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Cloutier’s Canada Corner
Articles Put The
Stevenson-Bellew Fight In Danger; Sugar Hill Considered
Cancelling The Fight Days Before
By Daniel Cloutier
MONTRÉAL - Sugar Hill, the Adonis Stevenson's trainer, is
admitting that his fighter had a lot of problems to keep his
concentration during the 72 hours preceding his win by TKO
in the sixth round against the British Tony Bellew, Saturday
evening in the ring of the Québec City Colisée.
Stevenson was really distracted by the Montréal and Québec
City newspapers articles relating his time past in jail 15
years ago, for his association to a Montréal street gang
involved in juvenile prostitution. A week ago, a Montréal
journalist from La Presse exhumed articles published on the
Stevenson's sentence (four years) 15 years ago… and the
following day, the social medias and others newspapers in
the Province of Québec made a follow up on the case. Over
half of the articles published on the fight Stevenson-Bellew
last week, were concerning the Adonis youth's mistakes.
Stevenson, who was at 72 hours of the second defense of his
WBC light heavyweight championship of the world, was
extremely furious by this situation. He got the feeling that
some journalists were maliciously trying to turn the Québec
population against him. But the 8,870 spectators Saturday at
The Colisée, gave him an ovation when he show up in the
ring.
“Three days before the event, Adonis was so mad by these
negative articles on his youth's mistakes, it was almost
impossible for me to keep him concentrated on the bout and
on the work to do to complete the training, said Hill, the
Emmanuel Steward nephew. And you know as me how much the
mental preparation is important at few days of a major world
championship bout. The day before the weight in, I was
wondering seriously if the best decision to take in these
circumstances, was to cancel the bout. But Adonis really
wanted to face Bellew. Cancel the fight was out of question
for him, event if he was really upset. But when the fight
started Saturday evening, I could see that Adonis was not
himself, like he was against Chad Dawson and Tavoris Cloud.
Its only after four rounds of action that Adonis started to
listen to my advice in the corner and be himself in the
ring. Its not a coincidence if my fighter got his best
moments in the fifth and the sixth rounds… and Bellew his
worst moments.”
During the after fight press conference, Stevenson (23-1-0)
mentioned that he was thinking seriously to move his family
in USA, possibly in New York, Las Vegas or Miami. The
Montréal southpaw has relatives living in Miami. “I don't
know if some journalists in the Province of Québec are
racists, but they are maliciously trying to tarnish my
image, and is not acceptable, said Stevenson. I wanted more
and more to meet young black teenagers in Montréal schools,
to encourage them to practice sports, to achieve something,
and advice them to not do the terrible mistakes I did 17
years ago. However, if the journalist are giving me a
criminal image, how can I go meet the teenagers to talk to
them? Its outrageous to tarnish my image now, considering I
am a perfect citizen, a good father and a boxer who won
three world championship bouts this year. No fighter of our
generation did that in our country. Yes, I am considering
seriously the idea to move in USA with my family.”
Yvon Michel, the GYM Group promoter, will get a private
discussion with his world champion during the next days. “I
really hope that Adonis will stay in Montréal, said Yvon
Michel. When I will meet him, I will certainly insist on the
fact that our boxing fans are appreciating so much his
achievements in the ring. The great reaction of the crowd
Saturday when he was walking to the ring, is proving it. And
he got an ovation when he floored Tony Bellew in the sixth
round, and stopped him few seconds after. No doubt in my
mind that is popularity in Montréal and Québec is
increasing. Our fans are admiring so much his courage and
determination in the ring, plus the fact he is one of the
best puncher pound for pound in the world. Its definitively
more logical to talk about his three world championship
bouts won in a span of six months, an exclusive achievement
this year on the international boxing scene, than talk about
his youth's mistakes. His mistakes, it's the past, his great
achievements, is the present. And I know that his future is
extremely promising».
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