Camille Estephan and Eye of the Tiger Management have big ambitions. Very large even: the boxing promoter wants to attract 20 to 30,000 fans for a gigantic gala at the Olympic Stadium.
This is what he said on Wednesday, during the weigh-in for the gala pitting his protege, Erik Bazinyan, against the American Alantez Fox.
Estephan believes he has the right horses to carry out his project, even if he admits that the stars will have to align.
“That’s our plan. We have the right to dream, but we must work to achieve our dreams, he noted. We have boxers who can deliver world championship fights soon. Christian Mbilli in the lead, Arslanbek Makhmudov not far behind. Erik Bazinyan, Mary Spencer returns, Simon Kean…
“Imagine a card with a world championship in heavyweight perhaps? They say Tyson Fury would be near retirement; his title would become vacant. Or with Mbilli, possibly with a title vacated by Canelo Alvarez. We are patient, but we have the team we need to achieve our goals and we are going to do a gala for 30,000 people at the Olympic Stadium. This is our goal. »
In super middleweight, Mbilli (23-0, 20 KOs) is second in the World Boxing Council (WBC) contender, fifth in the World Boxing Association (WBA) and 13th in the World Boxing Organization (WBO), while Bazinyan is in the top-10 of the four associations: second in the WBA, fourth in the WBC, third in the WBO and ninth in the International Boxing Federation (IBF).
At heavyweight, with the rumors surrounding Fury’s future, the WBC title could find itself vacant. As Makhmudov is the fourth candidate for the belt (he is also fifth in the WBA and 15th in the WBO), Estephan believes he is in good shape for a fight with the key to the vacant title.
Add to this list Spencer (7-1, 5 K.-O.), who has just lost in the world championship, and Yves Ulysse fils (22-2, 15 K.-O.), who will ensure the half -final of Thursday’s gala at the Casino de Montréal, in addition to the association between EOTTM and Top Rank, which gives access to the ESPN + network, and Estephan believes he has the perfect recipe to attract such a crowd.
“We think that there are 7 to 8000 die-hard boxing fans in Quebec, who follow the four and six round fights, explained Estephan. But a ‘happening’ can attract different amateurs. These are the people we want to attract. When you think about it, 30,000 people is about 0.3% of the population of Quebec. We think we can do it. You have to be hard-working and optimistic”.
Obviously, admits the promoter, all these boxers must continue to win. He knows too well that sand can quickly get into the gears. But, adds Estephan, saying it publicly means that he will now have to deliver the goods.
“If we tell everyone, we have to do it. I put myself in this position, he mentioned. We may not be able to attract 80,000 or 50,000 fans like in England, but 30,000 we can do. »
It’s up to Bazinyan to play
Bazinyan (28-0, 21 KOs) and Fox (28-3-1, 13 KOs) will duke it out for the North American Boxing Association (NABA) and North American Boxing Federation titles (NABF) from Quebec.
With his immaculate record and his two belts, Bazinyan is perhaps the best kept secret in Quebec boxing. It is now up to him to take advantage of the window offered to him by the presentation of this fight on the airwaves of ESPN + in the United States, TVA Sports in Quebec and PunchingGrace.com elsewhere in the world.
“It’s an extremely important fight for me, because then many doors will open,” admitted the 27-year-old Laval resident before going to take a bite.
“In 2023, this is the time when Erik must shine his talent,” added Estephan. I think he’s ready, but Fox, he’s a real one: we’ll find out (Thursday). Marc (Ramsay, his trainer) told me that everything he wanted to see from him, he saw in training. Now is the time to do it in the ring. »
Ulysses will face Mexican Gabriel Gollaz Valenzuela (25-3-1, 15 KOs) in the semi-finals. Ulysses grumbled throughout the week, as if he didn’t appreciate playing second fiddle.
“When he’s grumpy, I’m very happy, because that’s when Yves gives his best performances. We have a lot of depth, not everyone can make the final. We decided that on Thursday, it was up to Erik to do it,” said Estephan about this gala of seven fights in total.
First scheduled for eight, EOTTM had to cancel the clash between Raphaël Courchesne and Diego Garduna Reyes. Courchesne injured his hand Thursday morning and the Régie des alcools, des courses et des jeux (RACJ) demanded that he undergo a medical examination, which showed that tendons were affected. The RACJ then forbade him to enter the ring.
Beterbiev’s “slowdown”
The words of Jean Pascal’s clan about a possible slowdown or aging of Artur Beterbiev in his fight against Anthony Yarde caused a lot of ink to flow on Monday. They still came to fit into the news on Wednesday.
When meeting journalists on his arrival at the Casino de Montréal, Ramsay responded to a joke on the subject with a well-felt arrow.
“Speaking of a slowdown, when you follow international boxing a bit, you realize that it is the promoter (of Jean Pascal) Lou DiBella who has slowed down a lot lately. You can write it, ”he launched, without mincing his words.
It’s done.