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Alcine Provokes Controversy
By Daniel Cloutier
The Montrealer Joachim Alcine, a former WBA super
welterweight champion of the world, has provoked a huge
controversy today at the final press conference of this
boxing show presented by the GYM group, Saturday night at
the Bell Theater Center.
Alcine, who will fight the young Montrealer David Lemieux in
a WBC International middleweight bout, said he lost all
respect for the GYM group.
“I lost my WBA world title to the Puertorican Daniel Santos
in July 2008 here, at the Uniprix Stadium, and the GYM group
is certainly responsible for that terrible result (KO in the
sixth round),” said Alcine. “Few days before the fight, I
meet Dino Marchitello, Yvon Michel’s business partner, to
tell him to cancel the fight. Why? I could not see from my
left eye, because a retinal detachment. Dino told me,
“Joachim, if you force us to cancel the fight, you will lose
your world title”. Then, I took the chance to fight, and I
could not see coming the final punch threw by Santos. My
divorce with the GYM group was a perfect thing for me.”
Yvon Michel was extremely frustrated to hear these comments.
“What Alcine is saying is total BS,” said Yvon Michel.
“Before the weigh in, Alcine, like all the others fighters,
past the medical tests. The veteran doctor Dr. Pierre
Meunier is always checking the condition of the eyes of the
fighters. If a fighter has a retinal detachment or a
cataract, the doctor will see it in a second, and will order
the cancellation of the fight. Alcine (32-2-1) passed the
medical examination perfectly in July 2008. His eyes were in
perfect condition. Now, he is just trying to blame us for
his bad performance. It is very sad. Alcine has been the
first world champion of our organization, and we did
everything possible to push him to this WBA title. He was a
great athlete and a great boxer in 2007, when he won the WBA
title against Travis Simms. If his career has declined
after, we are certainly not responsible for that.”
Alcine calmed down after the Yvon Michel reply. “The most
important thing for me now, is my great determination to
come back a winner. GYM is hoping to punish me in opposing
me to David Lemieux, but I will punish them and Lemieux.
David is young and hungry, but he has not the maturity to
beat a fighter like me. I know what it is to suffer in the
ring to win a fight. Lemieux does not know that. The more
that the fight will go the more it will be painful and
difficult for Lemieux. When the people are telling me that
Lemieux is the logical favorite to win the fight, I am
smiling. Don’t be worry for me.”
Ranked third by the WBC, Lemieux (25-1-0) was smiling when
Alcine was talking. “I have a big respect for the Joachim
Alcine’s career and achievements, but he had his time, now
it is my time,” said Lemieux. “You will see in action a
David Lemieux more energetic than ever Saturday evening.
Joachim, if you think that I am afraid to suffer in the
ring, you will have a big surprise. I suffered a lot in
training since two months, my new trainer Marc Ramsay will
confirm it, I am ready for a war now. Don’t miss that bout.
You will be impressed by my performance.”
Adonis Stevenson, who is ranked seven in the world by the
IBF in the super middleweight division, said he is ready for
the biggest challenge of his career. Stevenson (15-1-0), a
Montrealer southpaw, will fight the American Aaron Pryor Jr
(16-4-0) in a NABA, NABO and IBF International championship
fight.
“Pryor beat Librado Andrade last May in California, then, he
is certainly the biggest challenge of my career,” said
Stevenson. “I am perfectly prepared for this challenge. I
don’t want to miss that chance to be ranked in the Top five
of the IBF, WBA and WBO ratings. I want to fight big names
like Lucian Bute, Carl Froch and Mikkel Kessler in 2012,
then, I need to prove that I deserve it. The best way to
show it, it’s to beat clearly Pryor Saturday night.”
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