Simon Kean, 35-years-old, has decided to pursue a different road. After an amateur career of 70 fights, marked by participation in the 2012 London Olympics, 25 professional fights, including 23 victories and 22 before the limit, the man nicknamed the “Grizzly” is hanging up his gloves.
The Trifluvian turned to boxing to implement structure and discipline in a previously turbulent life. It was the beginning of a great adventure that took him to travel to the four corners of the globe.
An outlet first and foremost, but also, and above all, a concrete way to realize his full athletic potential. 2007 marked his first major success, winning the junior championship title. Subsequently, in 2009, he stepped onto the 3rd step of the podium at the senior national championships, where he was crowned champion in 2011 and 2014.
His journey on the national stage, as a member of the Canadian team, would be punctuated by his participation in Olympic qualifications as well as obtaining his ticket to the 2012 London Olympics. Once there, he defeated the Frenchman Tony Yoka before succumbing to the Kazakh giant, Ivan Dychko, thus ending his Olympic journey.
It was in 2015 that the Trifluvian heavyweight made the leap into the professional ranks. He signed 15 consecutive knockout victories. The Quebecer suffered his first career defeat against the heavy hitter Dillon Carman, who caused an upset. In the rematch between the two fighters, it was Carman who got surprised and visited the canvas in the 3rd round.
With each of his performances, he was climbing the rankings, and offered fights for certain titles including the IBO Inter-Continental, NABF heavyweight, as well as the WBC Francophone, Silver, and International belts.
In Kean’s last fight, in October of last year, he was knocked out in three rounds by former world champion Joseph Parker.