PROMOTER SNAPSHOT: EYE OF THE TIGER MANAGEMENT
start by signing too many fighters. It started with a small core and gradually built out. It wasn’t looking to poach star fighters away from other big promoters; it concentrated on discovering and building young talent. And it has understood that its model might not fit for every fighter. EOTTM fighters are going to be thrown into a demanding gym culture. Many young boxers may resist the idea of uprooting themselves to train and fight in Montreal. Others may want more undivided attention. Estephan realizes that the match needs to work for both sides. They are looking for the right kind of talent and ambition. Estephan points to three key features that have led to EOTTM’s growth. The first is bringing in noted trainer Marc Ramsay (Artur Beterbiev, Eleider Alvarez and Jean Pascal) as an executive.
Ramsay’s official title is Head of Recruitment and General Manager for the company. In addition to his success as a pro trainer, Ramsay’s deep amateur connections and scouting background helped bring fighters such as Mbilli and Orobio into the EOTTM fold. The second key aspect of EOTTM’s success is Montreal’s passionate boxing culture. In contrast to other boxing hotbeds in North America where a fighter sometimes needs to be from a specific neighborhood to gain support, a unique feature of Montreal’s boxing fans is their willingness to accept boxers from other parts of the world as their own. That acceptance is a major selling point in EOTTM’s recruitment pitch to international fighters. Estephan has tapped into the rabid fight fan base in Quebec to provide financial backing that most local
promoters could only dream about. Instead of selling events on a fight-by- fight basis, he has a loyal base of season ticket subscribers and sells packages at venues such as the Casino de Montreal. The support from that strong base has made EOTTM’s expansion possible. A third factor is Estephan’s development of a production company, Punching Grace, which produces and sells EOTTM programming to local, regional and international audiences. He previously had a successful content partnership with ESPN, and in 2026 he transitioned his fights to DAZN. The production company has allowed Eye of the Tiger to build and develop his
sparring. But the company demands professionalism and resilience from its fighters. Ramsay runs one of the top gyms in North America, and there is no time for slackers or those with a sense of entitlement. “We will make sure that no stone is left unturned to develop our fighters properly, to fulfill their potential,” said Estephan. “We believe in partnerships with our fighters. We respect our fighters. We respect their opponents. The more popular our fighters are, the more revenue they generate, the better this partnership works for everyone.” Estephan really likes his place in the current boxing landscape. He believes that he has fighters who can cause major damage in the 175-, 168- and 140-pound weight classes in particular. And he believes that his organization’s commitment to scouting, development, training, and matchmaking give it a leg up on others in the industry. Furthermore, Estephan realizes that boxing is a business. He can sell tickets. He has cultivated a loyal, vibrant market for his fighters. Expect to see more world title fights coming to Montreal, as well as his top fighters appearing on more international high-profile cards. Eye of the Tiger has patiently built its foundation and developed its business model. It has discovered and advanced top young fighters. Now Estephan is expecting great success for the company at the sport’s highest levels. The sky is the limit.
Mbilli proved his mettle in a scintillating draw with Lester Martinez.
Estephan with Osleys Iglesias, The Ring’s No. 2-rated super middleweight.
fighters while simultaneously continuing to cultivate his local boxing market. The Lebanese-born Estephan originally settled in Montreal as a teenager in 1986. With his immigrant roots and his background in the wealth management industry, he has an acute understanding of the challenges that foreign fighters face when settling in a new country and how to provide excellent client services throughout that resettling process. He believes that this attention to detail has made it easier for his fighters to transition to their new environment and to keep their focus on boxing. “At Eye of the Tiger, we help set up a fighter with an apartment,” Estephan said. “We help them set up a bank account. Little things that an immigrant needs to do when he moves to your country, we help provide him with a home.” EOTTM currently has 24 fighters under contract. Most of them are already highly ranked. While Iglesias and Mbilli have world title belts, Estephan thinks that Orobio is one of the top young talents in boxing. And his rugged collection of contenders – including Ramirez, Biyarslanov, Imam
Khataev (light heavyweight) and Lenar Perez (cruiserweight) – are waiting for their chance. Estephan thinks that Mathieu is one of the best under-the- radar young fighters in the sport. Respect is a word that Estephan uses a lot when it comes to his business. As he sees it, respect is a two-way street. EOTTM will do everything in its power to develop fighters and to provide them with top training and
PROMOTER SNAPSHOT Company:
Eye of the Tiger Management
Founded: Home Base:
2010
Montreal, Canada
TV Distribution: DAZN Key Executives: Camille Estephan, founder and president •
Marc Ramsay, head of recruitment, general manager • Antonin Decaire, VP of boxing • Virginie Assaly, VP of operations • Jordan Mathieu, matchmaker
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