Faced with an opponent “tougher than expected”, Simon Kean was able to triumph thanks to a K. -O. Thursday evening, in the semi-finals of the Mbilli-Gongora gala at the Casino de Montréal.
Kean (23-1, 22 KOs) sent his rival, Eric Molina (29-9, 21 KOs), to the mat in the 7e round before referee Yvon Goulet puts an end to the debate.
“He was tougher than I thought he would be,” he said. It was a good challenge. »
Molina managed to connect on several shots and made the crowd react largely in favor of the Trifluvien. It was just window dressing, Kean said.
PHOTO DOMINICK GRAVEL, THE PRESS
Eric Molina and Simon Kean
“I haven’t been shaken once. Punches may look worse than they really are,” noted Kean, thoroughly drained and soggy after the fight.
After the fight, however, Kean conceded that he needed to show “balls” to win.
The one who was cheered on by the crowd throughout the duel also had a message for his detractors.
“For those who thought I was finished, I want to tell them it’s just getting started. I just happen to have a contract with Top Rank to be announced shortly. »
It was kind of a comeback back in the ring for Kean who hadn’t actually boxed in a year.
For his part, Molina confirmed on Monday that this fight was going to be his swan song. The American therefore ended his career with a fourth defeat by K.-O. in his last six duels.
Knockouts for all
PHOTO DOMINICK GRAVEL, THE PRESS
Steve Claggett and Rafael Guzman Lugo
On the undercard, Calgarian Steve Claggett (34-7-2, 24 K.-O) and his opponent Rafael Guzman Lugo (26-3-2, 16 K.-O) fought a furious fight that the Canadian ultimately won. Lugo’s corner resigned at 7e round.
“What’s nice is that my opponent came here to put on a show, to win,” said Claggett, who had several good combinations. He didn’t just curl up. »
PHOTO DOMINICK GRAVEL, THE PRESS
Luis Santana and Francisco Arturo Ramírez Martinez
Luis Santana (9-0, 3 K.-O) fought a furious fight to win by K.-O. technique against Francisco Arturo Ramirez Martinez (11-5, 6 K.-O). In fact, the athlete from Saint-Michel only needed two and a half rounds for his rival to throw in the towel.
Quebec women in the spotlight
PHOTO DOMINICK GRAVEL, THE PRESS
Leila Beaudoin and Laura Avendano Mondragon
In one of the most fiercely contested fights of the evening, Leïla Beaudoin (9-0, 1 K.-O) preserved her perfect record thanks to a victory by unanimous decision against Laura Avendan Mondragon (6-1, 2 K. .-O). The native of Rivière-du-Loup received a particularly warm welcome from the crowd and was encouraged by throughout the fight.
After the fight, Beaudoin claimed he was unbothered by the change in weight. The day before, during the official weigh-in, her rival tipped the scales at 136.6 lbs, 6.6 lbs over the planned limit of 130 lbs. The Quebecer agreed to raise the bar to 140 lbs even though she had respected the limit.
“How much do you think I weigh right now?” she asked after the fight. Last night after supper I was 143.7 lbs. […] We knew that even if it was at 140 lbs, that it was not dangerous for me. »
Even if her record is starting to look good and she is among the top 10 of the World Boxing Association (9e world), she doesn’t dare get carried away.
“If a world championship fight happens in 2024, we’ll see, but I don’t want to cut corners. I have to take one fight at a time,” noted Beaudoin.
The rising star of Quebec boxing Wilkens Mathieu (2-0, 1 K.-O) came up against a surprisingly formidable opponent in José González Saldana (1-3-1). The 18-year-old native of Quebec was methodical in order to extract the victory by unanimous decision.
The Colombian Jhon Orobio (1-0, 1 K.-O) did not disappoint during his first professional fight. The new colt of Marc Ramsay signed a victory by K. -O. technique in the first round against Alejandro Medina de la Rosa (2-2, 2 K.-O).
As a curtain raiser, Quebecer Vanessa Lepage-Joanisse (4-1, 1 K.-O) made a successful return to the ring. The Saint-André-Avellin pugilist hadn’t fought for more than five years, but that didn’t stop her from taking the measure of Princess Hairston (2-2-1, 2 KOs) by decision unanimous among light heavyweights. His last fight was a setback in a world title fight at heavyweight.
“I felt so good,” said Lepage-Joanisse. Normally in the hallway I felt stressed, but not today. I felt good. I felt at home. »
Adoptive Montrealer Mary Spencer was also scheduled to fight at the gala, but a hand injury on Monday morning forced her fight to be cancelled.