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Cloutier’s Canada Corner
Adonis
Stevenson: "I Cannot Take Williams Lightly"
By Daniel Cloutier
MONTRÉAL - The WBC light heavyweight champion of the world,
the Montrealer southpaw Adonis Stevenson, said he is
training extremely hard to be perfectly prepared for the
seventh defence of his world title. July 29th at the
Videotron Centre in Québec City, Stevenson (27-1-0) will
face his mandatory challenger, Thomas Williams Jr. (20-1-0),
a fighter from Fort Washington, Maryland.
“Yes, I am training extremely hard in Detroit, and I will
certainly be in perfect shape July 29th, said Stevenson
Monday morning in a press conference held at the Videotron
Centre in Québec City. I am so excited to get the chance to
defend my world title in Québec City, a city absolutely
marvelous. As you know, my last fight was in Toronto. I know
my fans are more in Montréal and Québec City.”
Stevenson said he got the chance to watch the video of the
WBC elimination opposing Williams to the Dominican Edwin
Rodriguez. April 30th in Carson City, California, Williams
caused a surprise in beating Rodriguez (28-2-0) by TKO in
the third round.
“A lot of people believe Williams caused a huge surprise in
stopping Rodriguez in less than three rounds April 30th, but
personally, I was not surprised at all, said Stevenson. I
know Williams is an explosive puncher, a puncher a lot of
more dangerous than a lot of boxing fans thought before this
fight with Rodriguez. I cannot take Williams lightly July
29th. And I won’t. I don’t want to give him the chance to
cause another huge surprise on the international boxing
scene. I guess the boxing fans will assist to a spectacular
bout July 29th. It will be a match up between two
destructive punchers.”
Stevenson scored 22 TKO or KO in his 27 wins in pro boxing.
Williams won 14 times by KO or TKO. “Adonis did not fight
since 10 months, since his win over the American Tommy
Karpency (TKO in the fourth round) in Toronto, but I know
how much he is taking the training seriously, said Yvon
Michel, the promoter of the GYM Group in Montréal. Adonis
worked like hell on a daily basis in the gym in Detroit the
be perfectly prepared physically, technically, mentally and
strategically. I am sure he will fight intensively July
29th, and he will be perfectly concentrate on the job to do.
I am expecting another great performance from him.”
Sugar Hill, the Stevenson’s trainer, said: “No doubt, Adonis
will be on fire July 29th in the ring of the Videotron
Centre. He is extremely motivated to defend his title, then,
he will certainly fight with intensity and concentration
when the first bell will ring. Adonis is champion of the
world, and he is so determinate to stay it.”
Williams is expecting a violent fight in Québec City. “I
know Stevenson will do everything possible to stay champion
of the world July 29th, and I will do everything possible to
dethrone him, said Williams. I am sure the boxing fans will
assist to a violent bout, a fight between two aggressive and
powerful punchers. It’s a fantastic opportunity for me, and
I don’t want to waist it. In becoming the new WBC light
heavyweight champion of the world, I would have my chances
to make money and become more popular. It will be extremely
excited.”
Two year ago, Williams met Sugar Hill. “Two years ago, Sugar
Hill told me “Thomas, you have a great future in boxing”. I
am sure at that moment he was not expecting a bout between
Adonis and me. It is pretty special for me to see him now. I
know Sugar Hill is a great boxing trainer.”
Stevenson is totally concentrate on Williams now, but
Monday, he admitted that he hopes to face the Russian Sergey
Kovalev in a WBC, WBA, WBO and IBF unification world titles
bout in 2017. “It still my dream to face Sergey Kovalev in
an unification titles bout, said Stevenson. I guess it will
happen in 2017. It would be an historic moment for the light
heavyweight division. However, actually, I have only one
name in mind: Thomas Williams Jr.. I said it and I repeat
it: I got to take this guy very seriously.”
Just before the bout Stevenson-Williams, the Montrealer
Colombian Eleider Alvarez (19-0-0), a light heavyweight,
will face the Argentinian Maximiliano Gomez (20-5-0) in a 10
rounds bout.
The Montrealer welterweight Custio Clayton (8-0-0), the
heavyweight Eric Martel (11-6-0), from Québec City, the
Montrealer super lightweight Yves Ulysse Jr. (10-0-0), the
super lightweight David Théroux (11-1-0), from Sorel,
Québec, and the female Marie-Eve Dicaire (4-0-0), from
Montréal, will be involved in the preliminary bouts of this
boxing show.
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