Erik Bazinyan accepted Jose de Jesus Macias’ challenge.
The Mexican had been hired as a reserve boxer to face Christian Mbilli last month, in the event of a problem with the Ecuadorian Carlos Gongora, who had only obtained his visa at the last minute to come and face the Montrealer.
Present at the Cabaret du Casino de Montréal for this anthology fight, he never stopped haranguing Bazinyan, crying out for a fight against the second-ranked boxer aspiring to the World Boxing Association (WBA) and World Boxing belts. Organization (WBO), as well as third in the title of the World Boxing Council (WBC).
English speakers say be careful what you wish for, because it might come true.
Macias (28-11-4, 14 K.-O.) had played the spoilsport against Steven Butler two years ago, winning by K.-O. technique in the fifth round. He will no longer have the advantage of surprise.
Bazinyan (29-0, 21 KOs) is looking to get a world championship as soon as possible and won’t want Macias to get in the way of that goal. In the meantime, he will put his North American Boxing Association (NABA) and North American Boxing Federation (NABF) super middleweight belts on the line.
Eye of the Tiger Management is also counting on Steve Claggett (34-7-2, 24 KOs) to heat up the evening. The welterweight will face Julian Rodriguez (22-1, 14 KOs) for the NABA welterweight belt. The Albertan will be aiming for a sixth consecutive victory.
The June 1 gala will also mark the return to the ring of Mary Spencer (7-1, 5 KOs). The Montrealer, who could not find herself on the same poster as Mbilli due to a hand injury, will finally fight her first fight since her world championship loss to Femke Hermans last December. She will face Brazilian Adriana Dos Santos Araujo (6-1, 1 KO), the same opponent she was scheduled to face in March.
Spencer is ranked third in the IBF and WBA, fifth in the WBC and sixth in the WBO.
Thomas Chabot (8-0, 7 KOs), Alexandre Gaumont (7-0, 5 KOs), Wilkens Mathieu (2-0, 1 KOs) as well as Mehmet Nadir Unal ( 3-0, 3 K.-O.) will also be in the game.