Lohoré was all set to take on BRAVE CF middleweight champion and Hall of Famer Mohammad Fakhreddine for the interim super-welterweight title, but after Fakhreddine was unable to make weight for the title fight, the bout was cancelled, and Lohoré’s chance to fight for the belt evaporated on the eve of the fight.
But, on fight night in Isa Town, Lohoré, who had made weight for the bout, was surprised in the cage when he was presented with the championship belt as he was crowned interim champion.
Initially, Lohoré was introduced to the crowd as he made his walk to the cage for an interview with BRAVE CF commentator Phil Campbell.
“First of all, I want to say thanks to BRAVE for giving me this opportunity. Thanks to the fans who turned up. It’s a great show,” said Lohoré.
“I’m disappointed. I’ve put in the work. I don’t have anything I needed to do.”
He was then asked if he had a message for Fakhreddine, and he advised the BRAVE CF legend to stick to fighting at middleweight.
“Stay in your weight class,” he said.
“You can’t make the weight. Six kilos is a lot of weight. I think you should stay in your weight class and let me stay in my weight class. This weight class is mine, and I’m ready to prove it. Give me an opponent anytime soon – next month, next week, I’m ready to go.”
Lohoré’s attention then turned to Luiz Cado. The Brazilian currently holds the the BRAVE CF super-welterweight title, and Lohoré has been targeting him for months. Cado being unable to fight opened the door for an interim title fight between Lohoré and Fakhreddine, and with that bout now scrapped, the Frenchman returned his attention to the division’s top dog.
“For me, I want the title, the real title,” he said.
“So Luiz Cado, the one who’s got the title, is who I’m looking at. But I’m ready to fight anyone. I’m ready to keep staying active, keep competing and keep sharing my skills.”
Lohoré didn’t get the chance to fight, but he said he still enjoyed the experience of being in Bahrain for fight week for the promotion’s biggest-ever show.
“It’s been a great experience. It’s my first time in Bahrain. I got the kids coming up to me, asking me for pictures. It’s been a great, a great, great event. Everything is good, and I’m grateful to be part of the show.”
At that point, as the interview wrapped, BRAVE CF Mohammad Shahid stepped into the cage and presented Lohoré with the interim super welterweight championship belt as he was officially crowned the promotion’s interim 175-pound champion.
With a belt freshly adorning his shoulder, Lohoré sent a message to the rest of the division, and the man currently holding the main version of the title.
“Now I am the interim title holder. Everyone in the weight class, I told you that I was coming in for the title. Now it’s time to get the real title,” he stated.
“Luiz Cado, get ready. Let’s get this fight done. If Luiz is not available to fight, we’re ready to fight anyone in December or January. There’s a title to defend, and there’s a real champion to defend the title.”
