(Montreal) It’s not just Arslanbek Makhmudov and Simon Kean who will play big on October 28 in Saudi Arabia. Eye of the Tiger Management (EOTTM) is also banking on this mega-boxing gala.
“It benefits the whole team. Not only in terms of visibility, but financially, the boxers and we are well paid,” indicated the president of EOTTM, Camille Estephan, on the sidelines of the public training of the two heavyweights, Thursday, at the Academy of Ramsay boxing.
“We plan to reinvest these amounts to ensure that we continue to build the stable,” added Estephan. We have signed some very good boxers, we intend to make them known. We have the wind in our sails, we just have to win now.
“We’ve already had discussions about future fights. They have a date on December 23: with great victories, we plan to be invited back. And again in March. They call it the “Riyad Season”: we want to be involved and we have big ambitions. »
“There are several aspects. First of all, the market there is very interesting for us. It’s a market where there is a lot of money, therefore a lot of opportunities to organize large-scale fights, added Marc Ramsay, Makhmudov’s trainer, but also the development director of EOTTM. It’s also an opportunity to be seen. With the fight that will crown the show, the entire boxing industry will watch and it is the opportunity to show that we are at this level, that we are in the dance.
“We want to make these people want to work with us. We also want to leave a business card for the other heavyweights, because it is a card almost exclusively made up of heavyweights. »
The monster event, crowned by “The Battle of the Tough Guys” between Tyson Fury (33-0-1, 24 KOs) and former mixed martial arts champion Francis Ngannou, whom he will act as a professional boxing debut, has six heavyweight fights out of the seven offered: a rarity.
Of these, Makhmudov (17-0, 16 KOs) and Kean (23-1, 22 KOs) will fight significant fights for the rest of their careers.
Makhmudov, contender No. 3 in the World Boxing Council (WBC), No. 5 in the World Boxing Association (WBA), No. 10 in the World Boxing Organization (WBO) and No. 13 in the International Boxing Federation (IBF) will fight against Croatian Agron Smakici (20-2, 18 KOs) for the North American Boxing Federation (NABF) title, which he holds, and the vacant WBA Intercontinental title.
“Every fight a big challenge. Each fight is one more step towards a world championship. Every fight is very important,” Makhmudov noted.
Makhmudov was initially scheduled to face Junior Anthony Wright, a much more experienced fighter than Smakici, and also with a much more imposing build.
“It’s always a little complicated [to change opponent], but we had great support from Camille on this point,” said Ramsay. We went from a six-foot-six left-handed, good technician opponent to a six-foot, right-handed boxer who moves around a lot. It wasn’t easy to bring a training partner to Montreal, but it was less worse to go from a left-hander to a right-hander than the opposite. […] It’s not ideal, but it was done well. »
“The change of opponent did not bother me,” assured the giant of Russian origin. We had enough time to adjust, find the right training partners. But nothing changes: it’s the same goal for me. »
As for Kean, he finally got what he had wanted for a long time: a clash against one of the big names in the division in Joseph Parker (32-3, 22 KOs). The New Zealander, former world champion, belongs to the crème de la crème of heavyweights.
“His great strength is his boxing IQ,” Kean said. The important thing will be not to get involved in his “game”, not to go where he wants to go. Don’t let him manage and take orders. »
“If Simon beats Joseph Parker, it will be a big calling card. It is certain that he would then become a must-have for the biggest names in the division,” said Estephan.
Above all, this could make life easier for the promoter going forward.
“Certainly good performances on such a big card [will help],” Estephan said. It’s one of the biggest events, they really pull out all the stops. To have two heavyweights on this card is huge in terms of credibility. We have some very exciting guys and I think people are going to enjoy seeing them box. »
The gala will be available exclusively on pay-per-view in Quebec. However, the details remain to be finalized.