A packed Centre Vidéotron turned out for Eye of the Tiger’s homecoming show Friday night, drawn by two must-win crossroads bouts and a heavyweight redemption story. Quebec City expected action - and the card delivered quick endings in nearly every fight.
Christian Mbilli needed just 88 seconds to claim the vacant WBC interim super-middleweight title, crowding Maciej Sulecki onto the ropes, ripping a right-left to the body and a right uppercut upstairs, then watching referee Michael Griffin wave it off after Sulecki beat the count on unsteady legs.
Former world-title challenger Steven Butler kept his career alive, trading with veteran José de Jesús Macias before two right hands in round 4 produced knockdowns and a stoppage at 1:33.
Six-foot-six Arslanbek Makhmudov bounced back from his first loss by drilling unbeaten Ricardo Brown with an overhand right that left the Jamaican face-down in the corner; referee Albert Padulo Jr. halted it at 1:57 of round 1.
Prospects stayed perfect underneath: Wilkens Mathieu iced Adagio McDonald in round 3; Jhon Orobio flattened Zsolt Osadan with three seconds left in round 1; Christopher Guerrero wore down Sandy Messaoud for a tenth-round TKO; Leïla Beaudoin overwhelmed Elhem Mekhaled in six; Luis Santana stopped Eduardo Estela in five; and Wyatt Sanford pitched a 60-54, 60-53, 60-53 shut-out over Mark Andrejev to close a KO-heavy night in Quebec.
Image Credit: Eye of the Tiger