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Philippines, 24 Apr 2025 |
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June 27: Christian Mbilli-Maciej Sulecki Interim Super Middleweight World Title Showdown Set for Videotron Centre in Quebec City LIVE on ESPN+ PhilBoxing.com Thu, 24 Apr 2025  Erik Bazinyan-Steven Butler All-Canadian Super Middleweight Clash Confirmed as Co-Feature QUEBEC CITY, Canada (April 23, 2025) — Montreal-based slugger Christian Mbilli is finally getting his opportunity. The unbeaten 29-year-old contender will lock horns with Poland’s Maciej Sulecki for the WBC Interim super middleweight world title on Friday, June 27, at Videotron Centre in Quebec City, Canada. In the 10-round super middleweight co-feature, once-beaten Erik Bazinyan and two-time world title challenger Steven Butler will collide in an all-Canadian clash. Mbilli-Sulecki, Bazinyan-Butler, and additional undercard fights will stream live and exclusively in the U.S. on ESPN+. Promoted by Eye of the Tiger, in association with Top Rank, tickets go on sale Friday, April 25, at 10 a.m. ET via Ticketmaster.com. “Christian Mbilli is one of the most exciting fighters in boxing today, and this is the moment he’s been waiting for,” said Top Rank Chairman Bob Arum. “He’s taking on a tough, experienced veteran in Maciej Sulecki, who’s coming off a huge upset. This has all the makings of a firefight in front of one of North America’s best boxing crowds.” Mbilli (28-0, 23 KOs), a 2016 Olympian from France by way of Cameroon, turned pro in 2017 and rattled off 13 straight knockouts. Since then, all but five of his wins have come inside the distance. In 2024, he solidified his status as the division’s top contender, dismantling Rohan Murdock in six rounds in January before icing Mark Heffron in one in May. Mbilli capped off the run with a grueling 10-round unanimous decision over former world title challenger Sergiy Derevyanchenko. He is currently ranked No. 1 by the WBC and WBA and No. 2 by the WBO. Mbilli said, “I’ve been waiting for this moment for so long, I’ve worked so hard to get here, and there’s no way I’m leaving without the belt on June 27. I want to salute my opponent for having the courage to accept this challenge. But once we’re in the ring, he’ll have to face all the intensity and rage I’ve built up against those who refused to fight me.” “A world title is on the line, but in Christian Mbilli’s case, it’s also the culmination of a lifetime of work. That’s why we’re confident he won’t miss his chance. We saw the beating Sulecki handed to the fearsome Ali Akhmedov, but as we’ve been saying for years now, Christian is on another level. The winner of this fight will solidify their position as the top contender to Canelo and Scull’s titles. So, the stakes are sky-high for Christian and for all of Quebec boxing. We’re calling on the entire province to show up in Quebec City to support him on June 27,” said Eye of the Tiger President Camille Estephan. Sulecki (33-3, 13 KOs) is a 35-year-old veteran whose only defeats have come against former world champions Daniel Jacobs and Demetrius Andrade, along with unbeaten contender Diego Pacheco. The Polish former title challenger bounced back from the Pacheco loss by traveling to Kazakhstan in February to take on unbeaten slugger Akhmedov in front of a hostile crowd. Sulęcki outworked the younger Akhmedov, building a lead on the cards before closing the show with a 10th-round TKO. Sulecki said, “This fight is between me and Canelo, so we can square away our beef from sparring. Of course, Christian Mbilli will not be an easy fight, but I have never felt better since my return with my trainer. I am in a great place with my team, and everyone is doing their part. On June 27, I will make sure I do mine with a statement in his hometown.” Bazinyan (32-1-1, 23 KOs) is an 11-year pro from Armenia who moved to Canada as a teenager. In 2023, he earned wins over Jose de Jesus Macias and Ronald Ellis to retain his regional titles and top 10 status. He faced his first professional setbacks the following year, fighting to a draw versus Shakeel Phinn in May before losing via 10th-round knockout against Jaime Munguia in September. Butler has twice fought for a world title, challenging Ryota Murata for the WBA crown in December 2019 and Janibek Alimkhanuly for the WBO title in May 2023. Since the Janibek fight, he’s 3-1 with three knockouts, including a first-round stoppage over Fernando Ezequiel Farias last November. In additional ESPN+-streamed action: Heavyweight knockout artist Arslanbek Makhmudov (19-2, 18 KOs) returns in a 10-rounder versus unbeaten Ontario-based Ricardo Brown (12-0, 11 KOs). Makhmudov looks to bounce back from his loss to Guido Vianello last August, while Brown, who represented Jamaica at the Tokyo Olympics, takes a huge step up in opposition. Junior lightweight contender Leïla Beaudoin (12-1, 1 KO) will battle against former world champion Elhem Mekhaled (17-3, 3 KOs) in a 10-rounder. Last year, Beaudoin avenged her loss to Elizabeth Chavez Espinoza via eight-round decision in January before decisioning Lizbeth Crespo across 10 in August. Mekhaled returns after challenging Chantelle Cameron for an interim title last July. 21-year-old junior welterweight phenom Jhon Orobio (13-0, 11 KOs) and undefeated lightweight Luis Santana (13-0, 6 KOs) will return in separate 10-round fights, while Quebec City native Wilkens Mathieu (13-0, 9 KOs) sees action in an eight-rounder.  |
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