Arslanbek Makhmudov will face another giant in the final of an Eye of the Tiger Management (EOTTM) gala which will be presented on January 19 at the Casino de Montréal.
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Makhmudov (13-0, 13 KOs), 6-foot-5, will rub shoulders with 6-foot-8 Pole, Mariusz Wach (36-7, 19 KOs). It will be the first time in his career that he will face an opponent bigger than himself.
These two colossi will fight for the NABF heavyweight title in the small ring of the casino.
“It will be a very good experience for me,” said Arlsanbek Makhmudov. It won’t be easy for me because Wach has faced a number of quality opponents during his career. He has a good chin.
“His last two losses came against Dillian Whyte and Hughie Fury, two good boxers. It will be a good challenge for me. ”
In recent fights, amateurs have criticized Makhmudov’s opponents. They find that the level of competition offered to the protégé of Marc Ramsay is not high enough.
The principal concerned does not worry too much with these comments.
“I never listen to what is written or what is said about me,” said Makhmudov. People don’t know how the boxing business works.
“My last opponent, Erkan Teper, was a very good boxer. Against me he fell three times and got up each time. He was ready for a war. He hadn’t come just to collect a check. ”
Big dollars
As has often been written, heavyweights are another world at all levels. According to our information, Wach’s scholarship will be higher than that given to Teper ($ 135,000) last September.
“A guy like Wach is the best opponent we could go looking for in the circumstances,” said EOTTM development director and Makhmudov coach Marc Ramsay. It’s a huge investment for Camille (Estephan) to bring this guy here.
“It’s a gala that will be extremely expensive. The Casino room is not huge. There are not a lot of tickets to sell in order to collect income.
“We invest in Arslanbek because we believe in it.”
Hit or miss
In the semifinals, Yves Ulysse jr (20-2, 11 KOs) will cross swords with Mexican Antonio Moran (26-5-1, 19 KOs). A decisive fight for the career of the Quebecer.
“This is my last marathon,” said Ulysse jr. I’ll give it my all and we’ll see what happens. Moran is a good opponent and I will have to deliver a good performance to win. ”
At 33, Ulysse jr is at a crossroads. He has no more time to waste. A defeat and it could be swan song for someone who has several community projects underway in the east of Montreal.
“If I bow, it could be my last fight,” he confirms. If so, I want to leave without having any regrets. ”
However, a victory would allow him against a tenacious boxer like Moran and his name could start to circulate again in the boxing spheres.
Besides Kean, Ulysses and Makhmudov, Luis Santana, Thomas Chabot, Avery Martin-Duval and Leila Beaudoin will also be part of the first EOTTM map in 2022.
Roger Lavergne and Claude Vallée attended the press briefing. EOTTM will be back in Mauricie on April 9. The gala, which will be presented at the Center Gervais Auto, will feature heavyweights Arslanbek Makhmudov and Simon Kean.