FIGHTING ADDICTION
Jean’s career at a crossroads
Dierry Jean realizes there’s no going back this time. He has run out of strikes. Jean understands he must curb his addiction to alcoholism and gambling — or his professional boxing career is over.
“This time’s the one. It’s the one,” he stated emphatically on Friday. “If not, I’ll quit boxing. I won’t have to quit because for sure ( his promoter) will give up on me. And I’m not going to try and find another promoter. They won’t want me.”
The Montreal junior- welterweight, who turns 34 next month, hasn’t fought since last October, when he was stopped in the 10th round by Terence Crawford for the World Boxing Organization 140- pound title. Two months later, Jean’s manager and promoter, Camille Estephan, announced he was suspended indefinitely by Eye of the Tiger Management.
Three times over the course of his career, Jean has checked himself into Maison Jean Lapointe in Old Montreal, overcome by the demons of alcohol and gambling abuse. Jean has had lengthy stints of sobriety, only to fall victim, repeatedly, to the lure of the bottle.
Both he and another Montreal junior- welterweight, Yves Ulysse, were guests Friday at Vincent Massey Collegiate in Rosemont, the school celebrating the longawaited opening of a new double gymnasium, along with four additional classrooms. Both were raised in the area and will be speaking to English Montreal School Board students over the coming months about the importance of sports and fitness, along with the anti- bullying protocol that continues to be an underlying message from teachers and EMSB officials.
Jean ( 29- 2 with 20 knockouts) first suspended his career in November 2014, months after losing a title bout to Lamont Peterson. Jean fought in June and September that year before checking into the facility. Jean, the North American Boxing Federation lightweight champ, returned to action last March, then fought again in June before facing Crawford.
Jean said he would frequently party following victories, often going non- stop for 24 hours. Eventually, days turned into weeks. Predictably, Jean has problems determining why he has turned to alcohol. But he has faced more than his share of hardships. Originally from Haiti, his parents died when he was young — grandparents and other family members raising the child. Jean also recently lost his brother.
“I think I was overconfident,” he said. “I figured it was nothing ... I could go to a bar. But it’s not like that.”
The social workers at Maison Jean Lapointe have worked hard with Jean, trying to help him change his lifestyle, showing him there are other avenues he can take, rather than drinking, follow- ing fights. The boxer now has been sober for more than two months, training regularly. Estephan said he should be reinstated next week, now that he has displayed a level of commitment while meeting various conditions. The promoter hopes to have Jean next in the ring in late May.
“We feel he has shown us, over the last three months, he’s doing everything we asked,” Estephan said. “He’ll fight at the end of May if he continues to progress. If not, that’ll be it for us and Dierry.
“It’s a sickness. It’s mental. It can be different things for different people. Of course, a person’s background’s a key factor. It could be hereditary. We don’t know,” added Estephan, who said he believes the addiction played a role in both of Jean’s title defeats.
“It seems Dierry’s his own worst enemy, as though he’s scared of succeeding. Does it cause harm just before the test so he has an excuse? I don’t know. But he’s working hard at it now. I see a lot of strength in him,” Estephan said. “We’re going to support him. It takes two hands to clap. We’re certainly there to clap with him.”
Ulysse ( 10- 0 with seven KOs), was a victim of bullying as a child and was reluctant to attend school, knowing he would be picked upon. Later, he became a bully, he admitted.
“I was scared. It’s not a good feeling,” said the 27- year- old. “What goes around comes around. Learn from your mistakes and don’t listen to what people have to say. Be happy with yourself and go forward. Sometimes in life you’re going to have struggles. It happens at every age.”
Also present at Friday’s ceremony were EMSB chairman Angela Mancini, along with Jean- François Lisée, the MNA for the riding of Rosemont.