Quebec boxer Erik Bazinyan will not be able to count on his father’s physical presence at the Casino de Montreal on Thursday night, but the memory of the deceased will support him in other ways.
• Also read: EOTTM: Erik Bazinyan is back in action this winter
“He was my best friend,” Bazinyan said of his father, Ara, who sadly died of a heart attack last July at the age of 52. In all battles he will be with me, he will protect me. »
For this next round in the ring, Bazinyan (28-0, 21 KOs) will be on a mission to defend his NABF and NABA titles against American Alantez Fox (28-3-1, 13 KOs). To defend. .).
“All my fights will be dedicated to him now,” said Bazinyan, who is of Armenian descent. I’m sad every day, but I have to be strong.
“His death made me stronger, it’s hard to describe but I feel it inside me,” added the Quebecer. There’s nothing that can beat me now because I’ve been through the worst that could happen to me. I will fight for him. I’ll be angry in my head for the rest of my life. It makes me stronger, more motivated. I push even harder in the gym. »
A world title soon?
Regarding his career, Bazinyan believes this clash against Fox is crucial as it could lead him to a fight for a world title soon.
“It’s one of the last steps towards a world title fight,” he remarked. I want to show what I can do with this fight. »
At 6ft 5in tall, Alantez Fox is a tough opponent in every sense of the word.
“I saw face to face that he is not that tall but Bazinyan who is 6ft tall responded. 1 in. There isn’t much of a difference and in the ring we often adopt a tilted position to box. I don’t think size will change anything because I’ve beaten other guys who were that big. »
Presented by Eye of the Tiger Management, the gala will be streamed live on TVA Sports on Thursday 2 February from 7pm. Also performing on the evening are Junior Ulysse, Alexandre Gaumont, Raphaël Courchesne, Christopher Guerrero, Avery Martin-Duval and Wilkens Mathieu.