| |
|
|
Steward-Trained 'Superman'
Stevenson
Ready For Gonzales, Targeting Bute
IBF No. 2 eliminator Feb. 18 at Bell Centre in Montreal
Super middleweight sensation Adonis "Superman" Stevenson,
now being trained by Hall of Famer Emanuel Steward in
Detroit, is prepared to successfully defend his
International Boxing Federation ("IBF") Inter-Continental
belt February 18 against former NABF champion Jesus "El
Martillo" Gonzales (27-1, 14 KOs) in the 12-round main event
that is also an IBF voluntary eliminator for the No. 2
position.
But Stevenson, rated No. 8 by the World Boxing Association
("WBA"), as well as No. 10 by the World Boxing Organization
("WBO") and No. 15 by the World Boxing Council "WBC") and
IBF, also has sights set on a mega-Montreal showdown against
IBF super middleweight champion Lucian Bute.
Stevenson vs. Gonzalez headlines a Quebec star-studded "Fast
& Furious Boxing Series" event, presented by Mise-O-Jeu and
Videotron, at Bell Centre in Montreal.
Stevenson (16-1, 13 KOs), fighting out of Longueuil, Quebec,
also is the reigning North American Boxing Association ("NABA")
and North American Boxing Organization ("NABO") and
International Boxing Federation ("IBF") Inter-Continental
super middleweight king.
"I'm going to prove in this fight that I deserve a world
title shot," Stevenson said. "I'm going to make a statement
because I want Bute! I called him out after my last fight.
He said he wants to fight (Andre) Ward or (Carl) Froch,
which I can understand but, if they are not available, I
want to prove I am the best alternative. I'm not going
anywhere and soon he will have to fight me. I will be the
No. 2-rated contender after this fight and soon after I will
be his mandatory."
Gonzales is slick southpaw out of Phoenix (AZ), who is rated
No. 12 by the IBF and No. 14 by the WBC, riding a 10-fight
win streak.
"My opponent is a good puncher who has good speed,"
Stevenson remarked. "I'm going to box him and then catch
him. When I do catch him, he's going down. He can't stay up
with me.
"I'm training in Detroit with Emanuel Steward. There are
many good sparring partners there. I'm getting focused and
will be ready for this fight. Emanuel is teaching me good
techniques. I'm going to be faster and stronger, use my jab
and left hand more, with better footwork, defense and more
confidence than ever. I will be a more complete fighter.
Emanuel Steward is the step-up I need to win a world title."
Providing chief support for Stevenson-Gonzales in the
eight-round co-feature is undefeated North American Boxing
Organization ("NABO") light heavyweight title-holder,
Colombian native and Montreal favorite Eleider "Storm"
Alvarez (7-0, 5 KOs), who takes on former USBA champion Otis
"Triple OG" Griffin (23-9-2, 9 KOs), winner of Oscar de la
Hoya's The Next Great Champ television reality show.
A loaded undercard features four entertaining eight-round
bouts: Montreal light welterweight Dierry "Douggy" Jean
(20-0, 13 KOs) vs. former English champion Ryan Barrett
(25-9-3, 5 KOs), former NABA super featherweight titlist
Arash Usmanee (16-0, 8 KOs) vs. Danish invader Innocent
Anyanwu (21-3-2, 12 KOs), unbeaten 2008 Colombian Olympian
Oscar "Kaboom" Rivas (8-0, 5 KOs) vs. Croatian kick-boxer
Ivica Perkovic (15-12, 11 KOs), and 2009 Canadian National
Team member, popular featherweight Tyler Asseltine (8-0, 5
KOs), vs. Andras Varga (5-1-2, 0 KOs).
Also scheduled to fight on the undercard is Quebec
heavyweight Didier Bence (4-0, 2 KOs) vs. Stephane "Brutus"
Tessier and light welterweight Ghislain Maduma (5-0, 2 KPs)
vs. Jeremy Abbott (3-2, 2 KOs) in a pair of six-round bouts;
as well as super featherweight Baha Laham (7-0, 2 KOs) vs.
Csaba "Little Tyson" Toth in a four-round match. All fights
and fighters are subject to change.
Tickets, starting at $60.00, are available to purchase at
the Bell Center, at www.evenko.ca, or GYM's office
(514-383-0666).
|
|
|
