MONTREAL – Tammara Thibeault was crowned world champion in the under 75 kg category on Friday in Istanbul. In the grand finale, the Montreal boxer defeated Panamanian Atheyna Bylon by split decision 4-1 (30-27, 27-30, 30-27, 30-27 and 29-28) and she exploded with joy when her victory was confirmed on this day when Canada obtained two medals.
“Tomorrow morning, I’m going to wake up and I’m going to say to myself, ‘Ah, I’m world champion! I was really excited to get in the ring. It was really just a matter of really savoring the moment, ”said Thibeault, beaming on the phone in an interview with Sportcom.
“Boxing Canada and everyone around the athletes really did everything to support us and ensure that we had the best possible preparation, because we knew it was a big tournament and that we had the talent to succeed. I was super confident,” she continued in the whirlwind following her win.
In this duel, which was a replay of the final of the Pan American Championships last month, where the Quebecer had won 5-0, it was she who took the lead 4-1 in a first round where the two opponents are observed for a long time. Thibeault launched a few quick attacks in the last minute and while they didn’t shake his opponent, they were enough to get the judges’ favor.
Bylon, 33, attacked the Montrealer to the body at the start of the second round and the blows were much more numerous this time. The Panamanian had her best moments of the fight by hitting her opponent in the head with a beautiful right, except that Thibeault defended herself well, without however replying with striking attacks. The Canadian still won the round 3-2.
It was the third and final round that the future world champion had a blast. His blows hit Bylon’s head much more often, while the latter was less energetic and above all more messy in her style. Thibeault kept up the pace in the final minute of the bout and left a great final impression on the judges’ minds.
“I wasn’t thinking about her (Bylon) and how she was. I was right on the momentum and I had fun in the ring! I hope it appeared, because I had some and that’s what motivated me! mentioned the 25-year-old boxer.
This is a second medal for Thibeault at the World Championships after the bronze at the 2019 worlds.
“These are two different experiences where I was at two different stages in my life and on my journey. There, I proved that I was the best in the world and not many people can say that. I’m so happy and proud of everything I’ve done and everything my team has done. I didn’t do this alone and without everyone who was part of my journey, I couldn’t have done this without them. »
To this gold medal is added a reward of 100,000 US dollars.
“Yes, it’s a nice bonus, but in the end that’s not what’s important. The important thing is that I accomplished my dream. »
This generous scholarship will not attract her to the professional ranks in the short term, because she sees in this world title an additional motivation to win another gold medal: an Olympic medal this time, in three years, in Paris.
In the under 66 kg final, Charlie Cavanagh of Saint John, New Brunswick, was defeated by Turkish and Tokyo Olympic under 69 kg gold medalist Busenaz Surmeneli. Cavanagh received counts of eight in rounds one and two.
After Surmenelilui landed him a solid right to the head on the third bout, the referee stopped the fight.
