On a show to be streamed live in the U.S. on ESPN+ on Thursday at 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT, super middleweight Erik Bazinyan returns in a ten rounder against Maryland's Alantez Fox at Casino de Montréal in Montreal. Bazinyan, a ten-year-pro, hopes a victory over the 6-foot-4 Fox moves him closer to a world title opportunity.  Bazinyan (28-0, 21 KOs) has spent his entire pro career in Canada after moving from Armenia at age 16. Promoted by Camille Estephan's Eye of the Tiger, Bazinyan returns to action following last June’s unanimous decision over Marcelo Esteban Coceres. Bazinyan has defeated seasoned veterans Alan Campa, Saul Roman and Scott Sigmon. Fox (28-3-1, 13 KOs) has more experience fighting world-level talent, as he is coming off a fourth-round TKO defeat in December 2021 to David Morrell for a secondary world title. Before the Morrell loss, he had a three-bout unbeaten streak.

 

UNDERCARD 

 

In a battle of slick boxing versus unrelenting pressure, Yves Ulysse Jr. (22-2, 12 KOs) steps up against Mexico’s Gabriel Gollaz Valenzuela (25-3-1, 15 KOs). Ulysse, from Montreal, has won four bouts since a close loss to Ismael Barroso. Valenzuela fought last May on the Canelo Alvarez-Dmitry Bivol undercard, trading knockdowns with then-unbeaten contender Montana Love before dropping a razor-thin decision.

 

Canadian middleweight Alexandre Gaumont (6-0, 4 KOs) aims to extend his knockout streak to three against Carlos Gallego Montijo (8-4, 6 KOs).

 

Raphael Courchesne (9-1, 4 KOs) returns from a nearly 19-month layoff to fight Diego Garduno Reyes (10-1-1, 4 KOs) in a six-round welterweight tilt.

 

Welterweight Christopher Guerrero (5-0, 1 KOs) makes his 2023 debut in a six-rounder against fellow unbeaten Edwin Villarreal Flores (3-0-1, 3 KOs).

 

In a six-round junior lightweight bout, Avery Martin Duval (8-0-1, 4 KOs) looks to extend his winning streak to five against Eduardo Mota Garcia (7-1-1, 2 KOs), who has beaten two previously undefeated prospects in his last three outings.