Third time’s a charm? Mary Spencer is heading back to a world championship on September 5
On the undercard of the NABF 140 lb championship featuring Arthur Biyarslanov versus Marcos Villasana, and the 175 lb championship between Imam Khataev and Ezequiel Maderna, Mary Spencer will face Naomie Mannes in a bout for the WBA interim world title at 154 lbs. The event, held at the Cabaret du Casino de Montréal, will also be broadcast on Punching Grace and ESPN+.
“I’ve been waiting for this opportunity for months. Unfortunately for Naomie Mannes, my patience will run out on September 5, and she’ll pay the price once we’re in the ring,” promised Mary Spencer, ranked 3rd in the world by the WBA.
Mary Spencer (8-2, 6 KOs) returned to winning ways last January after two consecutive losses in world championship fights. In June, she was scheduled to face April Hunter for the WBA Gold title, but a last-minute injury in the British camp led to the fight’s cancellation. Now, three months later, the London 2012 Olympian has a golden opportunity—literally—to fight for an even more prestigious belt.
“This time it’s real and it’s do or die,” declared Samuel Décarie-Drolet, coach of the Eye of the Tiger protégé, Spencer.
In the blue corner, ranked 4th in the world, Naomie Mannes (7-2-1, 4 KOs) will arrive in Montreal ready to play the spoiler. That’s exactly what the pride of Frankfurt, Germany, did in her last fight this past April when Mannes went into enemy territory in the UK to upset former IBO champion Hanna Rankin by split decision. Buoyed by the biggest win of her career, Mannes will enter the Montreal ring with full confidence.
Also in action, like Biyarslanov, Imam Khataev (7-0, 7 KOs) will defend his NABF title for the first time in the co-main event. The IBF #11 and WBC #15 ranked light heavyweight contender will look to continue his rise against veteran Argentine and Beijing Olympian, Ezequiel Maderna (31-12, 21 KOs).
‘El Olimpico’ is no stranger to Quebec audiences, as this will be his second visit to Montreal, having previously faced none other than Artur Beterbiev on ESPN in 2016.
On a stacked card, just before the Spencer-Mannes showdown, Montreal’s Christopher ‘Machine Gun’ Guerrero (11-0, 6 KOs) will face American Courtney Pennington (17-8-3, 7 KOs) in an 8-round bout.
The man nicknamed ‘The Future’, Avery Martin Duval (11-0-1, 7 KOs) will take on Jesus Daneff (13-11-4, 4 KOs). The electrifying Jhon ‘El Tigre’ Orobio (10-0, 9 KOs) is set to meet the resilient Argentine Joel ‘El Gallo’ Manriquez (6-5). EOTTM’s 2023 Rookie of the Year, Wilkens Mathieu (10-0, 6 KOs), will also be involved in an 8-round fight—his first ever—against veteran Marcos Karalitzky (8-9-2, 2 KOs). Finally, Moreno ‘The Soldier’ Fendero (6-0, 4 KOs) will kick off the action in a 6-round fight against Carlos ‘La Furia’ Ronner (7-4, 2 KOs).
A handful of tickets for the #BiyarslanovVillasana event on September 5 at the Cabaret du Casino de Montréal are still on sale through the Ticketmaster network. For more information, follow EOTTM on Facebook, YouTube, TikTok, X, and Instagram @eottm_boxing