(Sept. 5, 2023) — 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
