Christian Mbilli has given many interviews over the past few days. Mbilli is intelligent, cultured and easy-going. The media start tearing it up.
So much so that promoter Camille Estephan was worried yesterday. He wishes that boxers who have big fights ahead of them can concentrate even better in the last few days.
The example of Jean Pascal in his last duel in Laval against Michael Eifert made him think. We don’t face Carlos Gongora thanks to Salut Bonjour.
Also, after the weigh-in, Gongora showed worrying confidence. Native necklace around the neck, guarantor of the help of the gods, we have the feeling that we have before us a former world champion in the prime of life. He passed the K.-O. to Ali Akhmedov at the Hard Rock Hotel in Hollywood, Florida to win the IBF 168-pound belt.
He’s a southpaw and he hits hard. He lost his English title by split decision. That says it all.
Alvarez or Benavidez in the crosshairs
It’s easy, if Christian Mbilli wins this fight, he has his sights set on Canelo Alvarez or David Benavidez. If Benavidez wins against Caleb Plant on Saturday.
Things get more complicated for Canelo Alvarez, however, with his promoter Eddie Hearn protecting him like the apple of his eye. Have to say Canelo is worth a few hundred million.
SIMON KEAN…FINALLY KNOWING
The other fight that is less talked about but is very important is Simon Kean’s. The great Simon, who got his general contractor license, still loves boxing. But want to know. In his last “fight” in the casino, his opponent knelt in front of him in protest against the French boxing federation.
It’s been over a year since Simon last fought. He has a convincing customer in front of him. Eric Molina fought Anthony Joshua and Deontay Wilder against whom he lasted nine rounds.
But Molina is now 40 years old. He is experienced and has a very good right. When we see his fights against Joshua and Wilder, even if he is strong, we don’t find him very quickly. But Simon Kean, despite his great strength, is not Deontay Wilder.
The real stake in the fight is Simon Kean’s career. He has to win to have another chance of big fights. Injuries, the pandemic and his only loss to Dillon Carmen are throwing him back significantly.
Kean himself and his promoter Camille Estephan want to know. You will know.
When we say it’s a silly gala for a space like the Casino, know that Leïla Beaudoin, now ranked fifth on BoxRec, will be there. She is also knocking on the door of the great struggles for women. They are much easier to win since the competition is weaker. And often runner-up Steve Claggett makes the card as a fourth or fifth fight.
THE BEAUTIFUL WILKENS
My new favorite Wilkens Mathieu will fight his second fight against Jose Antonio Gonzalez Saldana. If we say his full name, Jose is 36 years old! Exactly the double of Wilkens Mathieu. Georges Laraque swore he would arrive before six to make sure he saw the young Wilkens…
Georges will love the General Tao chicken, cured meat and turkey clubs on the menu…
IN THE NOTEBOOK – The more things go, the more awkward it gets at Casino de Montréal. Jean-François Bergeron, Loto-Québec’s accountant and president, who is primarily overseeing the cuts, still hasn’t been able to find a few valet staff at the main entrance, the locker rooms are still closed, the store is closed and the parking lots are annoyingly dirty. Luckily, Gestev (hi Martin Tremblay) does a good job at the cabaret. And we notice some improvements in gear…
Lou DiBella has had enough
“I don’t like the boxing world anymore. There’s not that camaraderie between promoters that we used to have. It has become almost impossible to organize the best fights because the boxers are controlled by platforms like DAZN that cost billions. If I didn’t have two other businesses that were doing well, I wouldn’t be in boxing anymore. I am 62 years old and am seriously considering retiring from boxing.”
This is Lou DiBella speaking. And the tone is both passionate and pessimistic. DiBella was in Laval for Jean Pascal’s fight, which he promoted, and he was at the casino yesterday because Carlos Gongora is his boxer in the final against Christian Mbilli.
PASCAL WAS NOT READY
DiBella was deeply disappointed with Jean Pascal’s performance. And through the enormous financial losses that he had to accept.
A few days after the fight, he still couldn’t believe how Pascal completely missed meeting Michael Eifert. “I think Pascal made a rookie mistake despite his 40 years. He grossly underestimated Eifert and didn’t take him seriously. Also, I suspect he took advantage of the parties in Miami even though he worked hard at the gym. Maybe his next training camp would be better off elsewhere,” DiBella said.
It should be noted that Jean Pascal was training in Miami to face Fanlong Meng and he was stunning in his fight.
Also, for a promoter like DiBella who is independent, life is very complicated now. Matchroom’s Eddie Hearn, backed by a $1.6 billion deal with DAZN, and Top Rank with ESPN are the two major players in the international boxing market.
“Now you have to have very strong backs to play in the big leagues. Do you think Camille Estephan would make it if he were less rich? “Conclude DiBella, who has been HBO’s ten-year executive and has starred in several films, including Rocky Balboa.
