Photos: Vincent Ethier – Christian Mbilli, a.k.a ‘Solide,’ might be the latest of a relatively long line of Quebec fighters to take the IBF route.
I was discussing boxing with the always friendly Richard L’Écuyer on Facebook the other night. It’s fair game, but we rarely agree. Again, we didn’t agree either. Especially when he said that elimination fights were just useless…
Here, it was about the negotiations underway between Christian Mbilli and Kevin Sadjo for a possible fight that would make the winner the mandatory IBF challenger to William Scull.
In response to my friend Richard, I decided to write a text about it. Inspired by Jean-Luc Autret (memories of 12rounds.ca), it’s a super-long text.
Because all this research only validated my point of view. For over 40 years now, the IBF has been Quebec’s best gateway to the world championship.
While waiting for Mbilli, here are 20 other examples.
5 champions
Artur Beterbiev
He is not only the best boxer on the list, but he is also the best example of all. In April 2015, Marc Ramsay’s protégé first won an elimination fight at No. 2 in the IBF against former champion Gabriel Campillo.
Two years later, for the No. 1 ranking – a dramatic turn of events – no one in the world top 15 stepped forward to face the future king Artur. Determined to enforce its rules, the IBF created a new top 15 and German Enrico Koelling agreed to face him.
But, in the following weeks – another dramatic turn of events – Andre Ward announced his retirement. The Beterbiev-Koelling clash in November 2017 thus became a vacant world championship fight. The rest is history.
David Lemieux
Jermaine Taylor was not nicknamed ‘Bad Intentions’ for nothing. In 2015, the enfant terrible from Arkansas was arrested for violent crimes and had to vacate his title. The IBF called David Lemieux and Hassan Ndam to proceed with the succession. Finally, in June 2015, the Quebecer sent the Frenchman to the mat four times and became middleweight champion.
Lucian Bute
How can we forget the “Tombeur”.
In June 2017, Lucian Bute became an IBF mandatory contender by dominating Sakio Bika. Four months later, the Bell Centre vibrated as the Romanian stopped and dethroned Alejandro Berrio in the 11th round.
He defended this title 9 times, from 2008 to 2011, losing it in 2012 against Carl Froch. In a very competitive fight, he even came close to regaining it, in 2015, against James DeGale.
Arturo Gatti
Unfortunately, I did not get to experience the glory days of ‘Thunder’ in real time. But what a legend! About 5 years before I was born, Gatti won the IBF super featherweight world title against Tracy Harris Patterson. He defended it three times before having to say goodbye. Later, about 5 years after I was born and two weight classes higher, the legend won a second world title.
Matthew Hilton
In 1983, the New Jersey federation was born. In June 1987, Matthew Hilton became the 4th super-welterweight champion in its history by dethroning Buster Drayton in a legendary 15-round fight presented at the Forum. He easily defended it the following October, before giving it back to Robert Hines in November 1988.
The Champ-Champ
Marie-Eve Dicaire
If I remember correctly, I don’t think an elimination fight was in the equation. Still, we must give credit where credit is due. The pride of Saint-Eustache is not only the first Quebecer to have won a world title, but remains the only one to date to have done so twice. Dicaire’s two reigns, from 2018 to 2021 and from 2021 to 2022, each time involved the IBF title.
10 world title challengers
In addition to the champions and the champion, less than 10 contenders have gotten their chance at the top thanks to the IBF.
Kim Clavel
In October 2023, the former Quebec world champion thought she had done enough to dethrone the unified (WBO and IBF) flyweight champion Evelin Bermudez… but no: loss by split decision. Clavel was heartbroken, Yvon was very angry and the fans were all screaming robbery…
Mary Spencer
After losing for the IBO title in December 2022, the IBF offered Mary Spencer the chance to get back on track against Femke Hermans in October 2023. It was closer… but the result was the same. Fortunately, Spencer persevered and managed to win a world title (WBA) the following September.
Kevin Bizier
One of my favorites at the time! In November 2015, the Quebecer surprised Fredrick Lawson in an Indian casino in Miami, breaking the Ghanaian’s jaw to stop him in the 10th round. The following March, the #1 IBF contender admitted defeat to champion Kell Brook. The pride of Saint-Émile, Quebec, then retired.
Jo Jo Dan
In December 2014, it was precisely in a war opposing him to Kevin Bizier that he deserves a world championship fight. Unfortunately, in March 2015, Kell Brook also shattered his dream in a few rounds…
Dierry Jean
In May 2013, Dierry Jean amazed the gallery in Miami. The Quebecer overcame a bad cut and stopped the American Cleotis Pendarvis* in the 4th round. He returned to Quebec as the #1 lightweight contender. But, in January 2014, in Washington, ‘All In’ went to the limit without leaving with Lamont Peterson’s* title.
*As a reminder: reread what his trainer, Mike Moffa, thought of these two fights.
Arash Usmanee
Perhaps a little lesser known to the Quebec public, the Montrealer of Afghan origin first escaped an IBF elimination fight (#2) against Rances Barthelemy, in January 2013. The decision caused controversy, so much so that, in a rare moment mixing boxing and justice, Argenis Mendez offered a world championship fight to Usmanee despite everything. In August 2013, Mendez nevertheless retained his title via draw, and gave it to Barthelemy in the following months.
Sebastien Demers
In May 2007, after defeating the now renowned trainer Ian MacKillop twice, Sebastien Demers got his shot at the world title. Once in Germany, the pride of Saint-Hyacinthe was eagerly awaited by a great champion, as Arthur Abraham won in the 3rd round.
Herman Ngoudjo
From 2007 to 2018, the super-lightweight “Black Panther” fought 4 times: two IBF elimination fights and two fights for the IBF world title. In 2017, Ngoudjo earned his chance against Randall Bailey, but lost – in controversy – to Paul Malignaggi. In 2018, he won against Souleyman M’baye… but lost to Juan Urango for the title just vacated by ‘Magic Man’…
Leonard Dorin
After winning a WBA world title for the first time, Dorin came very close to becoming IBF lightweight champion against Paul Spadafora in May 2003. The pride of Pittsburgh, however, escaped thanks to a controversial draw… in Pittsburgh. The Romanian “Lion” got one last shot at the title against Gatti the following year, but – unsuccessfully – then hung up his gloves.
Eric Lucas
Never two without three for the Quebec legend! Between his first attempt and especially the successful 3rd, Lucas faced Roy Jones Jr at the top of his game, at the Jacksonville Coliseum. In June 1996, ‘RJJ’ won and defended his IBF 168 lb title in 11 rounds. But Lucas opened the eyes of many Americans with his heart and courage.
Near the goal line
To finish with the honorable mentions, here are 4 boxers whose IBF road ended in the elimination fight.
Jean Pascal
It’s almost crazy to see Artur Beterbiev at the top of the boxing world. But do you know what’s crazier? If Jean Pascal had defeated Michael ‘Diesel’ Eifert in March 2023 – as most of us believed he would – he would technically be in line to face the winner of Beterbiev-Bivol 2. But no… Eifert won.
Ghislain Maduma
SO CLOSE! Maduma traveled to London in May 2014 for a welterweight eliminator fight against Kevin Mitchell. Even at his enemy’s house, ‘Mani’ was ahead with all 3 judges after 10 rounds. Tragically, it was a 12-round fight and the Quebecer was stopped in the 11th. To add insult to injury, Mitchell had previously failed to respect the IBF’s rehydration clause. So in the end, no one got any title shot out of it…
Hercules Kyvalos
Finally, despite a 2-round defeat against WBO 147 lb champion Antonio Margarito, Laval’s Kyvalos got an IBF elimination fight eight months later against Cosme Rivera. Unfortunately, same result, but this time in 4 rounds.
Bonus
Adonis Stevenson
A unique and special case here. In October 2012, Adonis Stevenson won an elimination fight by beating the valiant Donovan George for almost 12 rounds. A mandatory contender for Carl Froch, Stevenson ultimately never fought for the IBF 168 lb title…
In the following months, Jean Pascal withdrew from a possible rematch against Chad Dawson in favor of a long-awaited duel against Lucian Bute. With a 2nd card in his hand, Yvon Michel instead sends Stevenson to the 175 lb world championship against Dawson. In the middle of the Grand Prix weekend, ‘Superman’ defeats ‘Bad Chad’ and never went down to 168 lb again.
THAT’S IT. I hope I haven’t forgotten anyone. In any case, 20 boxers and 1,400 words is already quite enough for this week. Thank you to everyone who will make it to the end of this page of history.
