Among the eight fights scheduled for June 2 at the Casino de Montréal, those involving Mazlum Akdeniz and Wilfried Seyi should particularly hold the attention of boxing fans.
The former will have the opportunity to climb a big step in his young career when he fights for the vacant WBC Continental welterweight title. The winner will get an automatic ranking in the top 15 worldwide.
Akdeniz (16-0, KO) will have to contend with Mexican veteran Juan Antonio Rodriguez (32-8, 28 KO).
At age 34, the latter, like Montrealer, has boxed very little in the past two years of the pandemic. However, he won his last duel (March 2020) before the limit.
He is a tough opponent. He has already beaten the top 10 guys. He was one of my first left-handed opponents.quickly underlined Akdeniz, who is 10 years younger than his rival.
” I think I’m a smart boxer. He is a tough Mexican. A victory will allow me to go for bigger battles [avec des bourses plus intéressantes, NDLR], fight at Bell Center or travel as needed. I want important battles that will help me progress. “
Akdeniz had his first boxing contact at just 17 years old. He said he used to ride a bicycle for two hours a day just to train.
He wasn’t too worried about the experience gap he had entrusted to Rodriguez, insisting on the fact that he had fought in the sixties against the novices.
His development is proving to be very interesting and Yvon Michel has high hopes for him.
” We took a chance. Her opponent was defeated by Mercita Gesta, who is considered one of the best hopes in the category. If we postpone the event from May 5 to June 2, it’s because Mazlum’s coach told us he needed a little time to prepare. “
Yvon Michel has an opinion that he will be able, at the end of this fight, to find out the true extent of his protégé’s talent.
Sei 2.0
The evening will also be an opportunity to see Wilfried Seyi again at work, who has not fought in Quebec since November 2019. Within 10 days, he has an appointment with Argentinian David Benitez (8-5, 2 K.-O .).
Returning to Cameroon in February 2019 to participate in the national Olympic selections, Seyi (9-0, 4 KOs) remained stuck there due to the advent of the COVID-19 pandemic.
In his professional career on forced break, he admitted that he did not benefit from optimal preparation before his departure for Tokyo 2020, where he lost his only match. It was a great disappointment for one to act as his country’s flag bearer in Rio, in 2016.
” The administration to which I am entitled here is very different. Here are all the items I need. Losing Tokyo made me realize a lot of things. I am more focused now. “
He promised fans that they would see in him the same athlete in his showmanship and pirouettes to celebrate his every achievement. They will see a Seyi 2.0 whose main difference is more confidence in its methods and in its strike force.he launched.
His coach Stéphan Larouche believes his son has discovered the main difference between amateur boxing and what is placed in the professional ranks.
After the Olympics, he struggled a bit. He approached it discouraged. He expects a better performance in his second Game. We have to admit that he came there, like many boxers, with inadequate preparation and a physical condition not worthy of the Olympic Games.Larouche explained.
Since then, we have set the record. He realizes that talent diminishes with fatigue. If he is not tired after 5 or 6 rounds, an ordinary boxer will have the advantagehe insisted.
That’s why Seyi stayed at the gym almost three months ago with two sessions a day, running in the morning, boxing in the afternoon to improve the quality of his punches, his concentration and his efficiency in the ring.
Three rounds of three minutes for a professional boxer is more difficult than for an amateur boxercontinued Larouche.
” The novice boxer has an intensity he is used to giving in three minutes. He could make a mistake, lose his balance, but he hit three minutes later. Among the advantages, the style is a bit calmer, calmer, slower. Returning to amateurs after delivering 8 or 9 professional battles, you have to adjust. With the pros, sometimes you need two or three rounds to adjust. You have no time for beginners. “
Larouche believes we’ll be glad to find Seyi’s good jab and speed.
We still have great ingredients. Sometimes in boxing, a good defeat is better than a worthless victory. I think that’s what Wilfred went through at the Tokyo Olympics. We are not in favor of his participation in the Olympics. Once you’ve done the Olympiad and you’re not a favorite to win second, I don’t think you have to put too much energy into it.end of Larouche.
So we’ll see on June 2 if Wilfried Seyi learned the lesson.
Source: Radio-Canada
