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A new injury to Erik Bazinyan has forced EOTTM to revise the main event for November 13. However, the main event will remain 100% local, as Montreal’s Stéphane Fondjo will step up to face two-time world title challenger Steven “Bang Bang” Butler at the Casino de Montréal.
“I’ve been away from my family for weeks, making sacrifices to prepare for my fight against Erik Bazinyan. If he can’t fight, that’s his problem, but I never back down — there was no way I wasn’t fighting on November 13. I’m not afraid of anyone, and for once, I’ll be facing an opponent just as hungry as I am. Fans will still get a great local fight, but in the end, I’m going to remind everyone — including Fondjo — that I belong on the international level,” said Steven Butler (36-5-1, 30 KOs), who is finishing the final weeks of his training camp in Connecticut.
Montrealer Stéphane Fondjo (14-1-1, 9 KOs), originally from Cameroon, was also already in training camp for a fight scheduled on November 8. Standing over 6’3”, he was serving as Shakeel Phinn’s main sparring partner ahead of Phinn’s important fight next Thursday against Wilkens Mathieu. Having previously sparred with Christian Mbilli, Moreno Fendero, and several other Eye of the Tiger fighters, Fondjo sees this bout as an opportunity to prove that he, too, belongs among the elite — not just in the gym, but in the ring.
“To accomplish great things, you sometimes have to suffer. I left my family behind eight years ago to cross the Atlantic and one day give them a better life. Every day since, I’ve made sacrifices to achieve that goal. I respect Steven Butler, but I’ve suffered enough to get here and earn this opportunity. So once we’re in the ring on November 13, it’ll be him who suffers,” promised Stéphane Fondjo.
“Steven Butler is a high-level boxer who’s never turned down a challenge. He’s proving that once again, and I respect him for it. Both camps will bring the will to win, but beyond toughness, I believe Stéphane’s youth and superior athleticism will make the difference,” said Butler’s trainer, Ian MacKillop.
Although an intriguing all-local main event remains in place — and the health of athletes remains EOTTM’s top priority — the team cannot hide its disappointment over this third cancellation.
“I won’t hide it: our entire team is extremely disappointed. And we’re even more so for our fans, who have been waiting for this fight for months. Our athletes’ health will always be a priority, but after three consecutive injuries, it’s clear we’ll need to sit down with Erik to evaluate the next steps in his career,” said EOTTM President Camille Estephan.
The rest of the strong November 13 card, now headlined by #ButlerFondjo, remains unchanged. In his first career co-main event, Montreal-based Jhon Orobio (15-0, 13 KOs) will make his first defense of his WBC Continental Super Lightweight Title against former world champion Xolisani Ndongeni (33-7, 19 KOs).
On the undercard, Quebec’s Luis Santana (14-0, 7 KOs) will face Portugal’s Pedro Manuel Gomes (13-3, 3 KOs), who is coming off a win over Canadian champion Mark Smither. EOTTM’s Prospect of the Year, Moreno Fendero (12-0, 10 KOs), will fight in his first scheduled 10-round bout against American puncher William Langston (14-4-1, 9 KOs). Canadian Olympic medalist Wyatt Sanford (4-0, 2 KOs) will meet Czech fighter Petr Novak (3-0-1, 2 KOs) in a clash of undefeated boxers. Rising prospect Erik Israyelyan (2-0, 2 KOs) will continue his development against Chile’s Mario Esparza (2-1). Finally, Trois-Rivières native Daylen Pepin will make his professional debut in an all-Quebec bout against Alexendre Giraldeau Perron (2-1, 1 KO).
