Florent Dervis

Florent began sport at six and played football for fourteen years. He describes a happy childhood, but also schoolwork that required extra effort to obtain the same results as his classmates. Learning to work harder helped shape his approach to preparation. Music and different forms of art remain important interests outside boxing.

He first met Barış through business, before the relationship became a friendship and a shared sporting journey. Boxing offered a healthier way of life and a break from nights out and habits that took him away from his goals. Each session became a chance to understand his body and his reactions.

Starting without an amateur career meant learning directly under professional ring conditions. He remembers a difficult debut, still developing the instincts and habits of the sport. His many six-round exhibitions were a way to build that experience.

Before his first attempt at a belt, he doubted himself against an opponent with a high knockout rate. Preparation and discipline helped him arrive with greater confidence. Despite a decision he found disappointing, he remembers the quality of his performance and the step forward it represented. The Barclays Center in New York, on the Gervonta Davis–Lamont Roach card, is another major milestone in his account.

He also recalls the collapse of a business and a left-shoulder injury during a training camp in the United States. Those setbacks tested his commitment. He acknowledges doubt without allowing it to define the end of his career. In the ring, he values pressure, heart and entertaining fights against demanding opponents.