(Montreal) His resounding K.-O. facing Nadjib Mohammedi at the Casino de Montreal on Saturday sent a powerful message to the middleweights: Christian Mbilli is ready for anyone.
Posted at 9:24 a.m.
The French-born Montrealer knocked his compatriot down with a solid left hook to the face at 2:45 a.m. of the fifth round of the gala presented on Saturday at the Casino de Montreal, thus retaining his World Boxing Council (WBC) Continental of the Americas title.
Mohammedi (44-9, 27 KOs) lost consciousness and although he was able to leave the ring on his own after taking a few minutes to regain his senses, he was taken to hospital as a precaution . However, he got his leave at the end of the Saturday evening after the various tests to which he was subjected did not detect anything worrying.
This victory for Mbilli (21-0, 19 K.-O.), however, complicates the life of his clan. Already the ninth contender for the title held by Saul “Canelo” Alvarez in the WBC, the kind of flawless performance offered on Saturday is nothing to provoke the invitations of boxers posted at the top of the world rankings.
“We go back to what we did in the last fight against [Ronald] Ellis: We will elbow the world rankings, said his coach, Marc Ramsay. No one is going to give Christian a chance, we’ll see who’s available and we’ll aim for the highest. »
“The gala was made for Christian [samedi] and he sent a very powerful message to the 168 pounds, added his promoter Camille Estephan, president of Eye of the Tiger Management. It’s going to be harder for us to find guys for him now. He showed that he really has a power with his 19 knockouts. in 21 fights. »
Estephan and Ramsay have ensured Mbilli rises quickly through the divisional ranks over the two years, having had no less than five fights since December 2020.
The pandemic, he did not know that!
Marc Ramsay, coach
During these five fights, Mbilli managed four knockouts. and twice defended its Continental Americas belt. In order to make it progress, EOTTM will have to delve into its pockets.
“I think the results in France have been good,” Estephan said of the box office receipts on Saturday due to this ‘local’ fight being shown on prime time in France. It’s a significant income that we will reinvest in better opponents, perhaps even in a gala in France, to see what it can give. But there, he will take a little rest, we pushed him a lot, he made five close fights… ”
However, the break could be short-lived if the phone rings.
“It’s a matter of opportunity now. The time we have is extra, explained Ramsay. We don’t just want to pass the time, we always want to improve. When the opportunity presents itself, we will be ready. »
Beterbiev formula for Spencer
The new boxer of the EOTTM stable, Mary Spencer, also seems ready to get down to business.
“I think I can deliver a world championship fight by the end of the year. But I’ll leave that part to my promoter. He will know how to organize all that. My job is to train in the gym and be ready,” said the Ontarian now based in Montreal.
PHOTO VINCENT ETHIER, EYE OF THE TIGER MANAGEMENT VIA THE CANADIAN PRESS
Mary Spencer
“I don’t know exactly what’s coming, but I know that EOTTM wants to keep me active,” she added. With a fight like [celui de samedi], I don’t need a rest either: I’ll be in the gym on Monday. »
Spencer (4-0, 3 KOs) kept her perfect professional record by knocking out the knockout. in just 23 seconds to Beatriz Aguilar (7-7-1) and her clan wants to quickly advance her towards a world championship, possibly as early as next December.
“We will push that, assured Ramsay. Everyone wants to go quickly in this file: as much on the side of the athlete as of his coach or his management group, we agree. […] It’s pretty obvious that she’s in a class of her own. We’re gonna go down a similar path to what I did with [Artur] Beterbiev in the past; something very fast. »
Beterbiev had taken only six fights before winning a first minor belt. A shoulder injury robbed him of a year of boxing, but when he returned in 2016, it took him only a year to win his first world title, that of the International Boxing Federation, which he has held since 2017.
As for Spencer, the welterweight won’t be choosy and will be ready for any champion at 147 (welterweight) or 154 pounds (super-welterweight).
“We will challenge both divisions; the first opportunity that will arise, we will be there, ”assured Ramsay.