Less than two weeks after a successful gala in Quebec, Eye of the Tiger Management (EOTTM) is back on Thursday evening with a boxing evening at the Montreal Casino.
Laval resident Erik Bazinyan (31-0, 22 KOs) will put his NABF super middleweight (175 lbs) title on the line against Argentina's Billi Facundo Godoy (41-7, 20 KOs). The currently vacant WBA Continental title is also at stake.
For Bazinyan, it's all about staying active as he waits for the opportunity to compete against a boxer in this category, where there is little movement. However, he must be on his guard against an experienced opponent who could set him back if he loses.
The 28-year-old boxer is currently ranked No. 2 in the WBA rankings, No. 3 in the WBC and WBO rankings and No. 5 in the IBF rankings. He finds himself in the same situation as Christian Mbilli, another EOTTM protégé, who is also waiting for a fight against an opponent ranked higher than him. Canelo Alvarez, the reigning champion of the four associations, dominates at the top.
Albert Ramirez Courtesy of Eye of the Tiger Management/Vincent Ethier
Another belt
Another belt will be at stake on this eight-fight evening. Ukrainian native and adopted Montrealer Artur Ziyatdinov (15-1, 12 KOs) and Venezuelan Albert Ramirez (17-0, 15 KOs) will face each other for the WBA International light heavyweight (175 pound) title, which is currently in contention unoccupied.
That's a nice assignment for Ziyatdinov since Ramirez, an EOTTM protégé, is currently ranked No. 4 in the WBA. A win on Thursday night would allow him to gain attention.
The same goes for the spectacular Steven Claggett (37-7-2, 25 KOs), who will face Mexico's Marcos Gonzalez Barraza (23-3, 11 KOs) in a fight among super lightweights (142 pounds).
Claggett is on an eight-fight winning streak, most recently with a decision over Miguel Madueno last November. The Calgary boxer then put in a solid performance in a difficult fight against an opponent who was known to be tough.
Mary Spencer Courtesy of Eye of the Tiger Management/Vincent Ethier
Spencer and Redemption
After seven straight wins early in her professional career, Ontario's Mary Spencer (7-2, 5 KOs) faced Belgium's Femke Hermans (18-4, 7 KOs. -O.) twice at the world championship.
The last time a majority decision took place was last October. This hurt because Spencer failed in her attempt to wrest the IBF super middleweight (154 pound) world championship belt from Hermans, who also got his hands on the vacant IBF title.
Spencer therefore wants to find her way to victory against American Sonya Dreiling (6-3, 2 KOs), an opponent who is certainly within her reach.
A loss for the 39-year-old Ontario native would certainly have a positive impact on the rest of her career.
Wilkens Mathieu Courtesy of Eye of the Tiger Management/Vincent Ethier
Quick return
Just 12 days after their victory at the Videotron Center in Quebec, Wilkens Mathieu (6-0, 3 KOs) and Moreno Fendero (3-0, 2 KOs) will be back in action.
The first faces Mexican Oscar Soto Quintana (6-4) at super middleweight (175 pounds) and the second faces Mexican Ricardo Lara (22-11-2, 10 KOs), also at super middleweight.
In any case, the return to the arena is quick but not surprising. They did very well in Quebec and are on the rise.
On January 13, Mathieu defeated Mexico's Jose Arias Alvarez (3-2, 1 KO) by unanimous decision, while Fendero defeated Victor Hugo Flores (7-3, 3 KOs) by knockout. defeated. Technique from the first round.
Two more boxers from the EOTTM stable will be in action at this gala. Jhon Orobio (5-0, 5 KOs) will face Mexican Juan Carlos Ramirez Garcia (5-4) in the lightweight category (135 pounds), while Avery Martin Duval (10-0-1, 6 KOs) will fight will take on Mexican Jesus Gomez Adorno (6-0, 2 KOs) at super featherweight (130 pounds). However, the Quebecer missed weight, tipping the scales at 131.9 pounds at Wednesday's midday weigh-in. The fight will still take place.