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Cloutier’s Canada Corner
Camille Estephan:
"If Dierry Jean Beats Belmontes, He Could Face Terrance
Crawford Next"
By Daniel Cloutier
MONTRÉAL -The Montrealer lightweight Dierry Jean is exciting
like a kid in a toy’s store. He cannot wait the moment to be
in the ring.
Saturday evening at Bell Centre in Montréal, just before the
presentation of this IBF vacant middleweight championship of
the world opposing the Montrealer David Lemieux (33-2-0) to
the French African Hassan N’Dam N’Jikam (31-1-0), Jean
(28-1-0) will defend his NABF lightweight North American
championship against the Texan Jerry Belmontes (19-6-0).
The bout Jean-Belmontes is set for 10 rounds.
“For me, this fight with Belmontes is like an elimination
bout for a world championship bout, said Jean Wednesday
afternoon when he meet the medias at the restaurant «La Cage
aux Sports» of the Bell Centre. I am serious. If I won
clearly this bout, I could be involved in a world
championship bout before the end of the year. Then, it’s a
crucial moment in my career. But I know it’s also a big
challenge. Belmontes is one of the most dangerous
lightweights on the planet. No doubt he is one of the most
complete fighter I faced in my career.”
The promoter of the Eye Of The Tiger Management Group,
Camille Estephan, is agreed on the fact that Jean will fight
in few days in one of the most significant bout of his
career.
“At his last fight in March in California, Belmontes lost a
decision against the dangerous Mexican boxer Miguel Vazquez
(35-4-0), and in 2014, he lost a split decision against the
WBC champion of the world, the Texan Omar Figueroa (25-0-1),
said Estephan. No doubt he is an extremely dangerous
opponent. If Dierry win clearly Saturday, he has good
chances to fight Terrance Crawford in a WBO super
lightweight championship of the world before the end of the
year. Dierry is fighting in the lightweight division now
(135 pounds), but he would have no problem to move up in the
super lightweight division (140 pounds) just to face a big
name like Terrence Crawford. If Dierry gives the performance
we are are expecting from him Saturday evening, I will start
serious negotiations with Top Rank Inc. next week. I am sure
that HBO and Showtime would be interested to televise a bout
Jean-Crawford.”
Crawford, a boxer from Omaha, Nebraska, has a perfect
record: 26-0-0, 4-0-0 in world championship bouts.
“It would be fantastic to see Dierry meet Crawford, but at
this point, he has only one fighter in mind: Jerry Belmontes,
said the Jean’s trainer, the Montrealer Mike Moffa. Fight
Belmontes, it’s like to face a world champion. He has great
skills. Dierry also has great skills, and I think he hits
harder than Belmontes. For sure, Dierry will have to fight
with determination and a perfect concentration Saturday
evening. Every mistakes against Belmontes could turned bad
for Dierry. But I am not worry, because Dierry knows how
much this bout is crucial for him. I can say it’s crucial
for his future on the international scene. Dierry is so
determinate to become world champion this year.”
Jean, who is actually ranked fifth contender by the WBC in
the lightweight division, got his only lost in 2014.
January 25th 2014, in Washington, D.C., Jean lost by
unanimous decision against Lamont Peterson (33-3-1) in a IBF
super lightweight championship of the world. After that
bout, Jean moved down in the lightweight division.
“Dierry lost against Peterson, it’s true, but at that time,
he was not the fighter and human being he is now, said Moffa.
He is actually in the best shape of his life now. He is
totally sober and he is working like hell in the gym. I am
sure he will be on fire Saturday against Belmontes. He knows
he needs to get a great performance, and I am positive he
will do it. I never seen Dierry so energetic in training,
and I am sure he is hitting harder than ever. The new Dierry
Jean has all the weapons necessaries to become a world
champion. And because he is so extremely serious in his life
and in the gym now, because he is training and living with a
perfect discipline, I am sure he will win more and more
majors bouts on the international scene, not only in the
lightweight division, but also in the super lightweight
division. If Dierry lost against Lamont Peterson in January
2014 in Washington, its was not because Lamont will too big
for him, it was because Lamont was perfectly prepared for
the bout… and Dierry not. Thanks God! The Montreal boxing
fans are seeing now in action a Dierry Jean totally
transformed for the best."
Belmontes seemed very relax Wednesday. He really believes he
will leave Montréal with his 20th win in his pocket.
“Jean is a good fighter, I watched him few times on videos,
but I am sure he will be unable to beat me Saturday, said
Belmontes. I fought several fighters who became world
champions or were ranked in the world. Jean only one: Lamont
Peterson. I am a more mature fighter than him, I have a lot
more experience than him on the international scene, than, I
am positive these aspects will make all the differences in
the result of the bout Saturday. Jean will fight in front of
his fans, but trust me, this situation cannot intimidate me
and cannot change the result of the fight.”
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