Second part of our series “One day, one destiny”, dedicated to a sportsman of the Val d’Oise which will have marked the department. This week, make way for boxer Gaëlle Amand who won a world belt one evening in November 2013 at Cergy.
On November 30, 2013, around 10 p.m., a thunderous applause covered hip-hop music in a large marquee installed on the Paris esplanade in Cergy.
The Ax Majeur welcomes 2,500 spectators for the largest boxing event organized for 24 years in the Cergypontaine conurbation. Gaëlle Amand is about to fight, at 30 and at home, the fight of a lifetime for the belt of Wbf professional world champion featherweight (-57.2 kg). The audience chants his first name in chorus.
It seems far away the time of her debut in 1997 when she had to wipe the mocking reflections and a bit macho or when she had to warm up in a broom cupboard during her first championship of France in 2001.
Undefeated for 3 years
At that time, however, Prosper Dranguet, coach of Com Argenteuil, who recalls the character of Clint Eastwood in Million Dollar Baby, teaches him the tricks of the trade. Her amateur career was launched: French champion at 20, member of the French team at 23. When her weight category was not retained at the Jo, she went pro in 2010.
In their first fight, the public did not understand that femininity and boxing could be compatible.
People said, “Who is this Barbie doll? She will be massacred. ” I proved them wrong. ”
Her victory against Inès Celik launches her three years of ascent under the colors of the Rahilou Cergy Boxe which lead her to this fight for the world title.
Ascension
All his relatives are there, sitting in the front row, in particular his sister Priscillia (his most fervent supporter). The gong sounds and starts the first of ten times. The Valdois boxer, unbeaten after ten professional fights, takes the initiative, deploys her beautiful speed of execution and her feline movements which allowed her, in 2012, to win the national title at Ducastel and to win the European title against Ilko.
But no head-on attack. Caution is advised in the face of the Bosnian Irma Balijagic-Adler, 7 cm more under the height rod, a sprawling draw, 50% success per KB, two world titles (Wiba in 2008 and Gbu in 2013) in the balance.
To beat it, I had to bet on my cardio, my endurance, my speed, but also my power and my techniques to break the distance. “
“For six weeks, I had worked these assets intensively in Cergy, Normandy and Casablanca. My preparation had benefited from 85 rounds of gloves, the work of sparring partner Myriam Dellal (Wbc world champion in lightweights, end of 2013) and advice from Khalid Rahilou (Cergyssois, Wba world light welterweight champion in 1997-1998) ”, she explains.
Thanks to his distance boxing and his speed of movement, the protege of Abdillah Rahilou dodges or parries the furious rights of his rival, places good direct and uppercuts, increases his lead in points until the 4th round. The 5th recovery is the most disputed. Jean-Claude Bouttier, the late live commentator of Ma Chaîne Sport, is racing.
Two minutes of rush which are the pride of the great craftsmen of the combat dress: the Rahilou Cergy Boxe (the Gaëlle club, chaired by Christian Cerdan, cousin of the legendary boxer Marcel Cerdan) and the company Étoile Verte Production (directed by the promoters Abdillah Rahilou and Driss Chbili).
World Champion
Concentrated to the extreme, Gaëlle does not flinch when she receives an involuntary whim which blushes her left maxilla. It’s a tough guy, capable of becoming a European champion by compiling boxing training, Bpjeps studies and a waitress job at the City Rock pub.
A bad move will not prevent him from winning his Grail. Its frantic pace and precise countermeasures in fact suffocate Balijagic-Adler from the 6th round. At 11:35 p.m., the judges unanimously declared her the winner on points. Referee Jean-
Pierre Van Imschoot raises his arm in victory. General ease. Cergy has its world champion.
The heroine with the golden fists, rewarded for 15 years of efforts and struggles, descends from the ring alongside Khalid Rahilou, the other legend of the Cergyssoise boxing. A symbolic passing of the torch.
Julien BIGORNE
In short
– Bio express. Gaëlle Amand, 36 years old. Originally from Cergy. Featherweight boxer (57.2 kg). Amateur from 1997 to 2009: 56 fights under the colors of Com Argenteuil then the Ring of Chanteloup-les-Vignes, champion of France 2004 and 3rd of the Tournament of the European Union 2008. Pro from 2010 to 2017: 14 victories-2 defeats in the colors of the Rahilou Cergy Boxe. Champion of France and Europe 2012, world champion Wbf from 2013 to 2015, international champion Wbc 2016 and vice-champion of the world Wbc 2016.
– The world title. On November 30, 2013, Gaëlle Amand is the sixth French boxer to be crowned professional world champion. She joined Myriam Lamare (in 2004 in Wba super-light), Anne-Sophie Mathis (in 2006 in Wba super-light), Myriam Chomaz (in 2008 in Wbc super-plumes), Nadya Hokmi (in 2010 in Wbf super-flies ) and Anne-Sophie Da Costa (in 2012 in Wbf straw weights).
– The aftermath. The 1.66 m boxer weighing 57 kg spent her Bpjeps and became a sports coach in Cergy. She created the Move Lady concept (100% female fitness and muscle building classes). Fourteen months after her world title, she resumed competition and then became international Wbc champion. This victory opened the doors to a new World Championship (for the Wba and Wbc titles) on October 8, 2016 in Pontoise. She lost, but by split decision (a judge declaring her the winner) and against Canadian Jelena Mrdjenovich (the most titled in her category with six world titles).
– Anecdote. The cost of organizing the World Championship in 2013 in Cergy has been estimated at € 320,000. The fight, which received subsidies from the City of Cergy and the Cergy-Pontoise agglomeration, was made possible thanks to the efforts of Étoile Verte Production and the Rahilou Cergy Boxe.
–
