December 15 will be an intense day. Cameras, microphones, eyes everywhere. The kind of day when a boxer can easily get lost in the role people expect her to play.
But Leïla doesn’t play.
When she faces the media, she doesn’t turn into a product. She simply becomes an even more self-aware version of herself. Calm. Controlled. Present. The questions are sometimes heavy, sometimes repetitive, sometimes awkward. She receives them without losing herself. She chooses her words intelligently, but above all, honestly. What you see, what you hear, is her. Not a façade. Not a script.
For us, the objective is clear: protect that authenticity without locking it in.
Let what needs to pass through, pass. Cut out the unnecessary noise. Preserve her energy. Because every interview takes something, even when everything seems easy.
Photo: MVP – JF Gaudreau, Leïla Beaudoin, Samuel Décarie-Drolet, Jade Masson-Wong
The day starts well. The weight is good. JF takes care of breakfast. Rose comes by for a session. When she leaves, Leïla is relaxed, loose, focused. Exactly where we want her. She’ll need that clarity to get through the day.
JF and I stop by to see her. Her state speaks for itself. JF then heads out to do grocery runs for food. On my end, I go back to work. Even away from the gym, I stay connected: video study, planning, anticipation. Shawn Collinson takes over while I’m gone. Thankfully he’s there. In moments like this, a solid team makes all the difference.
At lunchtime, we meet in Leïla’s hotel room. JF, Jade, Lazara, and me. Lazara is more than a makeup artist. She follows Leïla throughout the media sessions, and above all, she brings a calm, reassuring energy. Leïla loves her.
When we arrive for the interviews, the carousel begins. Three stations. Photos. Videos. Green screen.
We loosen the atmosphere. We laugh. The team spirit is light, natural. People aren’t used to seeing that. Too often, pressure makes teams rigid. We stay ourselves.
Photo: Samuel Décarie-Drolet – Leïla Beaudoin
And Leïla delivers.
As always.
She doesn’t force anything. She doesn’t overplay it. She’s professional, yes—but above all, real. What she projects in front of the cameras is the same person we see every day. That’s rare. And it’s powerful.
After the interviews, everyone returns to their rhythm. Jade goes home. JF rests. Leïla rests too.
At 6 p.m., we have dinner. Then at 7:30 p.m., we meet in an empty hotel room for a technical training session. No audience. No noise. Just work. Brazilian double Olympian Keno Marley, who will make his professional debut on December 19, asks if he can share the room with his team. We welcome them with open arms. At the end of training, JF and I are even invited to join Leïla for a stretching session—a challenge we accepted enthusiastically… and that quickly reminded us our flexibility isn’t quite what it used to be.
Photo: Samuel Décarie-Drolet – Leïla Beaudoin
Leïla is sharp. Fast. Powerful.
I really like what I see.
But I keep that to myself.
I want her to keep pushing.
I want her to keep that underdog mindset.
Because staying true under the spotlight
is already a victory.
And the rest… is coming.
