Simon Bakindé in the Mendez Boxing training room in Manhattan. Photo credit: Maxime Aubin

The gratin of boxing will meet on Saturday March 14 at the Hulu Theater in Madison Square Garden in New York at 7pm. Headlining American Shakur Stevenson will challenge his WBO featherweight world title to Colombian Miguel Marriaga. Among the ten fights scheduled for that evening, two French boxers will also try to impress: Fred Julan and Romain Tomas, both 31. "This is the event of the year for us with exceptional fights", explains their trainer Simon Bakindé.

The 47-year-old Franco-Cameroonian started boxing in France at the age of 19, “To avoid an accounting career in which I didn't see myself at all”. His fascination with then-star Mike Tyson convinced him to push the door of the Noisy-le-Grand boxing club. He found a trainer on the spot, to whom he explained that he wanted to become a professional and even a world champion. "He replied: ok, fine, start by filling out your file and having your medical examination", smiled Simon Bakindé.

From his first training, the young man feels that this sport is for him. “My coach made me see it all at the start. Two months later, I won my first fight. ” Over the next two years, Simon Bakindé won 14 for a single loss. He became a professional boxer in 1994. "I have made almost 10 years in professional career, with fights all over France and in other European countries like the Netherlands".

In February 2001, Simon Bakindé tried his hand internationally, but his career did not take off. Angry with his coach who he says lacks ambition, the Franco-Cameroonian decides to leave everything for the United States and New York, where he arrives four months later without contact and without speaking English. "I knew that the United States was the country of boxing and sport in general". Lonely and faced with strong competition, Simon Bakindé decides to make ends meet by training amateur boxers. A revelation. “I discovered an interest in transmission”, explains the former champion. "I have specialized over time in French boxers, because I too would have liked to be accompanied when I arrived in New York".

In 2010, the Franco-Cameroonian coach joined forces with Malek Ikhenache, a boxing coach in Emerainville, in the Paris region. "He takes care of developing young boxers, and then sends me his best profiles." The first to join Simon Bakindé in New York in 2010 is Yurik Mamedov, a young Frenchman of Armenian descent. He was followed in 2011 by Fred Julan and Romain Tomas. “I took the three of them to the Golden Gloves final in their first year (note: the largest amateur boxing competition in the United States)“. The three boxers have since become professionals. Yurik Mamedov, 28, boxing in the middleweight category, Romain Tomas with the lightweights, and Fred Julan in the semi-heavyweight. The latter is part of the world top 100.

On the evening of March 14, Romain Tomas and Fred Julan will face the Americans John Bauza and Victor Darocha respectively. "We need these types of events capable of impressing promoters", says Simon Bakindé. Prominent people in the boxing world, the promoters take care of the organization of the fights, their media exposure and their profitability. "Concretely, they are the ones who decide which boxers will be visible or not in the future", he adds.

To attend the fights on March 14, visit the Ticketmaster.com website. Then add the code "JULAN" in the "Enter offer code" tab. "This is not a reduction, but it allows us to show promoters that we are followed by an audience. We are waiting for you on the 14 ″, concludes Simon Bakindé.

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here