I watch every boxing card presented in Quebec with the utmost attention. For me, a boxing event always comes with questions that I try to answer.
In the weeks leading up to it, I try to understand the motivations behind the matchmaking decisions. Matchmaker Jordan Mathieu, the coaches, and Camille Estephan himself leave nothing to chance. Camille, for his part, is known for loving the comparison game. He freely draws from fighters who have already gone the distance with champions or highly ranked contenders.
Then I put myself in the shoes of all the strategists at EOTTM and ask the questions I imagine fueled their internal debates.
All that’s left is to break out the Nacho Cheese Doritos, Sour Skittles, and four cans of Ginger Ale, watch the card, and get my answers.
Photo: Vitor Munhoz – Nickenson Denis and El Moustafa Lyousfi
El Moustafa Lyousfi Is Building an Army
I’m happy for this talented young coach whom we saw all week during the press conferences and official weigh-in. The coach from The Corner gym trains Keven Beauséjour, Nickenson Denis, Abed El Safadi, and Mohammed Soumaoro. He is part of the next generation of coaches who will one day replace Stephan Larouche and Marc Ramsay on the world stage.
Coach Elyo strongly believes in discipline, repeating movements in training until they become second nature on fight night, and the power of mental strength. He oversees the professional careers of Keven Beauséjour and Nickenson Denis, both of whom performed at the Montreal Casino this week.
Photo: Vitor Munhoz – Avery Martin Duval
Avery Martin Duval Is Much Better Than I Thought
I am a man of great honesty and impeccable rigor—or so my mother tells me. Until the day before yesterday, I had always believed the fighter from Hawkesbury was simply a solid domestic-level boxer. I envisioned EOTTM matching him in a trilogy against Thomas Chabot or even Luis Santana in local showdowns. I even thought he would lose to Jose Macias Enriquez (my apologies, Avery), because I remembered him taking rounds off Yves Ulysse and Ray Seitzhanov when he was only 22 years old.
AMD’s value skyrocketed at the Casino, like semiconductor stocks after an IPO. His lateral movement under pressure, his precision, and his counterpunching power were outstanding. There was even a certain snap of violence in his punches. Avery deserves an opportunity on the international stage. He boxed brilliantly and deserves a major investment from EOTTM. He is the biggest winner of the Casino card.
Photo: Vitor Munhoz – Jhon Orobio
Jhon Orobio Is a Gold Mine
His opponent, Jonathan Montrel, was carefully selected to send a message to the division. The American had recently gone the distance with Emiliano Vargas. The message was meant to be clear: El General is not the best prospect in the division—that honor belongs to our fighter.
I’m searching for a word worthy of what Orobio has done with every challenge placed before him since arriving in Quebec. I’d say he’s dismantling the competition. We rarely see anything like it. It’s still difficult to predict how far he can go, but so far he has passed every test.
Photo: Vitor Munhoz – Dzmitry Asanau
Dzmitry Asanau Is the Most Beautiful Boxer in Quebec History
Our version of Lomachenko. Watching him box is like looking at a work of art. His movement and fluidity remind me of Leonardo da Vinci’s Salvator Mundi.
Imam Khataev Is a War Machine
I had plenty of questions about Imam Khataev after he was robbed against David Morrell. Should we really consider him a heavy puncher at 175 pounds? His opponent, Diallo, was the perfect test to answer that question.
Photo: Vitor Munhoz – Albert Ramirez
Did Albert Ramirez Crack Under the Pressure?
When you’re busy calling out Artur Beterbiev, Dmitry Bivol, or David Benavidez, you can’t afford to be outclassed by Lerrone Richards (send a Christmas card to the two judges from Panama, Albert).
EOTTM needs to rethink its plans for this fighter. He may be ranked No. 2 on BoxRec and have an impressive knockout percentage, but Albert Ramirez is not the future of the light heavyweight division.
You know what I love about boxing? I’m already asking myself a whole new set of questions. Is Wilkens Mathieu being rushed against an experienced fighter like Esquiva Falcão? Will Mehmet Unal see a second round? And will Moreno Fendero continue his streak of winning a fight every three months?
See you next week.
