It’s not the first time, in Quebec, that we’ve decided a boxer who isn’t even old enough to order a Miller Lite in the United States is ready for the big leagues.
From what I remember, these stories sometimes end in chaos—or in a split with the trainer after a towel gets thrown in the middle of the ring. One thing’s for sure: the folks at EOTTM must be having some cold sweats this week, because facing Shakeel Phinn, who’s only 20, isn’t exactly a restful experience.
Will Wilkens get the Marco Antonio Rubio or Brandon Cook treatment?
Photo: Wilkens Mathieu vs Adagio Mcdonald
David Lemieux vs Marco Antonio Rubio
At that time, David Lemieux (22-0, 21 KOs) was considered Quebec’s young prodigy, a true powerhouse phenomenon. He was only 22 and knocking out everyone in sight. Already highly ranked in the world standings, many saw him as the future middleweight world champion.
His opponent, Marco Antonio Rubio (49-5-1, 43 KOs), was a tough Mexican veteran who had already fought for a world title against Kelly Pavlik (which he lost). An experienced, resilient fighter with a granite chin and serious endurance.
For the first five rounds, Lemieux dominated. He hammered Rubio with explosive combinations, applied constant pressure, and seemed just seconds away from a stoppage. But Rubio took it, backed up without panicking, and waited for his moment.
Photo: The Fight City – David Lemieux vs Marco Antonio Rubio
From the 6th round on, the tide turned: Lemieux ran out of steam after banking on power and spectacle. Rubio, patient and methodical, began landing clean shots. By the 7th, Lemieux was clearly exhausted, and Rubio was tagging him more and more often.
That’s when one of the most memorable moments in Quebec boxing history happened: Russ Anber asked referee Marlon B. Wright to stop the fight to protect his boxer’s future, who was getting punished without answering back in the ring.
Steven Butler vs Brandon Cook
At that time, Steven Butler was only 21, with a record of 18-0-1 (15 KOs). He was Quebec’s biggest hope since David Lemieux. Charismatic and powerful, he drew big crowds in Montreal. Eye of the Tiger was building him up as their next world champion.
On the other side, Brandon Cook (17-0, 10 KOs), an Ontario boxer, was unknown to most in Quebec—but experienced, tough, and very disciplined. Well-trained, he came in with a plan: survive the early rounds and wear Butler down.
photo: The Fight City – Steven Butler vs Brandon Cook
The fight was highly anticipated, billed as a showdown between two young, undefeated Canadians. The early rounds were explosive: Butler went for the quick KO as usual and landed often, but Cook absorbed everything and fired back.
By the 5th round, fatigue began to show for Butler. Cook grew more confident, landed more often, and slowly broke down the Montrealer’s defense. In the 8th, Cook unleashed a violent series of punches that forced referee Michael Griffin to stop the fight.
The rest is pretty well-known: five injured and two arrests.
I’ve probably scared the EOTTM people enough by digging up the past, but I’ll add one more layer. Shakeel Phinn is more dangerous than Rubio or Cook ever were. He’s a very proud man who won’t want to lose in front of his people. He’s ranked 26th on BoxRec and could earn major opportunities and big paydays with a win on October 30.
Plus, everyone in boxing knows that Shak has the physical strength of a rhinoceros and a chin forged from tempered steel. I can’t recall him ever being shaken in a boxing ring… because it’s never happened. I’ll repeat: he beat Erik Bazinyan in May 2024, despite what two confused judges decided. “They just robbed Shakeel Phinn!” shouted Jeff Jeffrey on the radio.
Photo: IG – Erik Bazinyan vs Shakeel Phinn
And I agree with you, reading this at home: Wilkens Mathieu is the best talent to come out of the FQBO since Jean Pascal. Yes, he’ll fill the Videotron Centre in Quebec City. Yes, he’ll become a world champion and rewrite the record books of Quebec boxing. The only question is whether he’ll have to, like his big brothers at EOTTM, Lemieux and Butler, taste defeat early in his journey.
On the Podcast
Erickson Lubin was 21 when he stepped into the ring with Jermell Charlo. It was brutal—and over in the first round. Lubin became a very good fighter, but never quite lived up to the expectations placed on him when he left the U.S. Olympic program for the pros.
Christopher Guerrero has a tough opponent ahead of him in William Andres Herrera (17-4, 7 KOs). The Argentine went the distance with Josh Wagner and Pat McCormack. With a win, I expect “Machine Gun” to crack the top 5 in all four major organizations.
We’ll be treated to a very high level of boxing between Sergey Lipinets and Arthur Biyarslanov. Our Arthur is ranked 7th on BoxRec and will be fighting for a world title sooner rather than later. Lipinets, 36, is a credible contender at 140 pounds and took this fight as a springboard for one last shot at a world championship. One to watch: the Kazakh hits very, very hard.
Photo: Vincent Ethier – Christopher Guerrero vs Oliver Quintana
