We knew Canadian boxer Steve Claggett was determined. But maybe not to this extent.
The Eye of the Tiger Management (EOTTM) pugilist had just won his eighth consecutive victory with his new team, Tuesday evening at the Montreal Casino, when tears came to his eyes in front of journalists.
“There are always ups and downs, but it’s my dream,” explained the boxer, his voice trembling and his face swollen after an intense and spectacular fight against the Mexican Miguel Madueno. He had just unified the NABF super-lightweight title and the WBO international super-lightweight title by unanimous decision.
His performance was impressive, and it could open the doors to major American networks for him, according to his promoter Camille Estephan.
“I won’t stop until I’m [au sommet], continued the charismatic Claggett. I’m just happy to be here, to give my all in my fights, to work as hard as possible. That’s why I’m emotional right now. I devote my life to boxing. It’s really important to me. »
Estephan looks at him with admiration when he joins the press briefing. He compares the 34-year-old fighter, an autodidact from Calgary, to a “samurai”, dedicated body and soul to perfecting his art.
“He invests his time reading [sur la boxe], to learn philosophy, the art of war. The way he eats. The way he breathes. He does meditation. »
You will have understood that EOTTM believes enormously in Steve Claggett.
“Honestly, it’s another potential fight of the year,” Estephan observed. It was quite a spectacle. He’s a boxer with skills he hasn’t even demonstrated yet. […] He has finesse in his boxing, in his footwork. He has a lot of potential so we can get him a world championship fight. »
Tuesday evening, Claggett (37-7-2, 25 KOs) dominated his opponent from start to finish. He pummeled him with precise, devastating and, above all, numerous blows. But the pugnacious Madueno (30-2, 28 KOs) endured everything without flinching. This fight between two knockout specialists. went to the limit of 10 rounds, despite the story their respective records tell.
“I knew he was hungry,” said the Canadian. You cannot underestimate a fighter with such a knockout ratio. »
“I’m happy with my performance, but I’m still growing,” he added.
“With my team and Eye of the Tiger behind me, there are no limits [the sky is the limit]. You have yet to see the best of what I can offer. »
Butler wins an alley fight
PHOTO MARTIN CHAMBERLAND, THE PRESS
Steven Butler and Ivan Alvarez
Suspense. Adventures. Highs, lows, spectacular strikes and dirty shots. We had all that and even more in the alley fight between Montrealer Steven Butler and Mexican Ivan Alvarez on Tuesday evening.
Butler won by knockout. technical in the ninth round of this semi-final fight. Alvarez was in big trouble at the time. Butler (33-4-1, 27 KOs) had just dealt him a barrage of blows, sending him to the mat not once, but twice, when official Yvon Goulet stopped the fight. A little late, moreover.
But until then, this brawl could have gone either way. Despite his lackluster record, the Mexican (32-15-4, 21 KOs) offered quite an opposition to the former contender for the WBA and WBO middleweight world titles. Butler had led his first round well, but he seemed to let his guard down from the second on. Alvarez dangerously hit the target several times. This exchange of fierce blows from both sides continued until the end.
“He’s good,” Butler admitted after his victory. He got me a little emotionally. He threw a lot of punches to the back of my head, and I let myself get fooled. […] I started to lower my hands and tried to taunt him a little. I’m not proud of that, but I’m going to learn from this fight. »
Camille Estephan says she wants to “live or die” with this personality trait of the boxer that is Butler.
“If it’s your nature, it’s your nature. »
These “emotions” came to a head in the fourth round. It was fighting at the limits of the rules. A few shots were even thrown between the sounds of the bell. In the fifth, after landing a particularly satisfying jab to Alvarez’s body, Butler let out a very audible “Wow!” » in the ring. It was for “show,” he said.
“ [Je voulais] show him that we are there, let’s go, we’re fighting, it’s just for show. The fans appreciated it. »
Estephan said he was happy to see the “very instinctive” boxer who was Butler’s hallmark “in his early days”. He credits his new coach John Scully, who prepared him “really well”.
“He was in great shape, underlined the promoter. It was a tough fight. Previously, we saw Steven lack energy. [Mardi], he kept his position until the end. THE coach Scully did a good job letting him express his talent. »
It was the Montrealer’s first fight since his tough defeat in the world championship last May. Will this victory give him the confidence to continue?
“I’m back on the right path [back on track], Butler estimated. We’re going to have a good fight to announce shortly. »
Khataev confirms
PHOTO MARTIN CHAMBERLAND, THE PRESS
Imam Khataev and Fernando Galvan
Earlier in the evening, the new jewel of EOTTM, Imam Khataev (5-0, 5 KOs), made short work of his opponent Fernando Galvan (8-9-1, 2 K .-O.). The Australian won by knockout. technical in the second round. In fact, from the start of the fight, we saw that each second that passed only postponed the inevitable.
Khataev showed what Camille Estephan has so much hope for in him. The light heavyweight fighter was enterprising, constantly maintaining the pressure on his opponent. A major fight awaits him on January 13.
On the undercard, Wilkens Mathieu (5-0, 3 KOs), from Quebec, won an entertaining fight against Pole Grzegorz Mardyla (1-1-1, KOs). Already because the explosive pugilist from Krakow arrived in the ring in kickboxing sneakers and dressed in long white stockings. But also because the fight was well shared from start to finish. Mardyla surprised as much by her build as by her determination.
“I knew I had a solid opponent, even if he didn’t have many professional fights,” Mathieu said afterwards.
“With the rounds, I found that I didn’t adapt well,” he agreed. I tried a few things […], but it didn’t really work. I lacked a bit of energy at the end, and that’s something I’ll have to work on. »
A few moments later, Montrealer Mehmet Unal (7-0, 5 KOs) won in front of Mexican Jaime Lopez (10-11, 4 KOs). The latter gave up in the second round, injured in the shoulder.
To raise the curtain, the French Moreno Fendero (2-0, 1 KO) beat the Mexican Cristian Lozano (2-3) by KO. technique in two rounds.