Here's how Béziers boxer Jaouad Belmehdi is setting out to conquer Europe

Heading for the WBA South America title

The Béziers native, who changed promoters before the summer in the wake of winning his French-speaking WBC belt, quickly bounced back: "He rested for two weeks and resumed, replaced Rudy Ruiz. We were offered a fight, in Humacao, on the island of Puerto Rico in the Caribbean. This fight, which will take place on October 30, is organized to close a convention of the WBO federation, which is just below the WBC. It is the WBO South American title. If Jaouad wins, he will enter the top 15 of this federation.”The member of BC Marcel-Cerdan will then also climb the world rankings, all federations combined.

“Everything is measured in the preparation”

During this duel, Jaouad Belmehdi will face the Venezuelan Leonardo Padilla. The South American has 30 fights, including 23 victories (16 by KO), 6 defeats and one draw. A great client then for the Biterrois who has further refined his preparation : "Now that we have changed category (from lightweight to super featherweight, i.e. more than 2 kg less, Editor's note), everything is measured, assures Rudy Ruiz. He is followed by a dietician, a physical trainer and a mental trainer. We make sure everything is perfect so we don't mess up.”

In sight, a European championship

Thanks to his morphology, Jaouad Belmehdi is generally taller than his opponents. A major asset that adds to his incredible striking power. For his fight in South America, he regularly worked in Toulouse with Sofian Oumiha, the silver medalist at the Paris Olympics, and in Barcelona, ​​with Moussa Gholam, the world number 10. Enough to move up a gear. The “Moroccan bomber”, as he is nicknamed, intends to follow up after fighting in Puerto Rico. On December 7, in Brive, he will compete in the European Silver Championship against Toulouse's Anthony Rivière. Following this duel, he will aim for a new European belt against Khalil El Hadri. The Parisian has always refused to face him until now but he would then have no choice given the ranking if the Biterrois wins all his duels. Which should be the case if Jaouad Belmehdi continues on his momentum.

Lenny Patrach, the heavyweight on the rise

BC Marcel-Cerdan has just recruited the Narbonne-based Lenny Patrach, 19 years old. The young boxer who plays in the heavyweights has narrowly missed the French amateur team. Wanting to turn professional, he joined Rudy Ruiz's team this summer: “He's been a professional since September,” the coach smiles. I sense a lot of potential in him. He's a boxer who leaves his guts in the ring and is a very hard hitter. As an amateur, he has 21 fights, 15 wins including 13 by KO. He suffered all his defeats in the championship after several series of fights where he gave his all. As a pro, I'm sure he'll do better.”

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