After his victory (see Inside the ring), Madi planed to participate to a new boxing fight 3 month later.
I met him at his home where he was surrended by his friends and family. I found him extremely calm and very busy in the same time, always talking on phone or discussing with his relatives or even taking care of his friends while packing his outfits and equipment.
Madické is sharper and slimmer than for the previous competition.
The fight should be more challenging, it is a world championship, so he prepared himself harder with the objective to make a good fight, to avoid the injuries, bad blows and if possible obviously to win it.
This time the competition is much more closer than the last: Bonnières-sur-Marne. Arriving on site, Madi seems at home, he met multiple people, friends, competitors, teams of the regions and after an hour of hugs, shaking hands, various discussions where everyone checks in on each other or share information about the organization we arrive inside the premises.
Johanna, her coach, prepares immediately the straps for the protections of the fingers and fist. This is an important phase which is controlled by the referees of the academy and validated by their signature to make sure it has been reviewed and not modified before going on the ring.
Before going to the ring Madi has to wait a while. His friends comes to encourage him. Madi met Ahmed Zahleg: Wako France boss, in the corridors. He is the reflection of the boxing sports: attentive and caring.
Between moments of relaxation and intense concentration, Madi tries to release the tension before the fight.
Madické's family is here in force, his wife is managing some organizational issues to welcome the guests. It seems to be a day for many people.
Despite all the excitement and intensity of the moment, Madi, as a coach, takes advantage of this time in the backstage to fix a little past injustice to congratulate a young boxer. Indeed, for organizational issue, the boy didn't received the honor of the belt for his last competition he won, so Madické gives it to him in person.
It's time to get the body moving and the mind alert, so that it is ready to react in the coming hours.
The pressure is here. It's time for the ritual. The lion of Senegal is ready to roar.
This is the fight.
The opponent was strong and even though fight properly, Madi is defeated...
It's not easy to accept.
Friends and family are there. They support their champion in the defeat as well as they have encouraged him before the fight. That's what matters, this is the strength of Madi.
