Steven Butler was just not meant to face his countryman.
Erik Bazinyan has once again withdrawn from a planned clash with the former title challenger due to an undisclosed injury suffered during training camp. The two were due to meet in a super middleweight clash on November 13, a date which Butler will keep as he will now face Cameroon’s Stephane Fondjo, according to event promoter Eye of the Tiger Management.
The newly scheduled 10-round bout is the only notable lineup change for the previously announced card at Montreal Casino in Montreal, Canada.
“It’s been weeks since I’ve been making sacrifices away from my family to prepare to face Erik Bazinyan,” Butler said. “If he can’t fight, too bad for him — but I never back down, so there was no question I wouldn’t fight on November 13.
“I don’t back down from anyone, and for once, I’ll have an opponent as hungry as I am. The fans will still get a great local fight, but in the end, I’ll remind everyone — and Fondjo — that I belong at the international level.”
Butler, 36-5-1 (30 KOs), was originally due to face Bazinyan, 32-1-1 (23 KOs), on March 13 at nearby Theatre St-Denis. Bazinyan was scratched from the event due to a right ankle ligament sprain. The timing was eerily similar to his withdrawal from their rescheduled affair – once again, three weeks out from fight night.
“I won’t hide the fact that our entire team is extremely disappointed — especially for our fans, who have been waiting for this fight for several months,” said EOTTM president Camille Estephan. “The health of our athletes will always be a priority, but after three consecutive injuries, it’s clear we’ll need to sit down with Erik to evaluate what comes next for his career.”
Meanwhile, the door opens for a new challenger to change his life with this unexpected opportunity.
Fondjo, 14-1-1 (9 KOs) was already preparing for a November 8 fight date in Victoria when he got the call to step in and face Butler. The 27-year-old prospect was brought in as a sparring partner for Shakeel Phinn, 27-3-2 (17 KOs), who is set to face unbeaten prospect Wilkens Mathieu, 14-0 (10 KOs) this Thursday also at Montreal Casino.
The new development gives the 6’3” Fondjo – who has previously sparred with top contender Christian Mbilli – another chance to make a lasting impression with the EOTTM team and the Montreal boxing community.
“To achieve great things, you sometimes have to suffer,” noted Fondjo, who is unbeaten in his last nine fights. “I left my family behind eight years ago to cross the Atlantic and one day offer them a better life. Every day since, I’ve made every sacrifice to achieve that goal.
“I respect Steven Butler — he has a similar mentality — but I’ve suffered enough to get here and earn this opportunity. Once we’re in the ring on November 13, it’s Butler who will suffer.”
Butler has won four of his last five contests – all inside the distance – since a May 2023 knockout defeat to unbeaten Janibek Alimkhanuly, in a bid for the latter’s WBO title.
His lone setback during that time was a 9th round stoppage loss to Patrice Volny last June 6 at Montreal Casino. Butler has since added knockout victories over Fernando Farias last November 7 at this location and – most recently – Jose de Jesus Macias on June 27 in Quebec City.
Jake Donovan is an award-winning journalist who served as a senior writer for BoxingScene from 2007-2024, and news editor for the final nine years of his first tour. He was also the lead writer for The Ring before his decision to return home. Follow Jake on X and Instagram.
