Two days after the sanction by the Régie des alcohols, des courses et des jeux (RACJ), organizer Yvon Michel broke the silence on Thursday.
• Also read: Verbal aggression towards the RACJ representative: The Yvon Michel Group's permits were suspended for two months
The president of the Yvon Michel Group (GYM) expressed remorse for the two-month ban imposed on the GYM and the further six months imposed on him personally.
The sanction follows an agreement reached on Tuesday between the GYM and the RACJ. The group was originally scheduled to have a four-day hearing next month.
“We were summoned on October 19th and I pleaded guilty on October 11th.” When you wake up the next morning and say to yourself, “Shit, what did I do,” there is a realization. You take your responsibility and bear the consequences,” Michel explained during a video conference.
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Three letters
During the Oct. 7 gala at Place Bell, Michel questioned referee Benoit Roussel's work following Kim Clavel's split decision loss to Argentina's Evelyn Bermudez.
Although he did not want to comment on the events and discussions with the Régie, Michel revealed that he quickly took the necessary measures to commit his act of remorse.
“On October 11th I sent three letters of apology, one to the Régie, one to Benoit Roussel and one to Sylvie Lécuyer [qui représentait la RACJ au gala].
“A long process, regardless of the outcome, would have really had a huge impact on the development of our boxers. It would have taken several months for the manager to give his verdict, and that would have severely punished our boxers.
Individual case
Yvon Michel assures that such a situation only occurs once and presents his career to explain that he is not used to such scandals.
“We won't work any differently, but it won't happen again. I made a mistake, I admitted it and we accept the consequences.
“It is an isolated incident, I have been boxing for 40 years and this is the first time something like this has happened. I quickly realized that there are facts and the perception of facts. I got carried away and I shouldn’t have done it.”
The boxers
That's why Yvon Michel negotiated with the RACJ to keep an eye on the welfare of his boxers. For this reason, the lockdown extends from January 16th to March 12th. This means the GYM can host its first gala of the year.
“The suspension ends on the 12th so we can do the weigh-in on March 13th and the event on March 14th. “We didn't announce any opponents because we wanted to respect the process before signing boxers.
He also points out that the GYM plans have already been changed due to the situation.
“We wanted to organize an event on February 1st, but we missed it. We will try to organize another event later in the year.”
Birthday
Now that the situation has been resolved, the GYM can continue, as Yvon Michel noted.
“From today we will turn the tide. We are celebrating the 20th anniversary of the Yvon Michel Group.”
The organizer is already working on three galas that will take place on March 14th, April 4th and May 16th.
“We will present the complete tickets for the three events within a maximum of 15 days,” said Michel.
Kim Clavel will headline the gala on April 4th and things could move quickly for the former WBC champion.
“If things go well in April, she will come right back in May,” assures Yvon Michel. And when his team tells me it's time to return to the World Cup, I am convinced that I am capable of creating this opportunity.