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The eyes of the boxing world will be fixed on Centre Gervais Auto in Shawinigan on May 25 as world contender Christian ‘Solide’ Mbilli (26-0, 22 KOs) continues his trajectory towards the top against the powerful British slugger Mark ‘Kid Dynamite’ Heffron (30-3-1, 24 KOs). Already ranked #2 WBC and WBA, the Quebecer wants to send a powerful message to the boxing world, reminding everyone that his conquest is imminent.
For Mbilli, defending his WBC Continental Americas and WBA International super-middleweight (168 lb) titles will also be an opportunity to make his name resonate in the vast English sports market. ‘Solide’ has previously knocked out each of the five European opponents who crossed his path, but will face a first duel against the United Kingdom.
For this grand debut, he will need to beware of Heffron’s power, a former British and Commonwealth champion who has stopped 80% of his opponents. The pride of Oldham has vowed to add Mbilli to the list, believing he has what it takes to defeat the best version of the Montrealer.
As Mbilli approaches the summit, Arslanbek Makhmudov (18-1, 17 KOs) will also aim to bounce back. After his last two outings overseas in Riyadh, on two of the biggest boxing cards ever organized, Makhmudov secured the semi-final by returning to the arena for the first time since his heartbreaking defeat last December in Saudi Arabia.
For this long-awaited return, his initial opponent was Oceanian Junior Fa, but the latter surprised everyone by withdrawing from the fight to announce his retirement. It is thus finally the Serbian giant Miljan Rovcanin (27-3, 18 KOs) who will try to ruin the “Lion’s” comeback. Standing at 6’4″ and 240 pounds, Rovcanin has won his last 3 fights since his 2022 defeat at the hands of American rising star Jared Anderson. His only other conqueror? None other than the one who surprised Makhmudov six months earlier, Agit Kabayel, in a European championship in 2018. It will therefore be an intriguing, but also risky, fight for Makhmudov who – still ranked globally at 12th IBF and 14th WBC – also returns from a double fracture to his right hand.
In the light heavyweight division, Mehmet Unal (9-0, 7 KOs) will continue his Quebec tour. After fighting in Montreal, Quebec City, and Gatineau, he will make his Mauritian debut in his first scheduled 10-round fight. For the occasion, he will face the tough Texan brawler, Rodolfo ‘Cobrita’ Gomez Jr (14-7-3, 10 KOs), never stopped in 24 fights and much better than his record suggests. In his last fight, he came within a round of surprising Egyptian world contender Ahmed Elbiali, in addition to going the distance with top prospects such as Lester Martinez, Diego Pacheco, and defeating former world champion Ricardo Mayorga.
Some of the brightest hopes of Quebec boxing will also be in attendance. EOTTM’s 2023 rookie of the year, Wilkens Mathieu (8-0, 5 KOs), will be in action for what will already be his 4th fight in 2024. In a 6-round bout at 172 pounds, he will face a veteran unlike any he has yet faced in his young career, Polish Przemyslaw Gorgon (17-12-2, 6 KOs). To put things in perspective, this duel is the very definition of “youth vs. experience,” with on one side a 19-year-old athlete with 26 rounds of experience and on the other, a 34-year-old boxer with 152 rounds under his belt.
Montreal’s Christopher ‘Machine Gun’ Guerrero (10-0, 5 KOs) will also step into the ring in a bout that could go up to 8 rounds against American Kenny Larson (7-1-1, 5 KOs). The latter’s only defeat was indeed at the hands of American hopeful Denzel Whitley, undefeated in 14 fights, but in a split decision over 10 rounds. Guerrero is determined not only to outdo Whitley but also to become the first man to stop Larson.
Moreno Fendero (5-0, 4 KOs) will face Argentine Rolando ‘Peligro’ Mansilla (19-14-1-9 KOs) in a scheduled 6-round bout at 164 pounds. One thing is certain, the experienced Latin American boxer will not arrive in Mauricie intimidated, having already fought the world elite on numerous occasions, including Roamer Angulo, Rohan Murdock, Kevin Lele Sadjo, and most recently Julian Williams. Mansilla’s experience, however, is not his only attribute, as he is still to this day the boxer who stopped Facundo Galovar, who recently went the distance with two EOTTM proteges: Albert Ramirez and Mehmet Unal. On Fendero’s side, the French-born hopeful is making his mark in Quebec. ‘Le Soldat’ will be in his 6th fight in less than 9 months since turning professional and moving to Quebec last September.
In a duel with a perfect record at stake, Buckingham’s pride, Alexandre Gaumont (10-0, 7 KOs), will face Buenos Aires’ Santiago Fernandez (8-0-1, 4 KOs). The fight will be contested in the middleweight division (160 lb) and is scheduled for 8 rounds. What to expect? Well, to give you an idea, the last time Alexandre Gaumont faced an undefeated opponent, last September, his victory won the EOTTM Fight of the Year 2023 award, chosen by boxing fans themselves. In short, action will not be lacking.
Finally, as the curtain-raiser, in a 4-round bout at 135 pounds, the powerful, fast, agile, and explosive Jhon ‘El Tigre’ Orobio (8-0, 8 KOs) will try to extend his more than perfect record to 9. However, victory and knockout are not guaranteed. His opponent, Mexican Arturo Gonzalez (13-4-3, 5 KOs), has never been stopped in 20 fights.
