LONDON | Jean Pascal put up a fabulous fight against Carl Froch. He lost in twelve rounds. Kevin Bizier faced Kell Brook in Sheffield, he was KO’d. Lucian Bute was ripped off by Froch in Nottingham. Oscar Rivas lost to Dillian Whyte in Greenwich and Marie-Ève Dicaire lost her title in Manchester just a few months ago.
In fact, Quebec victories were very rare on British soil. Marshall Butler, Steven Butler’s grandfather, accomplished the feat fifty years ago, in 1972, when he defeated a future legend in boxing history, John Stracey. It was in Kensington, in the heart of London. It was one of Butler’s first fights, and it was Boxing Hall of Famer Stracey.
Alain Bonnamie also won a stupid fight where the opponent bit his chest and Otis Grant won a WBO world title by defeating Ryan Rhodes who had a very brilliant career.
“We had spent eight weeks in London at the training camp. We had found a house where everyone lived, including the training partners. The sacrifices were worth it,” Russ Anber recalls.
The Holy Russ was in the corner of Liam Smith who faced Chris Eubank junior on Saturday night in Manchester. He also won in four rounds. It was in the waters of his 50th fight in England. This morning he will be in London with Artur Beterbiev.
MARC RAMSAY’S ARMY
Artur Beterbiev has been in London for a few days. With Luc-Vincent Ouellet, the lieutenant, his attorney Anthony Rudman, the trainer, trainer John Scully, the physiotherapist. Samuel Décarie already did some of the work before the command arrived. We had to find a halal butcher for Beterbiev, a nearby boxing gym ready to receive the world champion in the evenings from 9:00 to 11:30. Ask Arthur’s body to adjust to the hour of battle.
And Marc Ramsay, the general of the small army, is arriving in London this morning to make the final preparations.
“It’s not just England, it’s a street fight that requires a lot of preparation. England is only complicated by the quality of British boxers. Boxing is hugely popular, it makes money and many athletes choose boxing. That gives a very high level,” explains Ramsay.
PLAN EVERYTHING
It’s easy. fight is war “And like in war, you have to assess your forces, the enemy’s, have all the information available, prepare the logistics, and know the overall battle environment,” notes Ramsay.
Therefore, Vincent-Luc Ouellet has already created everything necessary for the comfort and convenience of this preparation. Later this week, Sam Décarie and Luc-Vincent will head into the arena to investigate. The dressing rooms, the corridors Beterbiev will take to get to the ring, the lighting in the dressing rooms and in the ring, the atmosphere. Anything humanly controllable will be under control.
But General Ramsay doesn’t go to war with a peashooter. “Artur is a mature man. He has extensive experience in amateur boxing. I would say 80% of his fights and major tournaments were abroad. including several in England. Since he has been in Montreal, Artur has also been fighting on the streets almost all the time. Also that we could get disoriented when he fights in Quebec,” explains Ramsay.
IN FRONT OF 20,000 SPECTATORS
Artur Beterbiev is an army in itself. Perfect. But it will happen in England in front of 20,000 spectators. We don’t know the referee and I may be a little paranoid, the august British boxing agency BBB has a very bad reputation in the rest of the world.
In other words, not all scammers are in Las Vegas casinos…
Talk to Oscar Rivas who unknowingly fought a dope in Greenwich. While the BBB knew about it.
Super, mega, hyper Régis Lévesque
LONDON | Russ Anber was in Manchester on Saturday night. Two locals bumped into each other. Liam Smith and Chris Eubank Jr. Smith won and Russ was in his corner.
“It was sold out. Two good boxers, but not world champions. But they were two Englishmen who had been teasing each other for four or five years. The interest was sick,” said Anber the day before in Manchester.
Basically it is the old recipe of Régis Lévesque. Apart from the fact that Eddie Hearn is almost a billionaire, Frank Warren is a legend and the other English promoters can count on a large number of good boxers who make an excellent living fighting in London, Manchester, Liverpool, Nottingham or Sheffield. There are premises of very good quality.
Chewy and flavorful
In this group of good boxers there is a Carl Froch, an Anthony Joshua, a Tyson Fury, a Billy Joe Saunders, a Kell Brook or a Liam Smith.
In addition, these Britons are tough, experienced and fierce fighters.
Make no mistake, and we’ll talk about it at length this week, Anthony Yarde stands out. For him, Artur Beterbiev is the key to fame, fame and fortune.
It is also known as “great motivation”.
Drive left
LIKE A KING !
LONDON | And who was having a cup of tea at 8am in the Wembley hotel cafe? Who seemed to be waiting for the humble columnist, stunned by a six-hour flight between Dorval and Heathrow? The world champion himself, Artur Beterbiev. Alone with Bek, his Chechen friend, and Luc-Vincent Ouellet, who arrived at the same time as me. Beterbiev was warmly dressed in his hoodie. Ready to race. And did his regular workout at 10am. Smiling, almost ready for his fight against Anthony Yarde on Saturday night, he took the time to pose for a few photos and stepped out with Luc-Vincent in the cool of a cold, damp morning. It was -4 at Wembley. The day before he had “celebrated” his 38th birthday. Canelo Alvarez will therefore wait another three years before facing him.
WEMBLEY STADIUM
Photo provided by Julie Bertrand
Wembley Stadium is located in a lively area.
Wembley is a tasty suburb. In any case, the famous stadium has spawned a lively neighborhood that serves all the food in the world. Except for the Quebec Putin.
When it opened for the 1948 London Olympics, it was called the Empire Stadium. Apparently the old outdated stadium was demolished and Wembley rebuilt in the same area.
Photo provided by Linda Boucher
Maurice Vachon (left) and Frank Saxon, one of his coaches, at the 1950 British Empire Games.
François Lafortune tells me that Maurice Vachon (on the left in the photo) tried to win a medal in wrestling there. He failed, but won his gold medal at the Commonwealth Games two years later when bragging about his empire became uncomfortable
AVOID: HARRODS
There is one building in London that you should definitely avoid. The famous Harrods store. Ten floors full of more expensive items than the others. But you can go there to see Lady Di’s mausoleum…or the $60,000 Montegrappa pens. And most importantly, remember that a coffee for £8 costs 16 Canadian dollars.