An English boxing gala is being held this Saturday, December 12 in Montpellier. Live on Facebook.
He will miss the clamor of the public, but these boxers stopped for nearly a year can finally put on the gloves. Montpellier’s Mohamed Kani is putting his French champion’s belt back into play at the René-Bougnol sports center this Saturday evening.
As much a boxer as an organizer, the one who is also a forest firefighter at the Lunaret Zoo has concocted a quality program. Three fights will follow his, including two with boxers from Hérault. If they cannot come on site, the public will be able to follow them live on the Kani’s Fight Facebook page, from 7 p.m.
Mohamed Kani against Sirak Hakobyan for the national Welters title
Mohamed Kani (19 fights, 19 wins including 2 by KO.) and Sirak Hakobyan (25 fights, 20 wins, including 7 by KO.) have similar careers. They both won the Mediterranean belt from the prestigious WBC organization. But Mohamed is ahead and intends to remain French welterweight champion (between 63.5 kg and 67 kg). “We do not fear anything, Mohamed is above, but Sikar has a big physique, his trainer, Fayçal Omrani, told us. We must remain vigilant because it can go very quickly. “
For this fight, the Montpellier, for example, worked to collect with boxers heavier than him. Without fearing the power of his challenger of Armenian origin. “Anyway, I hit harder than him”.
From Châteauroux to Blagnac where he trains under the orders of Mohamed Bennama (the former coach of Mahyar Monshipour), Hakobyan has acquired the nickname of “The Scud”. Mohamed Kani will therefore have to show the full extent of his technique to keep his belt. Unlike the first fight, Bougnol will ring hollow, the evening being obviously behind closed doors for health reasons. “This is new to me. It can be good and bad at the same time, puts into perspective the one who is made redundant in Figuerolles. We have less pressure because there are fewer people, but sometimes we also need that pressure.“
Public or not, winning this fight today is essential for its progress. The Montpellier is indeed aiming for the title of the European Union and, why not, a title of world champion. The fight is played in ten rounds of three minutes.
Warm-up before the French championship
Unlike Mohamed, with whom he often sparrs (training in combat situations), Jaouad Belmehdi (12 fights, 9 wins including 4 by knockout) is not yet the French super-light champion. He was due to play for the title this year but his challenge has been postponed to February 27, 2021, at his home in Béziers.
Tonight, his fight against Strasbourg’s Houchang Habib (15 fights, 9 wins including 2 by knockout), from BCA Lingolsheim, will be a good opportunity to prepare for the Boxing Club licensee Marcel-Cerdan from Béziers. “It’s an honor and a pleasure to have him boxed in the same evening as me”, greet Mohamed Kani. The fight is played in six rounds of three minutes.
Professional debut
Licensed in Boxing Art, Maxime Bentajac will make his professional debut after 39 amateur fights. “We know Mohamed well and he knew that I was looking to make my first pro fight”, explains the Montpellier resident.
Mohamed is full of praise: “His trainer, Serge, is very serious, he is prepared, disciplined and very consistent. ” Just like on Mouhib Alili, with whom Mohamed trains at the Cross Counter in Villeurbanne: “He is technically good and very lucid in his boxing”.
They will respectively face two boxers from Blagnac, Mohamed Sayah Dahmane and Laurent Itcia (three fights each) in four rounds of three minutes.
Boxer, organizer and promoter
Between two training sessions, Mohamed Kani also manages the organization of the fight. With his Kani’s Fight structure, he is the promoter of his event. “It’s a bit complicated but I have beautiful people around me, who accompany me, especially my club in Figuerolles.” Without the pandemic, he would not have had to do all that. “I had to defend this title on March 27, but with the adversary.” We know the rest, the cancellation then the wait. The Sirak Hakobyan clan came back to them with a new proposal, “which did not satisfy us. not “, specifies the sportsman.
As the rules of the French Boxing Federation state, if the two parties do not agree, they must each present an auction, which was ultimately won by Mohamed. “I have communities and private sponsors who support me financially”, greets the Montpellier. He will therefore box at the Palais des sports René-Bougnol for the third time, after a WBC Mediterranean title in 2018 and his French championship in January. “I prefer boxing at home, I’ve always had feelings here.”
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