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Cloutier’s Canada Corner
Stevenson KO's Williams In The
Fourth Round
By Daniel Cloutier
QUÉBEC CITY, Canada - The Las Vegas bookies knew exactly
what they were doing in establishing the Montrealer Adonis
Stevenson favorite by five to one to beat the American
Thomas Williams Jr. Friday evening in the ring of the
Videotron Centre in Québec City. Stevenson (28-1-0) made a
seventh successful defense of his WBC 175 pounds belt in
front of about 7,000 boxing fans, in beating Williams
(20-2-0), a boxer from Fort Washington, Maryland, by KO in
the fourth round.
Stevenson, who was the aggressor at the beginning of the
bout, provoked a knockdown in the second minute of the first
round, with a powerful left hand on the chin. Williams
looked severely hurt on that shot.
The second round was extremely spectacular. Stevenson
connected his opponent which more than 20 solid attacks, and
Williams replied with four intense charges.
The third round was pretty close, but in the last minute,
Stevenson connected Williams will several power shots to the
head.
The fourth round was extremely violent. Both fighters were
attacking furiously. But in the last minute of the round,
Stevenson charged furiously his opponent, attacking
constantly with both hands, with the result that Williams
was knocked out.
Stevenson finished his opponent with a powerful left shot on
the head. “I am not surprised at all by this result, said
Stevenson in French in getting out of the ring. Williams
compromised his defense in attacking me, like I was
expecting it, and I got the chance to hurt him many times
with my right hand, my uppercuts and my hooks. I knew I was
a more dangerous puncher than him, I knew I was better than
him technically, and I knew I would win this bout by KO or
TKO. When Williams went on the floor in the fourth round, I
knew the fight was over. It was clear he was suffering.
Williams is the third southpaws I am facing in pro boxing,
and I beat all three by KO or TKO. I said Williams was
dreaming when he said he would knock me out in less than six
rounds and leave Québec City with the WBC belt in his
luggage, and I was right.”
The Montrealer referee Mike Griffin declared Williams KO at
2.54 minutes of this fourth round.
“Williams fought with intensity like I was expecting it, but
as you saw it, Adonis was more persistent than him, said the
promoter of the GYM Group, Yvon Michel. Adonis, like you saw
it, has been able to take all the Williams power shots. And
I know since long time that Adonis is one of the most
destructive puncher in the world, one of the most powerful
puncher pound for pound in the world, and certainly the most
dangerous puncher of the light heavyweight division on the
international scene. With his power shots to the body and
the head, clearly, Adonis was hurting Williams.”
Bernard Barré, the scout of the GYM Group, said: “I
predicted a win by KO or TKO for Adonis between the sixth
and the 10th round, but it came earlier. Williams took a lot
of risks in attacking so often Adonis in the first rounds. I
knew Adonis would take advantage of the situation.”
For Stevenson, it was a 23rd win by KO or TKO. The
Montrealer southpaw scored six KO or TKO in the eight world
championship bouts he fought so far.
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