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, Tuesday evening, as part of a gala organized by Eye of the Tiger Management (EOTTM), at the Cabaret du Casino de Montréal
Alvarez was in big trouble at the time. Butler had just delivered 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 plenty of opposition to the former contender for the WBA and WBO middleweight 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. »
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 a particularly satisfying jab to the body of Alvarez, 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 gowe are fighting, it is for the show a little bit. The fans appreciated it. »
It was the Montrealer’s first fight since his tough defeat in the world championship last May. Does this victory give him the confidence to continue?
“I’m back on the right path [back on track], believes Butler. We’re going to have a good fight to announce shortly. »
Claggett, by unanimous decision
The Canadian Steve Claggett won by unanimous decision against the Mexican Miguel Madueno. He thus defended his NABF super lightweight belt and obtained the previously vacant WBO international super lightweight title.
In the final, 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 (30-1, 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.
It’s an eighth victory in eight fights for Claggett since joining the EOTTM fold. And the athlete from Calgary obtained it by following his usual recipe, which consists of applying constant pressure, always advancing towards his opponent, preventing him from having time to land his own shots. The future looks bright for this 34-year-old boxer.
Khataev confirms
PHOTO MARTIN CHAMBERLAND, THE PRESS
Imam Khataev and Fernando Galvani
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 demonstrated 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 her determination.
“I knew I had a solid opponent, even if he didn’t have a lot of pro 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.