Fight against Shakeel Phinn | All the pressure on Bazinian

No one is fighting on the buses in Quebec to change the voting method, said Prime Minister François Legault during the last election campaign.

Likewise, the identity of the winner of the fight between Quebec boxers Erik Bazinyan and Shakeel Phinn on Thursday evening will not cause skirmishes on line 777, the one which shuttles between the Jean-Drapeau metro station and the Montreal Casino, location of the duel.

As the venerable promoter Régis Lévesque, rest his soul, is no longer in this world, the Montreal coach Ian MacKillop took it upon himself to spice up a little this local clash which lacked it, even if the 600 Cabaret tickets were sold. sold at record speed, it seems.

Thus, if the 10-round face-to-face involving the NABF super-middleweight belt had to be postponed from April 11 to May 2, it was not because its holder was suffering from severe sinusitis, as as announced by Eye of the Tiger (EOTM) on three days’ notice.

No, no, said Phinn’s coach, who claims to have learned a completely different story: Bazinyan would rather have encountered “difficulties and problems in training”, he said at a press conference on Tuesday morning.

Are you implying that we lied? asked Camille Estephan, big boss of EOTM, taking the microphone again.

“I’m not saying that anyone lied or was dishonest, but I heard that they had difficulties during the sparring,” clarified MacKillop, who took the opportunity to add a layer: “One of your coaches is a little too talkative. (…) I don’t want to say too much, but I heard that he (Bazinyan) was a little concussed during a sparring session. And I know that’s pretty much factual. The guy who did this is not very experienced and Shakeel is very experienced. It probably gave him a little break. »

“Thank you for clarifying your thinking, but I still think you’re saying we lied,” Estephan replied, looking more amused than shocked.

“I take a lot of risks”

Although he masters four languages, Bazinyan is not a fan of barbs and provocations. The 28-year-old from Laval, undefeated in 32 professional fights, was not offended by this insinuation from his opponent’s trainer.

“People like to say things like that to feel better,” he said in the press scrum. I think it’s because of stress. It does not bother me. I don’t do trash talk. If he thinks I hurt myself sparring or something, he’s in for a surprise. »

Ironically, even Phinn took his coach’s insinuations with a grain of salt. “Words, for me, are nothing,” assured the 33-year-old from Brossard. He tried to do that today, it’s okay. I’m with my coach and you’ll see May 2nd: it’s going to be good. »

Quebec boxing fans think no less. Even if he evolves in the shadow of his training colleague Christian Mbilli, Bazinyan (32-0, 23 KOs) is among the top five contenders of all the main sanctioning bodies. The reference magazine The Ring places him sixth in his home record, dominated by undisputed champion Canelo Alvarez, behind stars like David Benavidez, Mbilli, Caleb Plant, David Morrell and Jaime Munguia, all also undefeated.

While waiting for movement and an opportunity in this congested weight category (168 lb), the original Armenian must remain active and above all make a good impression, as he did in his last confrontations, especially his victory by K. -O. against Ronald Ellis on October 11. All the pressure is on him.

“I take a lot of risks in all my fights because I have 10 years of work on my shoulders,” recalled Bazinian. But I train very hard for it. I stay focused so as not to miss my chance. I want a guy like that, an opponent like that. Yes, he’s strong, but I’m in the elite and I’m going to show you that on Thursday evening. »

In Phinn (26-3-1, 17 KOs), the student of Marc Ramsay will not face the unknown: the two former protégés of the brothers Otis and Howard Grant have often served as training partners for each other in the last 10 years. They found themselves in the same ring as recently as last year.

“It’s of course an advantage for me because I know what he can do,” Bazinyan said. In my head, I know what I can do. (…) Yes, he is a good boxer, but he is not in my league. »

“I’m going to beat him!” »

This meeting with Bazinyan is the opportunity of a lifetime for Phinn. After a defeat in his second fight, this former star running back for the Champlain College Cougars built a fine reputation by stringing together victories in galas mainly organized by Groupe Yvon Michel. He stumbled a second time in 2017 against Ramon Aguinaga, an undefeated Mexican at the time, then at the end of 2019 in Poland against Mateusz Tryc, who has practically never left his country. For a short while, he even held the NABF belt which has belonged to Bazinyan since 2021.

After a break of two and a half years which coincided with the pandemic, Phinn relaunched with five successes in a row, the last four obtained in Ontario with his new promoter Tyler Buxton (United Boxing Promotions).

“This is what I’ve wanted since I started boxing, a big fight that puts me in world rankings with high-ranking names like Canelo and David Benavidez,” said the man nicknamed the “Jamaican Juggernaut”. . “I want to be with these guys. A victory over Erik, that’s what it gives me. »

Naturally heavier than his counterpart, Phinn considers himself “stronger, more aggressive and more energetic”. “It’s going to be hard,” said the father of two. I’m not saying it’s going to be an easy fight because he’s still 32-0. He has never lost since he was 13! But I think… I know I’ll be the guy who beats him! »

“For honor,” announces the poster for the gala which will also feature Avery Martin Duval, Thomas Chabot, John Orobio, Alexandre Gaumont and Moreno Fendero, five “tigers” whose combined record is 39-0-1. For Phinn and even more for Bazinyan, who has everything to lose, it goes much further than this single local issue. Even Regis would agree.