Camille Estephan has big ambitions for the next two years, very big ones, including that of seating “20,000 to 30,000” people for a boxing gala at the Olympic Stadium.
To achieve this, the promoter of Eye of the Tiger Management (EOTTM) will have to fulfill at least one other of his desires by 2024, to have a world champion in his ranks.
If the heavyweight Arslanbek Makhmudov and the super-middleweight Christian Mbilli seem the closest to achieving this goal, a third boxer in the stable, this one a little less known, is also aiming for a major belt: Erik Bazinyan .
The 27-year-old Laval resident has only lost one fight in a ring: the very first. He was then 13 years old and began his amateur career in his native country, Armenia. He won his next 108 fights before turning professional in Canada, his adopted country, in 2013. Since then, he’s gone a perfect 28-0, including 21 knockouts.
Bazinyan will headline the first EOTTM gala of this important year on Thursday evening at the Casino de Montreal.
PHOTO ROBERT SKINNER, THE PRESS
From left to right: Christopher Guerrero, Avery Martin-Duval, Antonin Décarie, Erik Bazinyan, Yves Junior Ulysse, Camille Estephan, Wilkens Mathieu and Raphaël Courchesne
“It’s one of the last steps so that I can fight for a world championship this year or next year and I’m going to show everyone what I can do with this fight,” announced the 6-foot-1 athlete at a press conference Monday at the Casino.
Despite 25 professional fights in Canada, the majority of which in Quebec, Bazinyan remains unknown in the province, not to say “undervalued” as Estephan pointed out.
The NABF and NABA champion is yet among the top 10 contenders of the four major world boxing organizations. The WBA considers him its second suitor, the WBO its third and the WBC its fourth. He is in ninth place according to the IBF.
“It will be the sixth time that I fight at the Casino, recalled Bazinyan. People will get to know me. I live here and people support me and know me. I would like to be more, but it will happen with the big fights. »
Bazinyan, a super middleweight like Mbilli, will face a strong rival, the American Atlantez Fox, 6 feet 5 inches.
Fox (28-3-1, 13 KOs) hasn’t fought since losing to Cuban super prospect David Morell in December 2021 in Minneapolis. His corner had stopped him on the fourth assault.
PHOTO ROBERT SKINNER, THE PRESS
Atlantez Fox, Erik Bazinian and, in the middle, Antonin Décarie
“Honestly, I let myself be overwhelmed by the magnitude of the moment,” said the athlete from Maryland. I take full responsibility. Everything went well during training camp and I got carried away. This time, I’m not planning to do that. »
The 30-year-old pugilist’s other two defeats came against still-undefeated and top WBO contender Demetrius Andrade and Britain’s Liam Williams (current eighth WBO middleweight contender) in England.
Fox attributes his inactivity last year to the fear he instilled in potential opponents. “I probably spent two or three years waiting,” he said. I am not opposed to fighting anyone. So I was ready when they called me for this fight. »
The risk
Bazinyan’s trainer Marc Ramsay was told he was taking a risk by pitting his colt against Fox during his recent stay in London for Artur Beterbiev’s title fight.
“At some point, you have to disturb the established order a bit if you want to be observed by the other promoters”, underlined the head coach of EOTTM.
In his eyes, this confrontation “is the entry into the world of the big ones” for Bazinyan. ” We have a [adversaire] who has three losses, but three losses against boxing stars. We want to show that Erik is part of this group. It goes through this kind of opponents. »
On the podium, Fox had the delicacy to offer his condolences to Bazinyan, who lost his father Ara, who died of a heart attack at the age of 52 last summer.
“All my fights will be dedicated to him, commented Bazinyan with emotion a little later. That’s life. I have to be strong and that made me stronger, more motivated. It’s something that I feel: no one can beat me now. It’s the worst thing that’s ever happened to me. I will fight for him. »
Montrealer Yves Ulysse fils (22-2, 12 KOs), who is also aiming for “a world championship fight, nothing less”, will take care of the semi-final in a duel of welterweight against the Mexican Gabriel Gollaz Valenzuela (25-3-1, 25 K.-O.).
Quebecers Alexandre Gaumont (6-0), Raphaël Courchesne (9-1), Christopher Guerrero (5-0), Avery Martin-Duval (8-0-1) and rookie Wilkens Mathieu, who will make his professional debut, will be also in action during this card broadcast on TVA Sports, Punching Grace and ESPN+ in the United States.
Back from London, where he attended the gala featuring Beterbiev, Camille Estephan continues to position his team.
“I think we are able to get big crowds and we will win world championships. I see Quebec boxing being there soon. »