| |
|
|
Cloutier’s Canada Corner
Adonis Stevenson: "Bellew’s Style
Will Certainly Help Me Win By KO"
By Daniel Cloutier
MONTRÉAL - The WBC light heavyweight champion of the world,
Adonis Stevenson, won his last nine bouts by KO or TKO, and
he really believes he will reach the number 10 November 30th
in the ring of the Québec City Colisée. The southpaw from
Montréal will face his mandatory challenger, the British
Tony Bellew (20-1-1), in the main event. The GYM Group,
InterBox and Matchroom Promotions will work together to
present a doubleheader televised by HBO.
The first world championship bout of the evening will
involve the Russian Sergey Kovalev (22-0-1), who will defend
his WBO light heavyweight belt against the Ukrainian Ismayl
Sillakh (21-1-0). “The HBO authorities are very
enthusiastic,and I can understand why,” said Yvon Michel,
the promoter of the GYM Group. “This boxing event will
involve two light heavyweights champions of the world and
two of the best challengers of the division. No doubt in my
mind that this event will be extremely popular in Québec
City. If Adonis wins again, he will become the only fighter
in the world to win three world champions bouts in a span of
six months.”
The GYM Group and InterBox (leads by the promoter Jean
Bédard), will combine their expertise and finances to
organize two huge boxing shows in a row: November 30th in
Québec City, and January 18th at Bell Centre in Montréal
(the fight Pascal-Bute).
President of the chain of sports restaurants La Cage aux
Sports, Bédard is very active in business in Montréal and
Québec City. Yvon Michel could not find a better business
partner for his next two boxing shows. Bellew, who lives in
Liverpool, England, was sitting at ringside September 28th
at Bell Centre, when Stevenson stopped the former IBF
champion of the world, Tavoris Cloud (24-2-0), at the end of
the seventh round.
“Stevenson did pretty well against Cloud, but, do you think
he impressed me? No! I am a real warrior, and you will see
what I mean when the fight will start,” said Bellew Thursday
afternoon in a press conference held at the Delta Hotel in
downtown of Montréal. I am a tall man as you can see, I am
6'3'', I have a long reach, then trust me, my physique will
be a serious problem for Stevenson. I love intense fight,
and I promise you a lot of action November 30th. I know that
in attacking constantly Stevenson, I can put him in trouble.
I am going in Québec City with the real intention to become
WBC champion of the world, and I will do it. No matter if
the fight is short or long, I will be the winner for sure.”
Stevenson (22-1-0) was smiling in listening Bellew makes
that prediction. “Chad Dawson said a thousand times in front
of the boxing journalists that I got absolutely no chance to
beat him,” said the Montrealer. Do I need to remind you
what's happened in the ring June 8th? I stopped Dawson in
the first round, withonly one power punch. Tavoris Cloud
said a thousand times in front of the boxing journalists
that never in his career he would lose a fight by KO or TKO.
Do I need to remind you what's happened in the ring last
month? I became the first fighter to stop Cloud, in forcing
him to surrender after the seventh round.Then, Bellew can
make all the predictions he wants, do you think I care? I
know the WBC belt will stay in my possession. Bellew is a
warrior, he loves to attack and throw power punches?
Perfect. His style will certainly help me to win by KO
November 30th.”
Sugar Hill, Stevenson's trainer, has a great time since few
months. “My uncle, Emmanuel Steward, has produced 47 world
champions, I have only one… but a hell of one,”said Hill.
“Adonis is the new superstar of the international boxing
scene. His name will be pronounced all around the world in
the next months. No doubt in my mind he is the fighter of
the year.”
Ed Hearn, the boss of Matchroom Promotions, the promoter of
Bellew, is predicting his fighter will cause a huge surprise
in Québec City. “If Stevenson believes a win against Tony is
simply a formality, he will have the surprise of his life,”
said Hearn, “Tony is very strong mentally and physically, he
hits hard and often, and since a year, he is more mature
than ever. It is absolutely true, never Tony has been so
good technically and strategically. I sincerely believe in
his chances to become new WBC champion of the world next
month.”
Just before the fight Kovalev-Sillakh, Kevin Bizier
(21-0-0), the NABA and IBF Inter-Continental welterweight
champion, will face one of the 15 best fighters of his
division. Bizier, who lives in Québec City, will know soon
the name of his next opponent.
|
|
|
