{"id":729278,"date":"2026-06-11T07:13:16","date_gmt":"2026-06-11T07:13:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/729278\/"},"modified":"2026-06-11T07:13:16","modified_gmt":"2026-06-11T07:13:16","slug":"dont-mess-with-quebec-thursday-night-fights-from-canada-on-dazn","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/729278\/","title":{"rendered":"Don’t Mess With Quebec: Thursday Night Fights from Canada on DAZN"},"content":{"rendered":"

What to Know<\/p>\n

Eye of the Tiger Management<\/a> returns with a Thursday night fight card from Quebec City, headlined by top super middleweight prospect Wilkens Mathieu, facing veteran Esquiva Falcao
\nThe event airs on DAZN Boxing, starting with prelims at 6:30 p.m. ET\/3:30 p.m. PT.
\nA surge of Canadian boxing talent has developed over the years in Quebec, currently led by super-middleweight world champion Christian Mbilli<\/a> and former undisputed light-heavyweight champion Artur Beterbiev<\/a>.<\/p>\n

American boxing fans are sometimes surprised to learn there are so many passionate boxing fans north of the border in Canada, and specifically in Quebec. But Quebec boasts a rich boxing history, and its passionate fans have filled venues in Quebec City and Montreal for major fight cards. In 1980, 46,317 filled the Olympic Stadium in Montreal for the first fight between Roberto Duran and Sugar Ray Leonard. They watched Duran battle his way to a close decision over Leonard in a marvelous fight.<\/p>\n

Nine Canadian male boxers are in the International Boxing Hall of Fame, from Sam Langford to Lennox Lewis, who holds Canadian citizenship. Though both were born in Haiti, Adonis Stevenson and Jean Pascal identified themselves as Qu\u00e9b\u00e9cois. And although he was born in Italy, the late Arturo Gatti grew up in Canada and represented Canada as an amateur.<\/p>\n

\"AdonisAdonis Stevenson reigned for a decade as Quebec\u2019s greatest world champion. Photo: Dave Nadkarni, PBC<\/p>\n

In a 2013 interview with ESPN, Stevenson\u2019s then-promoter, Yvon Michel, said Quebec boxing fans are similar to Mexican boxing fans.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe French-speaking people are a bit like the Mexicans,\u201d said Michel. \u201cThey are very passionate and like combat sports. Also, people in Quebec like to support winners and champions. We have produced world champions on a regular basis, which has made it a major league sport here. It is considered trendy to attend a boxing event.\u201d<\/p>\n

For several years, Stevenson was the only Canadian world champion. The next man to step up was Russian-born Artur Beterbiev, who began his pro career with a knockout win in 2013 at the Bell Centre in Montreal. He became a Canadian citizen in 2022.<\/p>\n

In recent years, a surge of young talent has emerged in Quebec, led by super middleweight world champion Christian Mbilli.<\/p>\n

Wilkens Mathieu Headlines At Home in Quebec City
\n\"WilkensWilkens Mathieu and former Olympic medalist Esquiva Falcao engage in a serious faceoff at the weigh-in Wednesday in Quebec City. Photo: Jeff Lockhart, EOTTM<\/p>\n

Mbilli\u2019s stablemate and the price of Quebec City, NABF champion\u00a0Wilkens Mathieu (15-0, 10 KOs) will headline his first card in front of his hometown fans against\u00a0Olympic medalist and former world title challenger Esquiva Falcao of Brazil\u00a0 (32-2, 21 KOs) at the Th\u00e9\u00e2tre Capitole of Quebec City. The seven-fight card airs on DAZN Boxing, starting with prelims at 6:30 p.m. ET\/3:30 p.m. PT.<\/p>\n

The 21-year-old is the youngest among the legitimate super-middleweight contenders, ranked tenth by the WBC and 15th by the WBA.<\/p>\n

Mathieu is generating a lot of buzz among Canadian fans, delivering exciting knockout wins and delivering with personality in interviews and on social media. The question being answered with Thursday\u2019s matchup against Falcao, an Olympic medalist whose only losses came against a world champion and an Olympic champion, is whether Mathieu is being moved too quickly.<\/p>\n

But it hasn\u2019t troubled his stablemate Mbilli, and it shouldn\u2019t trouble Mathieu, who\u2019s never come close to feeling threatened in the ring. He is trained by Giuseppe Moffa, boxing\u2019s youngest elite trainer at age 24<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Co-Main Event Features Quebec\u2019s Leila Beaudoin
\n\"LeilaLeila Beaudoin and Paulina Angel both want to prove themselves with a win on Thursday. Photo: Jeff Lockhart, EOTTM<\/p>\n

The vacant WBA Interim World Super Featherweight will be up for grabs between two former world title challengers:\u00a0Le\u00efla Beaudoin of Levis, Quebec\u00a0 (14-2, 2) and\u00a0Paulina Angel of Colombia (7-2-2, 3 KOs).<\/p>\n

Beaudoin suffered a loss in her title challenge against Alycia Baumgardner in December, but came back with a 10-round shutout decision in April. Angel gave Stephanie Han a serious challenge including a knockdown before losing by decision last August.<\/p>\n

Angel had moved up a division for the title fight against Han. Now back in her natural weight class, she is undefeated and the current Latin American champion.<\/p>\n

Beaudoin\u2019s stablemate Jhon Orobio, born in Colombia and now one of Canada\u2019s top prospects, who won with a spectacular knockout last week, said, \u201cQuebec versus Colombia can only produce a great fight.\u201d He should know.<\/p>\n

Undercard Action Features EOTTM Prospects<\/p>\n

Top ten light heavyweight contender and Olympian Mehmet Unal of Montreal (15-0, 13 KOs) will defend his WBC and WBA continental titles against former kickboxing champion Yoann Kongolo (18-3-1, 7 KOs).<\/p>\n

Kongolo\u2019s name will be familiar to kickboxing fans. He fought for Glory, the same organization that produced Rico Verhoeven. He is tough and durable, and has never suffered a knockdown in boxing. This streak will be tested against the hard-hitting Unal.<\/p>\n

Also on the card, super middleweight\u00a0Moreno Fendero (14-0, 10 KOs) faces veteran Jonathan Gonzalez-Ortiz of Puerto Rico (21-1, 17 KOs),\u00a0whose only loss is to Edgar Berlanga.<\/p>\n

Super featherweight\u00a0 Thomas Chabot of Thetford Mines, Quebec (12-1, 8 KOs)\u00a0takes on Jose Antonio Sampedro of Mexico (13-2-1, 7 KOs).<\/p>\n

EOTTM prospect Erik Israyelyan, a native of Armenia based in Montreal (5-0, 3 KOs), faces Johan Guzman of Chile (2-1, 2 KOs).<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

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