After his victory by KO. in the semi-final of the Bazinyan-Phinn gala, Thursday evening, at the Montreal Casino, boxer Avery Martin Duval openly wondered if he would not make a good opponent for Thomas Chabot, who had performed just before him.
“What round do I stop him in?” », boasted Duval (11-0-1, 7 KOs) with a touch of humor, after stopping Ezequiel Palaversic (8-3-1, 4 KOs) in the fourth round. The Argentinian had just received a second count and the referee judged that he had seen enough.
Could two “tigers” from Eye of the Tiger Management (EOTTM) compete against each other? It’s not in the house’s habits, but it would undoubtedly make for another excellent local duel… “Maybe, maybe,” reacted promoter Camille Estephan, thinking out loud, at the very end of the evening .
“In any case, it would be a very good fight,” agreed Duval, who himself put forward Chabot’s name. Thomas and I are not friends, but we get along well together. The guy is solid. He has infinite cardio. That would be a nice move to make when he’s ready to go. »
Martin Duval admitted to feeling “a little stress” during his first experience as a semi-finalist on an EOTTM card. Palaversic was solid… until the fourth, where the Montrealer’s strikes to the face hurt him.
“I knew he had a good jaw, but as I said at the press conference, I was going to break it,” recalled Martin Duval, thanking God a few times. I thought it would take more rounds honestly, like seven or eight. I started to touch him and I said to myself: at some point someone is going to pinch him! »
The South American kneeled the first time and fell the second time. Palaversic got up, but the referee refused to let him continue.
Chabot overcomes his fears
PHOTO DOMINICK GRAVEL, THE PRESS
Thomas Chabot
After “a lost year” due to a foot injury and a cancellation, Chabot (10-0, 8 KOs) could not hold back his tears in front of journalists after his victory by K. -O. in front of Alfredo Jimenez Espino (6-3, 2 KOs). The pugilist from Thetford Mines knocked the Mexican down on his buttocks after a series of body combinations in the fifth round. Obviously injured in the liver, Espino took a good two minutes before getting up.
“I felt a little rusty, but above all very anxious, more than normal,” revealed Chabot, who knew that his last two outings had not been convincing, especially that of December 2022 in Shawinigan, where he was machine-gunned. The judges saved him in a controversial decision.
“I am a warrior, capable of taking, capable of giving,” said the super-feather, who wanted to impress his new coach François Duguay.
I’m going to give it until I die. I could leave my skin there when I get into the ring. But I’m at the start of my career. These aren’t big enough fights to do that back to back.
Thomas Chabot
Chabot broke down thinking about his long absence. “I missed it… Honestly, I was scared. I missed it and I had a lot of fears: am I going to come back into the ring and no longer be able to bring out the good technical side that I know I am capable of? I think I’ve broken the ice on that front. »
A Fendero clinic, despite an injury
PHOTO DOMINICK GRAVEL, THE PRESS
Moreno Fendero
At the opening of the gala, Moreno Fendero (5-0, 4 KOs) continued his progress despite an injury to his right biceps suffered midway through the fight opposing the tenacious Argentinian Nicolas Luque Palacios (13 -11, 2 KOs). In the sixth and final round, the 24-year-old southpaw used his natural hand to pinch his opponent at the top of the ear, knocking him to the canvas. Palacios got up, but the referee stopped the fight a few seconds later, confirming the fourth knockout. consecutive of the average weight originating from Chartres.
Before the doctor even examined Fendero, his trainer Marc Ramsay gave his own diagnosis – torn biceps – which seemed to surprise the specialist. “There are more boxers who have it than there are who don’t,” said the coach of experience, who did not seem worried.
“It changed the whole fight,” said Fendero, proud to be only the second to stop Palacios before the limit. “That’s why I only worked directly with my right hand and tried to concentrate on my left. Despite everything, I feel good, in great shape. I didn’t take too many hits, that’s what’s important. I won in style, it’s very good. »
Gaumont chases away rust
PHOTO DOMINICK GRAVEL, THE PRESS
Alexandre Gaumont won by stoppage by the referee at 1:56 of the second round.
Fendero therefore expects to be able to fight on May 25 in Shawinigan. Ditto for Alexandre Gaumont (10-0, 7 KOs), who accepted a late offer for Thursday’s gala. Buckingham’s pride did not last long, winning by stoppage by the referee at 1 min 56 s of the second attack against the Tanzanian Abdallah Luanja (17-12, 12 KOs), who is presented in Montreal without a coach.
I said to myself: if I am able to stop him, I will do it without forcing things too much. But we knew it was coming.
Alexandre Gaumont
Returning to competition after an eight-month absence to treat an injury to his left arm, Gaumont was still surprised by a few strikes from Luanja at the start of the match. “Maybe it was rust,” said the 28-year-old middleweight. I did a lot of sparring, I thought I wasn’t rusty anymore, but when you get in the ring with people around, it’s not the same. Overall, I did well. I ate a couple shots for nothing, but other than that everything was fine. »
In Shawinigan, Gaumont is preparing to face a better quality opponent, an undefeated Argentinian like himself.
Who is the Boss ?
PHOTO DOMINICK GRAVEL, THE PRESS
John Orobio
At 20 years old, Jhon Orobio may have been almost half the age of his opponent Cristian Palma (33-15, 7 KOs), he was the only boss between the cables: the original Montrealer Colombian sent the 39-year-old Chilean to the floor three times in the second attack, which put an end to this uneven match at lightweight. Orobio, who will also compete in Mauricie on the undercard of the Mbilli-Heffron duel, therefore brings his record to 8-0 and 8 KOs. He is 12 short of catching up with Artur Beterbiev…