Erik Bazinyan faces friend Shakeel Phinn on April 11
February 16 marked the first press conference leading up to the gala on April 11 at the Montreal Casino, during which Eye of the Tiger unveiled the main event of the evening between two locally beloved boxers, Erik Bazinyan (32-0, 23 KOs) and Shakeel Phinn (26-3-1, 17 KOs).
On this occasion, the Laval-born boxer and current NABF champion Bazinyan, known as “Bzo”, will defend his title against the former holder of the same belt. The event will be broadcast simultaneously starting at 7pm on ESPN+ and PunchingGrace.com.
“I respect Shakeel, we’ve known each other for 11 years, but at the end of the day, it’s boxing, it’s business, and in the ring, there’s no friendship anymore.” – Erik Bazinyan
“It’s nothing personal, it’s boxing, we’re in the same division […], but when I have my hands raised, and they say ‘And new…,’ I’ll be really happy.” – Shakeel Phinn
“We have tremendous respect for Shakeel as an individual, but Erik is on another level… It will be a one-sided fight, Erik is in a class of his own.” – Antonin Décarie, General Manager of EOTTM
“The NABF title has belonged to him before, now it’s Erik’s. He wants to keep it, and Shakeel wants to reclaim it.” – Camille Estephan, President of EOTTM.