Yvon Michel played fair with the media and boxing fans on Tuesday, and announced at the opening of his press conference at the Montreal Casino that Groupe Yvon Michel (GYM) is under reconstruction.
It’s a different sound from the one we hear on Avenue des Canadiens-de-Montréal, when we don’t dare pronounce the “r” word or even the “s” word. On the GYM side, this is fully accepted.
True, it was becoming more and more difficult not to tackle the subject head-on: the group now only has four boxers under contract, namely Kim Clavel, Marie-Pier Houle, Mazlum Akdeniz and Mathieu Germain.
From the rest, it appears that Clavel, who will perform the final of the next gala at the Montreal Casino on April 4, will be the spearhead of the group, the one on whom the most pressure will rest to help GYM regain the forefront. scene.
True to form, Michel has given himself a three-year plan to carry out this reconstruction, which will involve associations with trainers and gyms that have proven themselves in the past. He thinks of Boxe Montréal, where Stéphan Larouche, Danielle and Pierre Bouchard work, of the brothers Otis and Howard Grant, of Donnie Brook and even Ian McKillop.
The relaunch of the company will also involve independent boxers, like Derek Pomerleau, who we saw during the company’s latest events and who will be on the cards of April 4 and May 16.
Pomerleau would like to join GYM permanently. The president promised to seriously evaluate his performance and therefore, this possibility.
Whether Pomerleau joins the group or not, Michel has no intention of running a large stable, much like the other main Quebec promoter, Eye of the Tiger Management, which currently has more than 20 boxers in its ranks. ranks. Michel intends to go to nine or 10 pugilists, he who favors more “proximity” management.
The return of Clavel
April 4 will mark the big return of Clavel (17-2, 3 KOs) to the ring after his heartbreaking defeat by split decision at the hands of Argentina’s Evelin Bermudez on October 7. She will face the Spaniard Fara El-Bousairi (8-3, 3 KOs) in the grand final. Clavel is also scheduled to be at the May 16 event, which will feature Akdeniz.
Houle (9-1-1, 2 KOs) will secure the semi-final of this gala against the experienced Argentine Marisa Joana Portillo (20-18-3, 4 KOs), a boxer who fought six world championship fights and was never stopped before the limit.
Pomerleau (7-0, 5 KOs), Theo Owusu (3-0, 2 KOs), Reid Wohey and Winner Bondo, who will both be making their professional debuts, will also be in action.
The gala will be broadcast on gymboxe.tv.