“Sometimes we receive blows that hurt, but we have to stay calm”, at the school of champions in Douai

Little known in France, she is nevertheless a star in her discipline. Ségolène Lefebvre, multiple WBO world boxing champion, is from the North. Director Stéphane Dhenin filmed his daily life and that of his club, the Douai Boxing Club, for a year. The champion then prepared to retain her title, during a historic meeting organized by her coach on her land.

Since 2021, Ségolène Lefebvre, 31, has been the English boxing world champion in super bantamweight (-55.3 kg). Professional since 2015, she trains with Robert Pantigny, who directs the Douai Boxing Club for over 15 years. The coach has managed to lead his club to the highest heights of boxing while preserving a family and popular atmosphere. He is very attentive to the well-being and social integration of the club’s boxers.

“I think that the values ​​of boxing can be transmitted in the professional environment but also in everyday life. This is what I strive to do.”

Robert Pantigny, educational manager of the Douai Boxing Club

The documentary filmmaker Stéphane Dhenin followed for a whole year both the preparation of the sportswoman and the organization of the world competition, in an emblematic place, the Douai Hippodrome, a municipal circus inaugurated in 1904. The event, unpublished since more than fifty years, has allowed us to reconnect with the tradition of major boxing galas in the region, with 5 professional meetings. “At the time, it was a place which was mainly dedicated to the circus, to wrestling, to boxing. And then, over time, it became a national scene which offers shows and concerts,” specifies Robert Pantigny, trainer and educational manager of the Douai Boxing Club. He adds: “Today in France, we are the only club able to organize a major world championship for the WB federation”.

Ségolène Lefebvre, nicknamed by fans as the “Majestic”, put her world champion title back on the line, with 12 consecutive victories, against the English Tysie Gallagher, on November 24, 2023. For her trainer, Robert Pantigny, “Ségo, that’s a great look! Very motivated, very mental, very courageous, very determined. Sometimes you have to slow her down, because her goals must not pollute her mind.”

Sometimes we receive blows that hurt us, but we have to stay calm, especially […] You must not do anything, you must certainly not rush, stay thoughtful, build your fight, you must remain intelligent.

Ségolène Lefebvre, professional boxer

A documentary to watch Thursday November 21 at 10:50 p.m. on France 3 Hauts-de-France and in 30-day replay on france.tv
Director: Stéphane Dhenin
a co-production Les Docs du Nord / Wéo / Pictanovo / France Télévisions