- Date: Saturday, May 25
- Start Time: 7 p.m. ET (USA) / 12 a.m. UK Time
- Streaming Details: Live on ESPN+ in the U.S.
- Venue: Gervais Auto Center, Shawinigan, Canada
Super middleweight contender Christian Mbilli, fresh off inking a deal with Top Rank, is set to defend his WBA International and WBC Continental Americas titles in a 10-round headline bout against Mark Heffron on Saturday, May 25 at Gervais Auto Center in Shawinigan, Canada.
The evening’s 10-round heavyweight co-feature will see Arslanbek Makhmudov, known as the “Lion,” take on his old amateur rival Junior Fa.
Eye of the Tiger, in partnership with the Cataractes and the City of Shawinigan, will host this global spectacle. The main event Mbilli-Heffron, the co-main event Makhmudov-Fa, and the preliminary fights will all be streamed live and exclusively in the U.S. on ESPN+ starting at 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT.
Eye of the Tiger’s President, Camille Estephan, expressed his excitement about hosting internationally significant bouts in Mauricie, emphasizing the high stakes and the no-margin-for-error nature of these matchups. He highlighted the ambitious goals set for Mbilli and Arslanbek, acknowledging the formidable challenges that lie ahead.
Mbilli (26-0, 22 KOs) has dominated a series of super middleweight challengers, including ex-world title contender Nadjib Mohammedi and the powerful Carlos Góngora. In his last outing, he delivered a spectacular sixth-round stoppage of Rohan Murdock, captivating over 10,000 fans.
Mbilli shared his confidence and readiness for the upcoming fight, emphasizing his aim to prove his standing among the super middleweight elite and his intent to not hold back against Heffron, promising a compelling showdown in Shawinigan with victory being his sole focus.
Heffron (30-3-1, 24 KOs), hailing from Oldham, England, a former British and Commonwealth super middleweight champion, looks forward to the clash with Mbilli. Having rebounded from a previous defeat with a second-round TKO victory, Heffron is buoyed by confidence and eager to make his journey to Canada count.
Makhmudov (18-1, 17 KOs) is on a mission to reclaim his spot in the heavyweight ranks after a recent setback. With a history of a closely contested amateur bout against Fa, Makhmudov is keen on avenging his earlier defeat.
Fa (20-3, 11 KOs), with a solid start to his professional career, faced a setback against Joseph Parker in 2021. Following a challenging fight in Saudi Arabia, Fa is looking to bounce back and make a statement against Makhmudov.
Tickets for this action-packed event will be available starting 9 a.m. ET on Friday, March 29, through the Ovation network at www.ovation.qc.ca. Additional details about the full fight card, featuring promising talents like Wilkens Mathieu, Mehmet Unal, Alexandre Gaumont, Luis Santana, Christopher Guerrero, and Jhon Orobio, will be announced soon.