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Cloutier’s Canada Corner
Karpency: "When I Beat Chad
Dawson, I Knew
I Had My Place In The Boxing Major Leagues"
By Daniel Cloutier
TORONTO - Tommy Karpency is clearly not intimidated to face
the WBC light heavyweight champion of the world, the
Montrealer southpaw Adonis Stevenson. The number nine
contender of the WBC ratings in the 175 pounds division,
Karpency, a fighter from Adah, Pennsylvania, will try to
dethrone Stevenson September 11th at the Racoh Coliseum in
Toronto. A huge mission. The fight will be televised by
Spike TV.
“Stevenson became WBC light heavyweight champion of the
world when he beat Chad Dawson in June 2013, then, when I
beat Dawson in October 2014 at the Foxwoods Casino in
Connecticut, I knew at that point I got my place in the
boxing major leagues, said Karpency at the final press
conference of the event Tuesday afternoon at the Royal York
Hotel in Toronto downtown.. It was certainly the most
significant win of my boxing career. If Stevenson doubts
that I am part of the elite of the light heavyweight
division, I will have a hell of surprise Friday night. I
know I have now the maturity and the experience to become
champion of the world. I will prove it in Toronto Friday. I
lost to the British Nathan Cleverlan and the American Polish
Andrzej Fonfara in 2012, but the people around me will tell
you I made tremendous improvements technically since three
years. In 2012, I was not mature enough to win fights on the
international scene. My situation has changed radically
since that time.”
Stevenson (26-1-0) beat Dawson by TKO in the first round,
and Karpency (25-4-1), a boxer from Adah, Pennsylvania, won
by split decision against Dawson.
“If Karpency believes seriously that he will cause a huge
surprise Friday evening, he is not realictic said Stevenson.
I know he will give his 100% to dethrone me, but I am ready
for what he can bring to the table. Karpency thinks that his
win against Chad Dawson las year showed he is ready to
become world champion, but you as me that I beat Dawson in
76 seconds in 2003 at Bell Centre. However, trust me, I am
taking Karpency seriously, because everything can happen in
a boxing fight.”
Karpency is the first southpaw that Stevenson is facing
since his KO in the first round against Dawson. “Karpency is
a good fighter, and I really hope he will attack me Friday
evening, said Stevenson. More he will attack me, more I will
have opportunities to connect him solidly. I want to hurt
him soon in the bout with my power shots. If he is hurt soon
in the bout, I will certainly control the action until the
end of the fight. I am sure I am stronger physically than
him, but I want to show to the crowd that I am also a better
fighter than him. I got a great preparation, mentally and
physically. I worked with different southpaws, then, I am
not worry at all by the fact he is a southpaw like me. I
really believe I will win this fight by KO before the 12th
round. I got to win clearly, to improve my chances to be
involved in an unification world titles fights in 2016.”
Stevenson is dreaming to face the Russian Sergey Kovalev,
who is WBA, WBA and WBO light heavyweight champion of the
world. “I know that the negotiations with Kovalev are not
easy, considering he is on contract with HBO and me with
Showtime, but he said he wants to face me, and I want to
face him absolutely. However, I don’t want to be concentrate
on Kovalev actually. I have another mission Friday: beat
decisively Karpency. If Karpency believes he will take
advantage of the fact I am taking lightly, he is really
wrong. I promise to my trainer, Sugar Hill, to fight with my
regular intensity, and with my regular concentration. I
cannot afford a mistake which could cost me an unification
world titles fight in 2016.”
Stevenson seems happy to fight in Toronto. “I have a lot of
fans in Montréal and Québec City, but I want to do my part
to become popular also in Toronto and in the others part of
Canada, said Stevenson. It’s about time that the pro boxing
wake up in a big city like Toronto and the Western Canadian
cities.”
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