Eye of the Tiger has everything in order for the November 14th gala, featuring some of the biggest punchers from their stable. The highlight of the evening will be ‘the Dragon’ Steve Claggett facing Miguel Madueno for the NABF and NABO super lightweight titles.
Moreno Fendero, Imam Khataev, Mehmet Unal, Wilkens Mathieu, Luis Santana, and Steven Butler will also see action, with the event being presented at the Cabaret du Casino de Montréal and broadcast live on Punching Grace and ESPN+.
Returning to the ring following his heartbreaking loss to Kazakh Janibek Alimkhanuly, Steven Butler (32-4-1, 26 KOs) asserts that he still has the fire within and wants to prove himself by stepping back into the ring against the experienced Ivan Alvarez (32-14-4, 21 KOs).
“Defeats are part of life, and I want to prove to my children, my loved ones, that they don’t define us. We introspect, confront our mistakes, rise, and continue. I am on a mission.” Butler has relocated to the United States to further his progress under the guidance of coach John Scully, hoping that these changes and sacrifices will lead him back to the path of victory.
After delivering a flawless performance in Gatineau last September, where he controlled the action, displayed precision, and effectiveness in his attacks, eventually ending the fight in the third round, Luis Santana (10-0, 4 KOs) aims to continue his progression, this time against Cristian Bielma (19-6-2, 7 KOs) in an 8-round bout. Well-known to the Quebec audience, the Mexican athlete faced Mazlum Akdeniz in January for the WBC Continental Americas title, which he had to concede by unanimous decision after 10 rounds.
It is essential for Eye of the Tiger to keep its young recruits active early in their careers, allowing them to face various types of opponents and acquire important tools before increasing the level of adversity. Mike Moffa’s protege, Wilkens Mathieu (4-0, 3 KOs), will be in his fifth fight since turning professional in February and will face Polish boxer Grzegorz Mardyla (1-0-1, 1 KO), a complete athlete, more physically mature, and with a background in mixed martial arts.
For his first appearance on Quebec soil on October 11th, Olympian Imam Khataev (4-0, 4 KOs) managed to capture the attention of boxing fans with a performance that combined technique and power, allowing him to secure his fourth victory before the limit. The Quebec promoter intends to fast-track the progress of the athlete who already possesses a significant background in Olympic boxing. He will be pitted against Fernando Galvan (8-8-1, 2 KOs), the boxer who handed Yan Pellerin his first defeat in 2018. EOTTM hopes that Galvan can withstand Khataev’s attacks and provide him with strong opposition.
Among Eye of the Tiger’s other recruits, charismatic French boxer Moreno Fendero (1-0) will face Cristian Lopez Lozano (2-2), while Mehmet Unal (6-0, 5 KOs) will compete against Jaime Hernandez Lopez (10-10, 4 KOs).