The Régie des alcools, des courses et des jeux (RACJ) summoned Groupe Yvon Michel (GYM) to a disciplinary hearing following the incidents which took place after the boxing gala on October 7 at Place Bell.
GYM was summoned for having “exerted pressure, threatened or assaulted a representative of the Régie; good name; competent and honest exercise; and public interest”, we can read in the notice of meeting of which The Canadian Press obtained a copy. The date of this hearing will be set at a later date.
Groupe Yvon Michel organized the gala on October 7, during which Kim Clavel lost by split decision (the RACJ document indicates majority, but that is an error) to the two-time light flyweight champion, l ‘Argentina Evelyn Bermudez. After this gala, according to the notice of meeting, Yvon Michel and Alexandra Croft “verbally attacked and attempted to intimidate (the representative of the RACJ during the gala) Mrs. Sylvie Lécuyer and Mr. Benoit Roussel (one of the three judges of the Clavel-Bermudez fight).
The RACJ also accuses GYM representatives of having “made similar remarks towards the Régie and its officials” during the press conference at the end of the evening.
However, GYM had requested on October 2 that Roussel be removed from this fight, a request which was refused the next day.
Michel, during the press briefing following the gala, mentioned statistics compiled by GYM to explain his request. He then maintained that Roussel supported opposing boxers most of the time.
The promoter also incorrectly indicated that Roussel was the only official who ruled a draw in Marie-Pier Houle’s majority decision victory over Cindy Reyes Espinoza earlier the same evening. Rather, it was judge Sylvain Leblanc who gave 76 everywhere; Roussel had 77-75 in favor of the Quebecer.
Depending on what the RACJ court decides, GYM could see its license suspended or canceled; or even have their right to obtain a new license suspended for a specific period of time.
In the notice of meeting, the RACJ recalls that on July 30, 2020, the GYM permit was suspended for a period of 15 days due to a concerted fight. “In the summer (sic) of the global COVID-19 19 (sic) pandemic, this suspension would have been for 30 days,” the organization said.
A request for comments left with Groupe Yvon Michel remained unanswered.