The disappointment for Simon Kean would be practically an understatement. His scheduled fight on August 19th in Quebec has been postponed due to an emergency operation for Artur Beterbiev, one of the main boxers in the event.

It was on Sunday that the management of Eye of the Tiger announced the news. Simon Kean, like everyone else, learned about it at the same time. A few hours later, it's still hard to swallow. "I must admit I am a little discouraged. It's disappointing. It's like an uppercut, a hook, and a straight punch right in the face," he said.

The 34-year-old boxer feels that bad luck has been following him for a while. In his second fight in 2022, his opponent refused to fight. Then, he missed an opportunity to fight in Shawinigan, Quebec due to an injury last December. "My doctor tells me to keep my spirits up and that it's just another storm. It's just that the storms keep coming one after another for a while now. I'm a bit tired of it."

However, Kean made a good comeback in his last fight with a victory against veteran Eric Molina in March. The August 19th duel against Guido Vianello was supposed to be a stepping stone for him towards a world championship fight. His preparation had been adjusted accordingly, and he felt physically and mentally ready for this important challenge.

"It was going really, really well. I invested a lot of time and money in my preparation. Nothing was left to chance with a strict diet. I gave up vacations this summer to focus on this. I got quality training partners that cost me a lot, and in the end, it's all cancelled three weeks before the fight. It's discouraging."

In the coming days, he will head to his cabin to try to clear his mind. "It will allow me to breathe fresh air and clear my head. When I come back, I will sit down with my team to determine the strategy going forward."

No new date has been announced yet by Eye of the Tiger Management for the rescheduling of the event.

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