MONTREAL – Undefeated world lightweight contender Ghislain “Mani” Maduma (16-0, 10 KOs) has embraced the underdog role for this Saturday’s International Boxing Federation (IBF) title eliminator fight against hometown favorite”Mighty” Kevin Mitchell (37-2, 27 KOs) on the Matchroom Boxing-promoted Carl Froch-George Groves card at famed Wembley Stadium in London.
The 29-year-old Maduma, world rated by the World Boxing Council (WBC) at No. 3 and No. 4 by the IBF, broke his successful Montreal training camp last Friday and headed to Great Britain to fight IBF No. 5-ranked Mitchell for the right to become the mandatory challenger for IBF lightweight champion Miguel Vazquez.
“We had a very, very good training camp to prepare for this big fight,” Maduma said before departing for London. “I’m excited to be fighting in this big event.”
The largest crowd Maduma has fought in front of has been 8,000 at Bell Centre (Montreal) earlier in his professional career. He’s ready to play the underdog role in front of up to 80,000 fans at Wembley Arena supporting his British opponent.
“A lot of things will be different over there for me but I’m fully focused on doing my job,” Maduma added. “I’m bringing my ‘A’ game to prove I’m one of the best lightweights in the world.
Maduma’s promoter, Camille Estephan (Eye of the Tiger Management), will catch up with his lightweight star in the making this Wednesday in London. Estephan is on a roll as manager of newly crowned World Boxing Council heavyweight championBermane Stiverne and David Lemieux, who destroyed Fernando Guerrero last Saturday night for the vacant North American Boxing Federation middleweight title.
“Ghislain Maduma is truly, right now in my belief, the most underrated fighter in the sport simply because people don’t know him outside of Canada,” Estephan commented. “He’s been in the shadows but on May 31st he will grab this opportunity with all the attention at Wembley Stadium. Based on his skills and character, along with the fantastic camp he had, we are very confident that Ghislain will prevail in his fight against Mitchell.
For further information about Maduma visit www.eottm.com, follow him on Twitter @GhislainMaduma.
