugh. “It takes big budgets to get guys moving. It’s part of the risks of business, risks that Camille is willing to take to get things moving.”

But Iglesias also has a major asset: the IBO belt. Less known on this side of the Atlantic, the IBO title has more resonance, even prestige, in Europe. But there is more.

“It’s true that the IBO has more credibility in Europe. But it’s also the only belt at 168 pounds that Canelo doesn’t have,” Estephan recalls. “Iglesias is certainly very, very far from Canelo’s notoriety, but his accomplishments still show great potential.”

In the meantime, EOTTM hopes to position Iglesias for an IBF mandatory fight, the title vacated by Alvarez.

“Vladimir Shishkin is going to fight William Scull,” Estephan points out about the association’s top two contenders. “We would like to be in a mandatory position for the IBF, why not a unification fight for the IBO as well?”