Adonis Stevenson

Exclusive Interview with super middleweight contender Adonis Stevenson

Exclusive Interview with super middleweight contender Adonis Stevenson

“I stopped Bute with 20 ounce gloves in sparring. I stopped him in like the third round, so when Bute fought Carl Froch I knew he was going to get hit because Carl Froch has a good style.”—Adonis Stevenson

Exclusive Interview by Geoffrey Ciani – I was recently afforded the opportunity to speak with #1 ranked IBF super middleweight mandatory challenger Adonis Stevenson (19-1, 16 KOs). Stevenson is looking forward to the chance to fight for the title after the dust settles in the upcoming rematch between reigning IBF champion Carl ‘The Cobra’ Froch and current WBA title holder Mikkel Kessler. Stevenson shared his views on that match-up, and also discussed his plans while he waits for his opportunity. Additionally Stevenson also talked about his twelfth round stoppage victory against Donovan George, his opinion on 168 pound king Andre Ward, and the sad and untimely passing of his Hall of Fame trainer, Emanuel Steward. Here is what Stevenson had to say.

Audio:

GEOFFREY CIANI: Hello boxing fans. This is Geoff Ciani from East Side Boxing and I am joined by super middleweight contender, Adonis Stevenson. How’s everything going today, Adonis?

ADONIS STEVENSON: Very, very good. Very good, everything’s good.

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Adonis Stevenson ready to fight for vacant IBF strap if Froch gives it up

stevenson323By Michael Collins: #1 IBF mandatory challenger Adonis Stevenson (19-1, 16 KO’s) is still waiting to see what IBF super middleweight champion Carl Froch will do next. Froch wants to fight WBA super middleweight champion Mikkel Kessler next, but the two fighters are still wrapped up in a tough negotiation. Froch’s promoter Eddie Hearn says he expects this to be concluded this week. He’s going to have to make a decision at this time whether to fight Kessler and give up the IBF strap or face the dangerous Stevenson.

If Froch chooses to fight Kessler, then the IBF strap will be vacated by him and Stevenson will then fight one of three contenders for the vacant title. According to Steve Kim the options for Stevenson are as follows:

1. Edwin Rodriguez

2. Lucian Bute

3. Thomas Oosthuizen

Rodriguez is ranked #3, Bute #4 and Oosthuizen #5 by the International Boxing Federation. So it’ll be up to Rodriguez first if he wants to fight Stevenson for the vacant IBF 168 pound title. If he declines the fight, which I doubt he will, then Bute will be the next fighter to get a shot. It’s doubtful he’ll take the fight because it’s a high risk fight and he’ll likely wait to get his big money rematch against Carl Froch at some point in 2013.

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Froch will find out this week who his next opponent will be

froch3232By Michael Collins: IBF super middleweight champion Carl Froch (30-2, 22 KO’s) will learn this week which guy he’ll be facing next – Mikkel Kessler or Adonis Stevenson. Froch, 36, has made it no secret that he wants the rematch with Kessler next, as he lost to the Dane by a 12 round unanimous decision in April 2010 and he’s been bugged about the loss ever since.

Froch thinks he should have won the fight but boxing fans as a whole disagree and saw Kessler as the rightful winner. The Kessler rematch, if it can be made, will give Froch and Kessler a $2 million payday. That’s good money for super middleweight. It’s obviously not even close to the kind of cash that superstars like Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather Jr. rake in each time they fight, but then again Kessler and Froch aren’t on the radar screen in terms of worldwide popularity like those two talented fighters.

Froch told the Nottingham Post “We should know something in the next few days. If the Kessler fight is finalized we can apply for an exemption from the IBF. If we have to give up the belt to fight Kessler, so be it.”

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Adonis Stevenson will have to step aside for Froch/Kessler II

stevenson34By Joseph Herron: On October 12th, 1012, Super Middleweight contender Adonis “Superman” Stevenson knocked out Donovan George in spectacular fashion in the final round of a very entertaining twelve round slugfest to become the IBF mandatory opponent for current 168 pound title holder Carl “The Cobra” Froch.

According IBF bi-laws, Froch was given 90 days to negotiate a title defense with the number one contender after dispatching Yusaf Mack in three rounds on November 17th, 2012, in Nottingham, England.

But now, according to a spokesperson for the IBF, Adonis will have to step aside and wait until a unification bout between WBA title holder Mikkel Kessler and the incumbent IBF champ takes place.

“Usually, a mandatory defense is required of the reigning IBF Champion ninety days after a voluntary title defense,” stated a spokesperson for the International Boxing Federation. “But a unification bout always takes precedence over a mandatory defense upon request from the reigning champion.”

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Froch could end up having to face Adonis Stevenson next, not Bute

By Michael Collins: Eddie Hearn, the promoter for IBF super middleweight champion Carl Froch, is hoping the International Boxing Federation will allow Froch to temporarily bypass his IBF mandatory challenger Adonis Stevenson in order to try and get a rematch with former IBF champ Lucian Bute. However, it’s unclear whether the IBF will allow Froch to skip the Stevenson bout and it’s also unknown if Bute even wants the Froch rematch right now.

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Javan “Sugar” Hill: “Adonis Stevenson is ready to become the IBF Super Middleweight Champion”

Javan “Sugar” Hill: “Adonis Stevenson is ready to become the IBF Super Middleweight Champion”By Joseph Herron – After becoming the mandatory IBF title challenger by knocking out Super Middleweight contender Don “Da Bomb” George on October 12th at the Bell Centre in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, Adonis “Superman” Stevenson (19-1, 16 KOs) is ready to take on the best at 168 according the his friend and trainer Javan “Sugar” Hill.

“Adonis showed me a lot in his victory over Don George,” professes the nephew of boxing legend Emanuel Steward. “Even with an injured left hand, he showed a lot of poise and stuck to the game plan of out-boxing George. Even after he had a lot of good exchanges with Don, he went right back to the focus of boxing instead of slugging it out with him.”

“Even with the injury to his power hand bothering him, Adonis was able to turn it up and get Don George out of there in the twelfth round. Adonis really showed me that he’s ready to fight anyone in the world.”

Although Stevenson is the next in line to face the current IBF Super Middleweight Champion Carl “The Cobra” Froch, the talented young trainer claims that Adonis is willing to fight any of the major title holders in the packed 168 pound division.

“Without a doubt, Adonis is ready for any one of the three recognized major world champions at Super Middleweight; Carl Froch, Arthur Abraham, and Andre Ward. Adonis really proved a lot on October 12th. With the pressure of fighting a big puncher like Don George in an IBF title eliminator, and having to overcome the adversity of decisively beating a tough opponent with an injured hand, Adonis proved that he is worthy of an opportunity for a world title.”

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Adonis “Superman” Stevenson stops Don “Da Bomb” George in 12

Adonis “Superman” Stevenson stops Don “Da Bomb” George in 12By Joseph Herron: In a fight dedicated to legendary trainer Emanuel Steward, Super Middleweight contender Adonis “Superman” Stevenson (19-1, 16 KOs) went eleven plus rounds with the always rugged Don “Da Bomb” George (23-3-1, 20 KOs) before putting him away with only 1:57 left in the fight.

Known for being one of the hardest punchers in the division, the new IBF mandatory challenger to Carl Froch’s Super Middleweight title showed off his much improved technical skills that he’s been cultivating at the world renowned Kronk Gym in Detroit, Michigan with Steward and chief second Javan “Sugar” Hill.

In what started out as a tactical fight, the 35 year old Canadian resident controlled the action with sporadic right jabs to the body and head of the hard-nosed Chicago resident. Although George staggered the hometown favorite in the third round with a big right hand bomb, it was Stevenson who was regularly getting the better of the exchanges and throwing the wider variety of punches throughout the majority of the bout.

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Adonis “Superman” Stevenson vs. Don “Da Bomb” George: “Someone’s getting knocked-out”

Adonis “Superman” Stevenson vs. Don “Da Bomb” George: “Someone’s getting knocked-out”By Joseph Herron: On Friday, October 12th, a super fight will break out in the Super Middleweight division at the Bell Centre in Montreal, Quebec, Canada.

Slated to be televised this week on Wealth TV, at 9PM EST, two of the biggest punchers in the very competitive 168 pound division will square off in an impactful IBF title eliminator. Popular hometown KO artist Adonis “Superman” Stevenson (18-1, 15 KOs) will take on the always dangerous Don “Da Bomb” George (23-2-1, 20 KOs) in yet another intriguing match-up within the entertaining Super Middleweight division.

While most fight scribes and boxing pundits are viewing this fight with eager anticipation, lifelong boxing coach Ronnie Shields is observing this match up with a very meticulous eye.

The elite level trainer’s Super Middleweight standout, Edwin “La Bomba” Rodriguez (22-0, 15 KOs), could easily find himself in the ring with the eventual winner sometime in 2013.

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