BoxRec

Super middleweight contender Christian Mbilli will headline against Demond Nicholson at Lac Leamy Casino, Gatineau, Quebec, Canada, on September 8.

Mbilli had been scheduled to face Nicholson on the undercard of IBF, WBC and WBO light heavyweight titlist Artur Beterbiev-Callum Smith in Quebec City, Canada on August 19. However, when Beterbiev-Smith was postponed because the defending champion had to have surgery on a bone infection in his jaw, the whole show was postponed.

We learnt yesterday that Beterbiev-Smith will now take place at the same venue on January 13. Eye of The Tiger decided to keep some of the undercard active. As well as Mbilli-Nicholson, recently signed amateur standout Moreno Fendero will make his eagerly awaited debut.

Mbilli (24-0, 20 knockouts), rated at No. 3 by The Ring at super middleweight, represented France at the 2016 Olympics, losing to eventual gold medalist Arlen Lopez at the quarterfinal stage.

Headlining is NABF super lightweight champion, Steve Claggett (35-7-2, 25 KOs) defend his title against Carlos “El Tiburon” Sanchez Valadez (24-1, 19 KOs).

What do you guys think? Can be Mbilli serious player in super middleweight ?

Doesn't match up well with Canelo and the 2 Davids in my opinion. I'd even take Plant to beat him.

Press Release

Following the rescheduling of the event featuring light heavyweight world champion Artur Beterbiev in a mandatory defense against Callum Smith to January 13, Eye of the Tiger has decided to shuffle its upcoming events to ensure that its athletes scheduled to box on the previous date of August 19 remain active.

The duel between Christian Mbilli and Demond Nicholson, as well as the fights of Moreno Fendero and Mehmet Unal, will thus be moved to the event that is scheduled for September 8 at the Casino du Lac-Leamy.

Currently ranked first in the WBC super middleweight division, #3 according to the WBA, and #4 in the IBF, Mbilli (24-0, 20 KOs), the WBC Continental Americas champion, must deliver a solid performance against Nicholson (26-5-1, 22 KOs) if he wants to maintain his legitimacy to become a contender for the world titles held by Saul "Canelo" Alvarez.


Having faced some of the biggest names in the division, including Edgar Berlanga and Demetrius Andrade, Nicholson is an experienced boxer.

"I was disappointed to learn the news that forced the gala in Quebec to be postponed, and I was eager to know the new date just like all the fans. I must thank my team for their responsiveness in keeping me active by adding my fight to the card on September 8th. So, I'm staying focused on training because regardless of the date, the goal remains the same; defeat the opponent, secure another victory, and continue my progress," says Mbilli.

Two championship fights will be presented in Gatineau, as the new NABF super lightweight champion, Steve Claggett (35-7-2, 25 KOs), will defend his title for the first time since winning it last June against former WBA world champion Alberto Machado. He will face the boxer known as "El Tiburon," known for his devastating punching power, Carlos Sanchez Valadez (24-1, 19 KOs).

Also in action at this event will be the pride of Buckingham, Alexandre Gaumont (8-0, 6 KOs), who will face another undefeated boxer, Ulices Tovar Rivera (8-0, 5 KOs), and Vanessa Lepage-Joanisse (5-1, 2 KOs), who will go up against Timea Nagy (2-1, 2 KOs). will also return to the ring, along with Christopher Guerrero (7-0, 3 KOs), Luis Santana (9-0, 3 KOs), and Jhon Orobio (3-0, 3 KOs).

Fight Week!!

The start time is scheduled for 6:30 pm ET / 3:30 pm PT

Isnt Mbilli mandatory for some belt already ?

ESPN+ have picked this up.

Press Release
Undefeated super middleweight puncher Christian Mbilli defends his WBC Continental Americas belt in the 10-round main event against American contender Demond Nicholson this Friday, Sept. 8 at Theatre du Casino du Lac-Leamy in Gatineau, Canada.

Promoted by Eye of the Tiger, Mbilli-Nicholson headlines a loaded fight card streaming live and exclusively in the U.S. on ESPN+ starting at 6:30 p.m. ET/3:30 p.m. PT.

Mbilli (24-0, 20 KOs), who was born in Cameroon and represented France at the 2016 Olympics, is a six-year pro who won the Continental Americas strap with a third-round TKO over Ronny Landaeta in September 2021. He has notched a slew of a high-level wins since then, including a near-shutout over American standout Ronald Ellis and a fifth-round stoppage of former world title challenger Nadjib Mohammedi. In March, he survived a two-way firefight to topple Carlos Gongora by unanimous decision. Nicholson (26-5-1, 22 KOs), a hard-punching 10-year pro, is coming off a decision loss in January to former two-weight world champion Demetrius Andrade.

In the 10-round junior welterweight co-feature, local favorite Steve Claggett (35-7-2, 25 KOs) defends his NABF title against Mexican veteran Carlos Sanchez (24-1, 19 KOs). Claggett has won six straight bouts, including a third-round TKO over former world champion Alberto Machado.

Middleweight prospect Alexandre Gaumont (8-0, 6 KOs) hopes to increase his KO streak to five when he fights Ulices Tovar Rivera (8-0, 5 KOs) in an eight-rounder.

In other streaming action:

Vanessa Lepage Joanisse (5-1, 2 KOs) vs. Timea Nagy (3-1, 3 KOs), 6 rounds, light heavyweight

Harley David O'Reilly (1-0, 1 KO) vs. Israel Nava Lopez (3-2, 2 KOs), 4 rounds, light heavyweight

Mehmet Nadir Unal (4-0, 4 KOs) vs. Hernan David Perez (9-8, 3 KOs), 6 rounds, light heavyweight

Jhon Orobio (3-0, 3 KOs) vs. Luis Godinez Bautista (4-2-2, 1 KO), 4 rounds lightweight

Luis Santana (9-0, 3 KOs) vs. Sergio Palafox (9-3, 2 KOs), 8 rounds, junior welterweight

Christopher Guerrero (7-0, 3 KOs) vs. Veselin Markov (7-0-1, 5 KOs), 6 rounds, welterweight

Moreno Fendero (Pro Debut) vs. Uziel Bueno (3-2, 2 KOs), 4 rounds, super middleweight

Devin Tomko (8-2, 3 KOs) vs. Juan Santiago Colchado (6-7-1, 5 KOs), 6 rounds, light heavyweight

Christian Mbilli Drops Demond Nicholson Three Times, Stops Him In Fourth Round

Christian Mbilli steamrolled Demond Nicholson on Friday night.

The undefeated super middleweight contender knocked Nicholson down three times and stopped him in the fourth round of their main event at Lac Leamy Casino in Gatineau, Quebec, Canada. Cameroon’s Mbilli, who trains in Quebec, produced knockdowns in the first, second and fourth rounds on his way to improving to 25-0 and recording his 21st knockdown.

Referee Michael Griffin halted their scheduled 10-round bout at 1:56 of the fourth round, with Nicholson still on the canvas.

Nicholson (26-6-1, 22 KOs), of Laurel, Maryland, lost inside the distance for the third time in 10 years as a pro. Lekan Byfield and Jesse Hart previously beat Nicholson by technical knockout.

A left-right combination by Mbilli knocked Nicholson flat on his back, beneath a bottom rope, with 1:17 on the clock in the fourth round. Griffin began to count, but eventually realized Nicholson couldn’t continue.

Mbilli blasted Nicholson with a left hook when Nicholson was backed into the ropes with just under 1:15 to go in the third round.

Nicholson still seemed buzzed when the second round ended and he walked to the wrong corner.

Mbilli nailed Nicholson with another right to the side of his head, which dropped him for the second time in as many rounds with 57 seconds on the clock in the second round.

Another right by Mbilli landed to the side of Nicholson’s head and again seemed to affect him a few seconds before the opening round concluded. Mbilli landed a left hook with just over a minute remaining in the first round.

Mbilli blasted Nicholson with a right hand to the side of his head that knocked Nicholson flat on his back with 2:03 to go in the opening round. Nicholson got up by the time Griffin counted to four, but he looked like he was still hurt when the action resumed.