In dominating the Serbian Pedrag Cvetkovic, on Saturday 17 December, at the Maison des sports, Sofiane Khati could still hope to return shortly to the neversoise room for the French middleweight championship (-72.5 kg) against the Marseillaise Diego Natchoo (Team Monaco Boxing). But the meeting, set for Saturday 11 February, will not take place in Nevers but in Agde (Hérault).
The proposal of Taek Khaidouri, coach of the Citizen Boxing Academy (ABC) of Nevers, has not been accepted by the French Boxing Federation. “Officially we don’t have the price, but Agde won the auction with a bet of 20,000 euros,” explains Tarek Khaidouri, who was under no illusions, even before the FFB made the venue official on Saturday 24 December .
Not the same financial burden
“We made an offer of 13,000 euros. It is already above the minimum offer (10,000 euros). 20,000 was far from our possibilities,” emphasized Sofiane Khati’s coach. “It was difficult to fight. There will be matches with international boxers. It will be a great evening”, with an audience captivated by the cause of Diego Natchoo, who trains in Agde.
If ABC couldn’t fight on the financial ground, they hope to make it in the ring against an experienced opponent (32 fights, W24, L3, D5). “Sofiane (15 matches, 12 wins) is almost better away than at home,” smiles Tarek Khaidouri. “If Sofiane comes to create the surprise, we don’t rule out putting the belt back into play in Nevers, in April or May…”
Owen Gordin
[email protected]
