Erik Bazinyan against Steven Butler | “It’s going to be a heartbreaker”

Camille Estephan was moved on Thursday when he officially announced that her two protégés would compete on March 14. “I’m going to have one of my guys who will hurt himself, the other who will be happy. This is a situation that I do not understand. »»

Erik Bazinyan (32-1-1, 23 K.-O.) and Steven Butler (35-5-01, 29 K.-O.), both represented by Eye of the Tiger Management (EOTTM), will meet the iron In a ring fitted out at the St-Denis theater. A fratricidal duel which, obviously, leaves no one indifferent within the promoter’s team …

“Camille really didn’t want this fight,” said the managing director Antonin Décarie. We looked at the situation and, up to a certain point, if we look at the strategic plan for the progress of the two guys, they were really the best opponents. »»

Each of the two pugilists has their eyes riveted on a goal. On the one hand, Erik Bazinyan seeks to find the way to victory and go up in the rankings after having bowed to Jaime Munguía last September. On the other, Steven Butler wants to fight again internationally. To be honest, the two athletes are “cornered on the wall” and “must win”, dixit Estephan.

EOTTM has also wanted to please Quebec boxing enthusiasts, who says Antonin Décarie, “have been asking for a local flavor” for years. They will therefore be served. According to the ex-pugilist, this is one of the duels “the most significant on the planet boxing”. “Fans will love it, but for us, internally, it will be a heartbreak. »»

Estephan, who said he was “charged with emotions that[il n’a] Never known before, “said in a smile, however, that” the show may be absolutely wonderful “. “I don’t want it to be neither him nor him [qui perde]but it’s the business of boxing, he said while looking at Bazinyan and Butler. It is the world of entertainment. »»

Longtime friends

This is not the first time that EOTTM has offered a fratricidal duel. He did it once during the Cavid-19 pandemic, in 2020, as part of the square event of AS. At the time, the health rules prevented the promoters from looking for opponents from the outside. Things are different in many ways this time.

« [Dans le Carré d’As]the guys wanted to compete. There was a rivalry between boxers. […] In this case, it tends that the two are super close to me personally. »»

Butler and Bazinyan have known each other since adolescence. Over the years, they have very often been partners of Sparring.

“I could consider Erik as my best boxing friend, we have known each other for 10, 11 years, we passed through all amateur fights together,” said Butler at the microphone. “I always wanted the best for him and he always wanted the best for me, but here, we are returned to a stage of our career where it’s business. »»

The 29 -year -old pugilist, who said he was “100 % confident to finish victorious”, compared this duel to the series Squid Gamein which “there are choices that you have to take to go to the other level”. These choices “are Crève-Coeur, but it’s a bit in that we find ourselves”.

Both Butler and Bazinyan claimed that they could put aside their emotions by mounting in the ring on March 14.

“We know it’s boxing. It’s the career, it’s business. We are professionals, “insisted Bazinyan, nevertheless qualifying the situation as” a little bizarre “.

Exceptionally, the latter will not have his usual coach, Marc Ramsay, in his corner for the duel. “We cannot give all the support to one of the two,” said Estephan.

Not a habit

Whether the fratricidal duel formula works or not, Camille Estephan assures that once is not custom.

Above all, do not ask the president of Eottm on which side he will put himself during the fight …

“I hate this question!” […] It’s tearing. I am very close to Steven and very close to Erik. These are not business relationships, it’s more than that. When, one day, I’m going to be burying, the two will be there. It’s difficult. »»

Mary Spencer will defend her belt

In all, eight duels will take place during the March 14 gala. In the semi-finals, the world champion WBA of super-mid-world weights, Mary Spencer, will defend her title for the first time in front of the Venezuelanian Ogleidis Suárez. Boxer was absent from the press conference on Thursday, since she made the decision to make her training camp in Windsor with her former coach, Kara Ro. “I think Mary will bring us something that we have not seen before,” said Camille Estephan. The pugilists represented by Eottm Jhon Orobio, Luis Santana, Leila Beaudoin, Wilkens Mathieu and Alexandre Gaumont will all go up in the ring also that evening.