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Cloutier’s Canada Corner
Adonis Stevenson: "This Year Or
Next Year,
I Will Be The Worthy Successor Of Lucian Bute"
By Daniel Cloutier
MONTRÉAL -- The Montreal southpaw Adonis Stevenson has the
conviction that he has now in his hands all the weapons
necessary to become world champion. He is persuaded that
this year or next year, he will be the worthy successor of
Lucian Bute, as IBF super middleweight champion of the
world.
February 18th, at the Bell Centre Theater, Stevenson
(16-1-0) will fight the American Mexican Jesus “El Martillo”
Gonzales (27-1-0) in a IBF elimination bout (12 rounds) for
the official number two spot.
“Yes, you can say that I have now in my hands all the
weapons necessary to become world champion,” said Stevenson
this morning, in a press conference involving the famous
American trainer Emmanuel Steward, at the 9-4-10 restaurant
at Bell Centre. “I am more determined than ever, I am more
confident than ever, and I am now working with one of the
best trainers in the world, Emmanuel Steward. My promoter,
Yvon Michel, got the confirmation from the IBF championship
and ranking committee, that the winner of this elimination
bout will be ranked second contender in the world, just
behind the American Donovan George. Then, I am at only two
wins to be involved in a IBF world championship bout. I will
beat Gonzales February 18th, I will beat George or the
winner of another elimination bout between him and Librado
Andrade later this year, and I will dethrone Lucian Bute as
world champion at the end of the year or next year. I will
become his worthy successor. It is my mission, and I will
not fail. If Bute refuses to fight me, the winner of a fight
between me and George or me and Andrade, will be designed as
new IBF world champion.”
Yvon Michel is more than happy to see Stevenson involved in
a IBF elimination bout. “ A few months ago, the IBF told me
that the all fighters ranked in front of Adonis (ranked
8th), excepting Donovan George and Librado Andrade, will be
invited to participate to an elimination bout for the
position number two in the ratings,” said Yvon Michel. “The
IBF told me that if all these fighters said no, Adonis will
get his chance. It is exactly what happens now. I am more
and more positive that Adonis will be the IBF champion of
the world very soon. He is now so determined to reach that
goal, and at 34 years old, he does not want to lose time.
Before the beginning of the summer, Bute will be obliged to
fight his first contender. The IBF has confirmed it. If he
is refuses,(so he can fight Carl Froch twice instead), the
IBF title will be vacant, and the winners of the
Stevenson-Gonzales and George-Andrade’s fights.”
Emmanuel Steward believes that Stevenson will wash out the
super middleweight division. “I am very very impressed by
Stevenson,” said Steward. “He is perfectly balanced in the
ring, he has a long reach, his punches are accurate, and he
is certainly one of the most powerful punchers in the
world,” said Steward. “ I know when I have a special fighter
in my gym, and he is. As you know, I worked with several
stars in boxing, including Tommy Hearns, Oscar De La Hoya,
Miguel Cotto, Wladimir and Vitali Klitschko, Evander
Holyfield, Lennox Lewis, Aaron Pryor, Julio Cesar Chavez and
Jermain Taylor. I will be more than surprised if somebody
beats Adonis this year and next year. I really think he will
wash out the super middleweight division.”
Howard Grant has been replaced by Steward as main trainer.
“Adonis wanted to work with Emmanuel, who has an incredible
back ground, and great sparring partners at his the Kronk
Gym,” said Yvon Michel.
“Adonis will train in Detroit for all his major fights now.
But Adonis has no conflict with Howard Grant. We will ask to
Howard to be in the Adonis’s corner with Emmanuel, February
18th.”
Just before the Stevenson-Gonzales, the Montrealer Colombian
light heavyweight Eleider Alvarez (7-0-0) will fight the
Californian Otis “Triple OG” Griffin (23-9-2) in a 10 rounds
bout.
“Eleider has only seven pro bouts, and he his already
showing the talent and the maturity to fight at the North
American’s level,” said Yvon Michel. “If he beats Griffin,
who fought several big names in the international level, we
will look the involve him in a North American championship
this year. Eleider is not a baby. He was ranked third in the
world in the amateurs, when we signed him.”
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