Rising super middleweight contender Wilkens Mathieu will take another step up in competition on June 11 when he faces former title challenger Esquiva Falcao at Capitole de Quebec in his hometown of Quebec City, Canada.
The 21-year-old Mathieu, 15-0 (10 KOs), is coming off his first 10-round fight, a unanimous decision over Shakeel Phinn in October, and now will be facing by far his most experienced opponent as a professional. Falcao, 32-2 (21 KOs), a 2012 Olympic silver medalist from Brazil, has won two straight since his only defeats – both by decisions in 2023 and 2024, to Vincenzo Gualtieri for the vacant IBF middleweight title in Germany and to 2020 Olympic gold medalist Hebert Conceicao Sousa in Brazil.
It’s a challenge that Mathieu insists he’s ready for.
“Many said I was too young to face Phinn, and they’ll probably say the same about Falcao, but people need to understand that I don’t have time to waste,” said Mathieu, who is rated No. 14 by the WBC and No. 15 by the WBA at 168lbs. “I already believe I’m the best in the world, so I have to face the best in the world – and it starts by beating an Olympic medalist in front of my city on June 11.”
The southpaw Falcao, who is 15 years Mathieu’s senior at 36, had previously been promoted by Top Rank and had previously spoiled the unbeaten record of another Quebecois fighter, Patrice Volny, winning a technical decision in 2021.
“I respect my opponent – I know he’s a good fighter, an undefeated one,” Falcao said. “But he hasn’t faced a boxer like me yet: an experienced fighter who hits hard and has a real hunger to win. I’ve already fought for a world title and I plan to do it again. God will be with me on June 11 – and the victory will go to Brazil.”
The undercard will feature light heavyweight Mehmet Unal, 15-0 (13 KOs), super middleweight Moreno Fendero, 14-0 (10 KOs), featherweight Thomas Chabot, 12-1 (8 KOs), and lightweight Daylen Pepin, 2-0, in separate bouts.
The card, promoted by Eye of the Tiger Management, will air live on Punching Grace, with a “major addition” to the card being teased.
Ryan Songalia is a reporter and editor for BoxingScene.com and has written for ESPN, the New York Daily News, Rappler, The Guardian, Vice and The Ring magazine. He holds a Master’s degree in Journalism from the Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism and is a member of the Boxing Writers Association of America. He can be reached at ryansongalia@gmail.com or on Twitter at @ryansongalia.
