Adonis Stevenson retained the WBC Light Heavyweight title with an action packed 4th round stoppage over Thomas Williams and the Videotron Centre in Quebec City, Canada.

Stevenson dropped Williams in the last 30 seconds of the opening frame with a left to the top of the head.  Williams came back to rock Stevenson on several occasions over the next two rounds.  Stevenson came out and round four and landed some tremendous body shots that started breaking Williams down.  Williams started to bleed from both over and under his left eye.  Stevenson then landed a perfect six-inch straight left that crumpled Williams face-first to the canvas.  Williams tried to get to his fight but could not beat the count at 2:54.

Stevenson of Montreal is now 28-1 with 23 knockouts.  Williams of Baltimore is now 20-2.

Eleider Alvarez won a 10-round unanimous decision over late-replacement Robert Berridge in a light heavyweight fight.

In round five, Berridge’s right eye began to swell.  Alvarez dominated the action and won by scores of 99-90 and 98-91 twice.

Alvarez is now 20-0.  Berridge is 27-5-1.

Immanuwel Aleem and DeMond Nicholson battled to a majority draw in a middleweight bout.

Aleem took a card 77-75 while two cards read even at 76-76.

Aleem is now 16-0-1.  Nicholson is 17-1-1.

Follow all the action as Adonis Stevenson defends the WBC Light Heavyweight title against hard punching Thomas Williams.  The action begins at 9 PM ET with a Light Heavyweight showdown between Eleider ALvarez and Robert Berridge.

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Round 1: Williams lands a left …LEFT TO TOP OF HEAD AND DOWN GOES WILLIAMS

Round 2: Stevenson lands a left..Williams lands a hard right hook..Combination…Stevenson is staggered by a combination

Round 3: Left from Williams and 2 rights…Left from Stevenson..Uppercut from Williams…Right hook

Round 4:  Good body shots from Stevenson…Williams cut above and below his right eye…More body work from Stevenson..HUGE LEFT AND DOWN GOES WILLIAMS…HE CANT GET UP AND THE FIGHT IS OVER

Round 1:  Feel out round

Round 2:  Quick left from Alvarez..

Round 3:

Round 4 Good exchange..Right from Alvarez

Round 5 Left from Berridge,,,Redness below right eye of Berridge..Uppercut from Alvarez

Round 6 Alvarez lands a right

Round 7 Nice right over the top from Alvarez

Round 8: Left hook from Alvarez…

Round 9: Left and right from Alvarez…Berridge bleeding from mouth..Good body shot from Alvarez

Round 10 Alvarez landing hard shots

99-90, 98-92, 98-92 Alvarez

Adonis ”Superman” Stevenson – WBC and lineal light heavyweight world champion:
”Welcome to Québec City Thomas. I saw your fight against Edwin Rodriguez. It was a nice performance with a beautiful KO. When I saw that bout, I told myself I wanted that fight with you. I knew I was going to be motivated.”
”I know Williams hits hard and that he has a name now in the United States, but I keep the same Kronk Gym mentality Emmanuel Steward taught me: we go for the KO. It is also my daughter’s birthday and I want to get her a KO, I am motivated. That will be exciting…don’t blink!”
Thomas ”Top Dog” Williams – WBC #8 light heavyweight ranked challenger:
”You don’t know what I have been through to be here. Tweets, talks and predictions won’t mean nothing Friday night…..facts will. There will be a new champion.”
Eleider ”Storm” Alvarez – WBC #1 ranked challenger and WBC Silver light heavyweight champion:
”With only a 10-day notice, I am really happy to face a fighter of good caliber. Berridge is a tough guy who faced good names like Thomas Oosthuizen and Blake Caparello, but I prepared really hard for Chad Dawson. I am ready.”

Robert ”The Butcher” Berridge – New Zealand light heavyweight champion :
”I am excited to be here and to face a solid boxer. Expect a good performance from me Friday.”
Yvon Michel – President of GYM:
”The event is called ‘SHOOTOUT’ because of the aggressive style of Thomas Williams Jr, who fights like there is no tomorrow, combined with the explosive power of Adonis Stevenson.”
”Williams is a clear and present danger but we are convinced that Adonis is well prepared and will succeed, so that we will all be happy Saturday morning while eating breakfast. We still have not seen his full potential yet.’
”The fight between Eleider Alvarez and Robert Berridge is really important for the rankings in the light heavyweight division. Alvarez is highly considered by all the independent rankings (The Ring, BoxRec) and Berridge was already in training before the withdrawal of Chad Dawson, because he was supposed to fight on HBO PPV last weekend before the bout was cancelled for administrative reasons. He is fearless and a hard hitter.”
Tickets for the “SHOOTOUT” event, jointly promoted by GYM and Gestev and presented by Vidéotron, in collaboration with Mise-O-Jeu, start at $50.00 and are on sale and available to purchase at www.ticketmaster.ca, the Videotron Centre Box Office, calling GYM at (514) 383-0666 andthe Champion Boxing club (514) 376-0980, or by dialing 1-855-790-1245

MONTRÉAL (July 23, 2016) – Undefeated No. 1 light heavyweight contender Eleider “Storm” Alvarez (19-0, 10 KOs) has found a solid boxer to face him on the July 29 card, featuring the WBC and lineal world light heavyweight title fight between defending champion Adonis “Superman” Stevenson (27-1, 22 KOs) and challenger Thomas Williams Jr. (20-1, 14 KOs), at the Videotron Centre. WBC Silver light heavyweight champion Alvarez will face New Zealand southpaw slugger Robert “The Butcher” Berridge (27-4-1, 21 KOs).

The Alvarez-Berridge co-feature, scheduled for 10 rounds at a 180-pound catch-weight, will air on Spike TV in the United States. Named “The Butcher” because of his aggressive style and power, the 31-year-old Australian sputhpaw has won the several regional titles during his pro career including New Zealand (2013 and 2015), WBC Asia (2013), PABA (2013-2014) and WBO Oriental (2013-2014).

“I prepared to face a southpaw in Chad Dawson and Berridge is also left-handed, so adapting will be easier,” Alvarez said. “I tip my hat to him for accepted this challenge with only a 10-day notice

“For sure, I am really disappointed in Dawson’s withdrawal, but these things happen that you cannot control. I’m still happy to get in the ring of the Vidéotron Centre in Quebec City.”

“Berridge is an aggressive, powerful and fierce fighter,” Groupe Yvon Michel president (GYM) Yvon Michel added. “We are pleased to have found an opponent of this quality to face Alvarez in front of the Spike TV cameras.”

A new rival for Bouchard
Popular Sébastien Bouchard (13-1, 4 KOs), of Baie-Saint-Paul, Canada, has a new opponent, Alejandro Herrera (14-3-2, 5 KOs), in a six-round bout.

Stevenson-Williams referee and judges announced
Names of the officials for the Stevenson vs. Williams main event fight have also been disclosed. The referee will be Michael Griffin (Quebec), the three ringside judges Richard DeCarufel (Quebec), Massimo Barrovecchio (Italy) and Juergen Langos (Germany), plus supervisor
Bob Logist (Belgium).

Two public training sessions were planned this weekend on Grande Allée Boulevard in Quebec City. The first, featuring Stevenson, took place today (Saturday) and tomorrow several undercard boxers will workout starting at 1 p.m. ET.

Tickets for the “SHOOTOUT” event, jointly promoted by GYM and Gestev and presented by Vidéotron, in collaboration with Mise-O-Jeu, start at $50.00 and are on sale and available to purchase at www.ticketmaster.ca, the Videotron Centre Box Office, calling GYM at (514) 383-0666 andthe Champion Boxing club (514) 376-0980, or by dialing 1-855-790-1245

MONTRÉAL (July 19, 2016) – Former lineal Word Light Heavyweight champion “Bad” Chad Dawson (34-4, 19 KOs) will not face Eleider “Storm” Alvarez (19-0, 10 KOs) in the co-main event on “SHOOTOUT,” headlined by the light heavyweight world title bout between defending champion Adonis “Superman” Stevenson (27-1, 22 KOs) and Thomas Williams Jr. (20-1, 14 KOs), July 29 at the Centre Videotron in Quebec City. The 34-year-old Dawson, fighting out of New Haven, Connecticut, injured his shoulder during training camp.

“While we were waiting for Chad Dawson to join the planned conference call today (Tuesday), we learned from his manager that he injured his shoulder in training, and that he has withdraw from his July 29th fight against Eleider Alvarez,” Groupe Yvon Michel (GYM) president Yvon Michel said.

Alvarez, the reigning WBC Silver light heavyweight champion and World Boxing Council (WBC) No. 1-ranked light heavyweight, will still fight on the July 29th card.

“We are already looking for a replacement opponent so Eleider retains his spot on Spike TV,” Michel added.

Tickets for the SHOOTOUT event are in sale at www.ticketmaster.ca, at the Centre Vidéotron box office, or by calling at GYM’s office (514) 383-0666, Champion boxing club (514) 376-0980 or at 1-855-790-1245, starting at $50.

QUEBEC CITY (June 24, 2016) – Light heavyweight world champion Adonis “Superman” Stevenson (27-1, 22 KOs) returns to defend his belt against hard-hitting challenger Thomas “Top Dog” Williams Jr. (20-1, 14 KOs) in the main event of Premier Boxing Champions (PBC) on Spike Friday, July 29 from Centre Videotron in Quebec City, Canada.

Televised coverage begins at 9 p.m. ET/8 pm. CT and features former world champion “Bad” Chad Dawson (34-4, 19 KOs) against top light heavyweight contender Eleider “Storm” Alvarez (19-0, 10 KOs) in a 10-round showdown.

Stevenson will be making his seventh title defense and his second straight defense on Spike. His latest challenge will be the young and hungry Williams Jr. who comes in with a straight-forward style and a ton of confidence after he knocked out Edwin Rodriguez in the second round of their April clash.

“I am very happy to return to the ring on July 29 in Quebec,” said Stevenson. “I will demonstrate that like fine wine, I am even better with age. Even though I haven’t boxed in 10 months, I’ve never left the gym and I’m willing and ready to defend my crown.”

“There were many people who had lost trust in me two years ago after my loss, but here I am” said Williams Jr. “There were circumstances that led to that result, but I don’t make excuses and that is in the past. I’m coming off of the best performance of my career and I’m ready to hold that belt on July 29. Stevenson has never faced a puncher like me.”

Tickets for the live event, which is promoted by Group Yvon Michel (GYM), start at $50, and are on sale now. Tickets are on sale at Videotron Centre, GYM (514) 383-0666 or at Champion Boxing Club (514) 376-0980.

“Adonis Stevenson has been a world champion since 2012 and we expect another great show on July 29,” said Yvon Michel, President og GYM. “The fights on July 29 will include a group of ambitious and talented boxers, which promises a show with intense fighters making statements.”

Stevenson won the world light heavyweight title in June of 2013 in Montreal, via a sensational 76-second, first-round knockout over the then-undisputed king of the division Chad Dawson. The impressive victory earned Stevenson “Knockout of the Year” and “Fighter of the Year” accolades. From there, Stevenson went on to record stoppage victories over Tavoris Cloud and Tony Bellew while winning a decision over Andzej Fonfara. Born in Haiti, but fighting out of Quebec, Stevenson defended his title twice last year as he defeated Sakio Bika and stopped Tommy Karpency in the third round.

Williams Jr., a 28-year-old from Fort Washington, Maryland, was introduced to boxing by his father, a former pro fighter. A dynamite puncher, his biggest victory came in his last bout when he knocked out Rodriguez in their fast-paced duel. However, the southpaw has also proven his endurance with unanimous decision victories over warriors like Michael Gbenga, Yusaf Mack and Otis Griffin. Prior to the showdown with Rodriguez he scored a second-round TKO over world-ranked contender Umberto Savigne last November.

A former world champion at light heavyweight, Dawson returns to the ring looking to earn another world title shot. The 33-year-old owns victories over former world champions Bernard Hopkins, Antonio Tarver and Tomasz Ademek and is coming off of victories over Shujaa El Amin. The New Haven, Connecticut-native will be fighting in Canada for the fourth time in his career.

A 2008 Colombian Olympian fighting out of Montreal, Alvarez defeated fellow top contender Isaac Chilemba in November 2015 to solidify his spot amongst the top light heavyweights in the division. The 32-year-old owned victories over previously unbeaten Ryno Liebenberg and Andrew Gardner plus triumphs over veterans Edison Miranda and Alexander Johnson heading into 2015. Alvarez was impressive in stopping Anatoliy Dudchenko and giving Isidro Ranon Prieto his first loss leading up to the bout with Chilemba.

For more information visit www.premierboxingchampions.com, www.groupeyvonmichel.ca, and www.spike.com/shows/premier-boxing-champions, follow on Twitter @PremierBoxing, @AdonisSuperman, @TopDoggJr, @yvonmichelgym @SpikeTV and @SpikeSports and become a fan on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/PremierBoxing, and www.Facebook.com/Spike. Highlights available to embed at www.youtube.com/premierboxingchampions. PBC on ESPN is sponsored by Corona Extra, La Cerveza Mas Fina.

MONTREAL, Canada (June 14, 2016) – Groupe Yvon Michel (GYM) and Gestev are proud to officially announce, “SHOOTOUT”, the next fight for power-punching Adonis “Superman” Stevenson, July 29 at Centre Videotron, a presentation of Videotron in association with Mise-O-Jeu. This event is presented as part of the prestigious “Premier Boxing Champions” (PBC) series, to be broadcast live in the United States, and on Canal Indigo in Canada.

Stevenson (27-1, 22 KOs), who established himself as one of the most powerful pound-for-pound fighters in the world, will defend his World Boxing Council (WBC) and lineal light heavyweight (175 pound division) title for the seventh time, against the dangerous, WBC No. 9 rated Thomas “Top Dog” Williams (20-1, 14 KOs).

“I am very happy to get back in the ring for my next fight, which will be held July 29 in the superb Centre Videotron of Quebec, against Thomas Williams Jr.,” Stevenson said. I will demonstrate that, like fine wine, I am even better with age. Even though I haven’t boxed for 10 months, I’ve never left the gym and I’m willing to defend my crown.”

Williams, of Fort Washington, Maryland, at 28, is 10 years younger than Stevenson and also left-handed. He had a successful amateur career and is reputed to be a major danger in the ring as evidenced by his 10 victories won by knockout in less than two rounds, including his last two outings against renowned Edwin Rodriguez (28-1, 19 KOs) and Umberto Savigne (12-2, 9 KOs).

In both of those two fights, Williams was an underdog, but his determination and lethal punch made the difference. “There were many who had lost trust in me two years ago after my loss to Gabriel Campillo (24-6-1, 11 KOs),” Williams explained. “I don’t make excuses but there were circumstances that led to this result. I’m coming off the best performance of my career and I’m ready to make a change July 29 in terms of the holding title belt. Stevenson has never faced a puncher like me in the past.”

“We are proud to start our association with Gestev and Centre Videotron with this gala event,” GYM president Yvon Michel added. “Adonis Stevenson became the WBC light heavyweight champion in June 2012 and since then 15 of 16 other WBC titles have changed hands. Only Shinsuke Yamanaka, of Japan, is still champion. Other fights on the July 29th card will include a group of ambitious, talented boxers, promising a show with intense fighters making statements.”

In the co-feature, current WBC Silver light heavyweight champion and WBC No. 1 contender, Eleider Alvarez (19-0, 10 KOs), will attempt to maintain his position as the WBC mandatory challenger against Maximiliano Gomez (22-5, 9 KOs), of Argentine.

Also scheduled to be in action are Nova Scotia native and adopted Montreal fighter Custio Clayton (8-0, 7 KOs), who will attempt to continue his rise in the welterweight division, Quebec heavyweight Eric Martel Bahoeli (11-6, 7 KOs) will realize his dream to fight in Videotron Centre, charismatic Montreal welterweight Junior Ulysse (10-0, 7 KOs) and welterweight Marie Eve Dicaire (4-0) are also slated to be in action. Other fights and fighters will soon be announced for the July 29th card.

All fights and fighters are subject to change.

“SHOOTOUT” tickets, starting at $50.00, will go on sale Saturday, June 18 at 10 a.m. ET at Videotron Centre, GYM (514) 383-0666, or at Champion Boxing Club (514) 376-0980. A pre-sale will be available June 16-17 for subscribers to the Videotron Centre newsletter as well as Quebec Remparts season ticket holders.

INFORMATION:
www.groupeyvonmichel.ca/
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Twitter: @YvonMichelGYM, @AdonisSuperman, @TopDoggJr, @StormAlvarez, @Maziitoo, @CustioClayton
Instagram: @YvonMichelGYM, @AdonisSuperman, @ThomasWilliamsJr23, @StormAlvarez

Quebec City, Quebec, Canada: This Saturday, Isaac “Golden Boy” Chilemba (24-2-2, 10 KOs) will take on Eleider “Storm” Alvarez (18-0, 10 KOs) for the mandatory position in the WBC at Centre Videotron in Quebec City, Quebec; the winner will challenge Adonis “Superman” Stevenson for the WBC Light Heavyweight World Title in 2016.

Chilemba, 28, was born in Blantyre, Malawi one of the poorest regions in the world. He moved to Johannesburg, South Africa in 2004 to pursue a professional boxing career. Over the last ten years since his professional debut, Isaac has very quietly climbed the ranks of the light heavyweight division. Earlier this year, he defeated fellow Main Events’ stablemate Vasily “The Professor” Lepikhin in the opening bout of the Kovalev-Pascal telecast on HBO World Championship Boxing to become the WBC’s #1 ranked light heavyweight.

Lepikhin and Chilemba
Photo Credits: David Spagnolo/Main Events

Now, after more than a decade as a professional, Isaac is one fight away from achieving his dream fighting for a world championship belt. The only thing standing in his way is undefeated contender Eleider “Storm” Alvarez. Alvarez, 31, is originally from Apartado, Colombia but now resides in Montreal, Quebec, Canada.

Chilemba knows he is marching into enemy territory, fighting in his opponent’s hometown, but he remains unfazed. He said, “It really doesn’t matter where I fight. I don’t mind having no fans in the crowd but, hopefully by the end of the fight, there will be fans that cheer for me. I am just there to do my job. I hope everybody here in the US and Canada watching live and back at home in Malawi and South Africa will get to see a good fight.”

Chilemba admittedly knows little about his opponent and his trainer, former welterweight world champion James “Buddy” McGirt, warns against focusing too hard on the other guy. He said, “I have watched him. I study guys but I try not to watch too much. Sometimes you have a tendency to study a guy too much and you realize he does something but then he doesn’t do that one thing and you are thrown. So I watched him but we are going to be prepared for anything and everything.”

McGirt and Chilemba In the Corner
Photo Credits: David Spagnolo/Main Events

Isaac and Buddy acknowledge that this fight is part of a much bigger picture, which is to challenge Stevenson for the WBC Light Heavyweight World Title. However, for now, their focus is on the task at hand – Alvarez. Chilemba explained, “As much as the goal is to get to Stevenson, right now the truth is my mind is on Alvarez. I have to get through this but after that we will be talking about Stevenson. I am just concentrating on one target for now but as soon as that is over then we are talking about the next target, Stevenson.”

McGirt continued, “The way I see it, Alvarez is the only thing getting in our way of the championship. Our job is to do what we have to do to get him out of the way.” Isaac’s manager, Jodi Solomon, added, “Isaac has worked very hard to get this opportunity. He is in excellent hands with Buddy McGirt and I believe he will do what needs to be done and we can move on to the next step.”

Kathy Duva, CEO of Main Events, Chilemba’s promoter, said, “Isaac has worked so hard for this opportunity. We know this fight will be a tough battle and it’s no easy task to defeat your opponent in his backyard, but I believe in Isaac and his team. He’s been a road warrior for most of his career and I think all of that hard won experience will pay off in Quebec City on November 28th.”

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Adonis Stevenson retained his WBC Light Heavyweight title with a 3rd round stoppage over Tommy Karpency in Toronto, Canada.

In Round two, Stevenson landed a crushing left that sent Karpency sprawling to the canvas. Luckily for Karpency it came just before the end of the round and he was able to get out of it. In the opening five seconds of round three, Karpency went down again and upon getting to his feet, the referee stopped the bout at 21 seconds of round three.

Stevenson, 175 lbs of Montreal is 27-1 with 22 knockouts. Karpency, 174 1/2 lbs of Adac, PA is 25-5-1.

Terrific prospect, Errol Spence Jr. remained perfect as he stopped Chris Van Heerden in round eight of their scheduled 10-round Welterweight bout.

In round one, Van Heerden started to swell around his right eye. In round four, Van Heerden began to bleed from his mouth. In the same round, referee Alan Huggins deducted a point from Van Heerden for spitting out his mouthpiece.

In round seven, Spence pounded on Van Heerden along the ropes and dropped him for the first time in his career with a chopping left. Spence scored a 2nd knock down with a flurry. In round eight, Spence pounded away on Van Heerden before Huggins stepped in and stopped the bout at 50 seconds.

Spence, 146 1/2 lbs of DeSoto, TX is 18-0 with 15 knockouts. Van Heerden, 146 1/2 lbs of South Africa is 23-2-1.

Prichard Colon remained undefeated by scoring a 4th round stoppage over former Super Lightweight champion Vivian Harris in a scheduled 6-round Super Welterweight bout.

Colon dropped Harris on stomach in round four and the bout was stopped at 1:03.

Colon of Puerto Rico is now 16-0 with 13 knockouts Harris of Brooklyn, NY is 32-11-2.

otowa, NJ: Last week Isaac “Golden Boy” Chilemba (24-2-2, 10 KOs) had the very rare privilege of choosing between two mandatory offers: one from the WBC and the other from the IBF. The 28-year old from Malawi opted to take the offer from the WBC. Shortly thereafter, the IBF extended the mandatory fight offer to Main Events’ stablemate Sullivan Barrera (16-0, 11 KOs), the 33-year old Cuban defector.

Yesterday, Chilemba formally accepted the the WBC elimination bout against Eleider “Storm” Alvarez (18-0, 10 KOs) of Apartado, Colombia and Yvon Michel, Alvarez’s promoter, formally accepted for Alvarez. The winner of this fight will be poised as the WBC’s mandatory challenger in the light heavyweight division and will have their shot at current WBC Light Heavyweight World Champion, Adonis “Superman” Stevenson (26-1, 21 KOs).

Regarding Alvarez, Chilemba said, “I’m very happy that he accepted that challenge. I’m not taking Alvarez lightly, he is a good fighter all round. I know he wants to be a champion himself, unfortunately not this time as this is my time. By the time we meet, I’ll be 100% ready and, even though my mind is fully focused on the present opportunity, it brings me closer to that WBC championship I have been working so hard to get to. Just that is what will drive me into leaving nothing to chance when I face Alvarez. I really appreciate the great work of my team getting me where I am today.”

His manager, Jodi Solomon added, “I want to thank Alvarez and his team for accepting the fight. Isaac has wanted this opportunity for the longest time and I believe with Buddy [McGirt] in his corner, nothing will be left to chance. Thank you also to Main Events for helping to get Isaac this opportunity.”

Sullivan Barrera
Photo Credits: Mike Gladysz/Main Events

Last week, Barrera formally accepted his offer from the IBF to face Artur Beterbiev (9-0, 9 KOs) for the mandatory position in the IBF. The winner will face WBO, WBA and IBF Light Heavyweight World Champion Sergey “Krusher” Kovalev (28-0-1, 25 KOs).

An eager Barrera said, “I’m excited to finally get my opportunity. I’m looking forward to the fight. I don’t know anything about Beterbiev. Only thing I know is to get to the top I have to beat him. Looking forward to the opportunity.”

Sullivan is trained by world renowned trainer, Abel Sanchez, who is best known for training current IBF and WBA Middleweight World Champion Gennady “GGG” Golovkin. When asked about this opportunity, Sanchez replied, “Warriors understand greatness is only reached when you challenge yourself. Sullivan Barrera is a warrior wanting to be champion and knows that fighting the perceived best is the fastest way to your dreams coming true.”

Main Events CEO, Kathy Duva, who promotes Chilemba, Barrera and Kovalev, said, “We’ve been focused on the light heavyweight division for the past few years. I’m delighted that so many of our efforts are paying off at the same time and that Isaac and Sullivan are finally getting the opportunities that they’ve earned and have been waiting for. Yvon (Michel, who promotes both Beterbiev and Alvarez) and I have a lot to talk about! I’ve reached out for him and expect that we’ll begin negotiations over the weekend.”

TORONTO (August 5, 2015) — Groupe Yvon Michel (GYM), in association with Global Legacy Boxing (GLB) and Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment (MLSE), is proud to officially announce the next world title defense of feared puncher, Adonis “Superman” Stevenson, September 11, at the Ricoh Coliseum in Toronto. The event is part of the prestigious Premier Boxing Champions series, airing live on Spike TV in the United States, on Indigo and Bell TV in Canada.

Stevenson (26-1-0, 21 KOs),ofMontreal, one of the most powerful pound-for- pound punchers in the world, will defend his World Boxing Council (WBC), The Ring magazine and lineal light heavyweight (175 pounds) world championship belts for the sixth time, against WBC #9 contender Tommy “Kryptonite” Karpency (25-4-1, 14 KOs), the skilled American southpaw fighting out of Adah, Pennsylvania. It was Stevenson’s wish to defend his titles in Toronto:

“I’m excited to announce my next fight on September 11 in Toronto against Tommy Karpency. I’m ready to put the hurt on. I work hard and stay focused”, said the champion.

The 29-year-old Karpency pulled off a major upset October 4, 2014 at the Foxwoods Resort of Mashantucket, Connecticut, defeating former light heavyweight lineal champion Chad Dawson by way of a split decision. Karpency, who has won his last four fights, is also the current Pennsylvania and NABA-USA light heavyweight champion. He is particularly excited to get this world championship opportunity.

“I beat the same guy Stevenson beat to become world champion. I beat him [Dawson] just over a year after Stevenson beat him. After that win, I said that the sky was the limit and that I wanted the best in the world. The win [over Dawson] proved that I belong amongst the elite at light heavyweight. Now it is my job to win this fight”, explained Karpency.

“GYM is trilled to bring this world championship fight and the ‘Premier Boxing Champions’ series to Toronto for the first time,” GYM president Yvon Michel said. “We have been contemplating this project for a long time. This has been possible because we found great partners with Les Woods and Lennox Lewis, from GLB, and Wayne Zronick, from MLSE. We have the conviction to bring a major boxing event that this prodigious sport city deserves. Even more, we also believe we have found the required partners to guarantee the success of the project and to do it again on a regular bases.”

“It is an immense privilege to be working alongside MLSE and GYM,” GLB president Les Woods added. “Global Legacy’s mandate of reviving world-class professional boxing in the wonderful city of Toronto has become a reality. “To continue the legacy my grandfather created and reignite a passion for ‘the sweet science’ across the city is a vision and accomplishment I hope will continue to leave a lasting imprint now as well as on all futuregenerations of boxing fans.”

Also part of this promotion is former undisputed heavyweight champion of the world, Lennox Lewis. While not fighting anymore, he stills as the passion for his sport. Lewis defeated Mike Tyson, Evander Holyfield, Vitali Klitschko among the more notables during his illustrious boxing career.

“It’s wonderful to be a part of GLB, working in conjunction with GYM and MLSE, to revive boxing in Toronto and across Canada to the highest level,” Lewis remarked. “As the former undisputed heavyweight champion of the world, I am proud to be building a nationwide platform where boxers, such as world light heavyweight champion Adonis Stevenson, can showcase their talents at home and receive the support they deserve.”

In the co-feature, current Canadian heavyweight champion Dillon “Big Country” Carman (8-2, 7 KOs), of Mississauga, Ontario, will face former Lewis and Tyson opponent, Jamaican-born Donovan “Razor” Ruddock (40-5-1, 30 KOs). A total of eight bouts will be scheduled during the event, showcasing young talents from Ontario and Quebec.

Boxing in Toronto and Ontario

Toronto was a boxing hot spot as early as 1880.

Jake Kilrain, George Dixon, Joe Gans, Kid McCoy, Harry Greb, Sam Langford, Benny Leonard, Mickey Walker, Kid Chocolate, Max Baer, Primo Carnera, Joey Giambra, Archie Moore, Floyd Patterson, Bob Foster, Muhammad Ali, and Larry Holmes all waged epic battles in Toronto during their boxing careers.

Other standouts who also fought in Toronto include Jimmy Wilde, Jimmy Welsh, Young Stribling, Rocky Kansas, “Panama” Al Brown, Sandy Saddler, Battling Levinsky, Sammy Angott, Tommy Loughran, Maxie Rosenbloom, Jose Napoles, Ernie Terrell, Jimmy Ellis, Nino Benvenuti, and Aaron Pryor.

Canadian legend George Chuvalo fought for the heavyweight world title March 29, 1966 at the Maple Leaf Gardens against defending champion and boxing icon Muhammad Ali, in probably the most famous bout ever held in the city. The always tough Chuvalo lasted 15 rounds with the man known as “The Greatest”.

Toronto native Nick Furlano also boxed and lasted 15 rounds against ferocious World Boxing Association (WBA) world super lightweight champion and International Boxing Hall of Fame member, Aaron “The Hawk” Pryor, June 22, 1984, at the Varsity Stadium of the University of Toronto.

Since then, Sarnia’s son Steve Molitor was the International Boxing Federation world super bantamweight (122 pounds) champion, from 2006 to 2011. He fought in seven world title fights in Ontario, all at the Rama Casino.

More recently, November 15, 2014 at the Hershey Center in Mississauga, Brampton’s own Denton Daley challenged WBA interim world cruiserweight champion Youri Kalenga, a nativeof the Democratic Republic of the Congo, losing in the 12th and final round.

Tickets go on sale starting Friday, August 7 at 10:00 a.m., on www.ticketmaster.ca, at GYM (514) 383-0666, GLB (416) 678-6957 or Ricoh Coliseum (416) 263-3900. Ticket prices start at 40 $. Tables are also available by contacting GLB.

LONDON (24 July) – Knockout king Sergey Kovalev has labelled Adonis Stevenson as “not a real champion” and dreams of capturing his WBC belt.

The unified WBA, WBO and IBF light-heavyweight world champion has conquered all before him, including wins over the legendary Bernard Hopkins and Jean Pascal, but a showdown with 175-pound rival and current WBC champion Stevenson has eluded him.

A clash has been much talked about over the past year but 32-year-old Kovalev is now set to do battle this Saturday night, live and exclusive on BoxNation, against Frenchman Nadjib Mohammedi but his ambition is still to complete his title haul by adding the WBC belt.

“I don’t want to speak about him [Stevenson] at all because he’s not a real champion. He got lucky once against Chad Dawson when Dawson dropped his title against Andre Ward.

“Andre Ward destroyed him and he didn’t recover for the fight against Stevenson. He got lucky and right now is still “champion”. It’s smart for the business but it’s not good for boxing,” said Kovalev.

“I’m ready for any fight but I keep in my mind to win the WBC title first of all but I’m open for any fight. I think I’m a regular world champion but I have three world titles, the WBO, WBA and IBF, but my dream is to get a fourth.

“We’ll see what happens in the future. I hope somebody beats Stevenson and gets the WBC title and then we can make the fight. Even if it is a harder or tougher boxer, it’s no problem. I just need an agreement for a fight for the WBC and a unification,” he said.

The formidable Russian, who is undefeated in 28 bouts with 24 knockouts, is well aware however that a tough task lies ahead this weekend against Mohammedi.

The 30-year-old, a ten year professional, knows his way around the ring with 37 wins and only 3 losses, goes into the fight on a four-year winning streak with a chance of hitting the big-time should he upset the odds, something which Kovalev is well aware of.

“Mohammedi is not a puncher but he knows how to box. He’s smart, sets traps and improvises a lot in the ring. He doesn’t just come forward but has good movement and angles,” said Kovalev.

“He’s also ready for 12 rounds and has good stamina and conditioning. He’s a very good opponent and is dangerous because he’s very motivated.

“I know what motivation can do for a fighter and when a man is motivated he can do a lot of things and is very dangerous. I’m prepared for 12 rounds because you never know what is going to happen in boxing,” he said.

The man who Kovalev overcame in his last fight, Canadian ace Pascal, will also be on the card when he takes on unbeaten Cuban Yunieski Gonzalez in a ten-round contest at the Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas.

“There is no place like home. I have been fighting at home my whole career. I am glad to be in Vegas, it is my first time fighting here. Every fighter on my level wants to fight at least one time in Vegas,” said Pascal.

“This is my chance to make a statement on Saturday night. I know I am still among the best in the world and best in my division. I know Yunieski Gonzalez is hungry and he wants to make a statement. I want to give a great show on Saturday night,” he said.

Prior to Saturday’s big Las Vegas show, BoxNation will also have some thrilling live domestic action tonight from 7pm when super-middleweight star Frank Buglioni takes on Fernando Castaneda.

The Enfield boxer was set to face WBA world champion Fedor Chudinov but the Russian was forced to delay the fight due to a broken nose sustained in training.

26-year-old Buglioni, however, will be looking to stay busy and get a win under his belt against the tough Mexican before eyeing up his shot at world title glory in the Autumn.

Another top name will feature on the Wembley Arena show with Billy Joe Saunders, who will fight Andy Lee for the WBO middleweight world title on September 19 in a major showdown in Limerick, facing France’s Yoann Bloyer in a crucial must win fight.

Undefeated super-featherweight Mitchell Smith is also back in action this evening against Dennis Tubieron for the WBO Intercontinental title.

Kovalev v Mohammedi is live and exclusive on BoxNation (Sky 437/490HD, Virgin 525, TalkTalk 415 and online) this Saturday night. Visit boxnation.com to subscribe.

-Ends-
About BoxNation
BoxNation, the Channel of Champions and proud partner of Rainham Steel, is the UK’s first dedicated subscription boxing channel. For £12* a month and no minimum term customers can enjoy great value live and exclusive fights, classic fight footage, magazine shows and interviews with current and former fighters.

BoxNation is proud to support Fight for Peace, a charity that uses boxing and martial arts combined with education and personal development to realise the potential of young people in communities that suffer from crime and violence. Buy LUTA (www.luta.co.uk) clothing and support Fight for Peace.

Previous highlights have included Haye vs Chisora, Khan vs Collazo and Mayweather vs Maidana.

The channel is available on Sky (Ch.437), Virgin (Ch.546), TalkTalk (Ch.415), online at Livesport.tv and via apps (ios, Android, Amazon). BoxNation is also available in high definition on Sky (Ch. 490), at no extra cost to Sky TV subscribers, providing they are already HD enabled.

BoxNation is also available to commercial premises (inc. pubs, clubs and casino’s) in the UK and Ireland, for more information on a commercial subscription please call 0844 842 7700.

For more information visit www.boxnation.com

*Plus £8 registration fee for Sky TV and new Livesport.tv customers.

By Norm Frauenheim-

CARSON, Calif. – Light-heavyweight champion Sergey Kovalev said he didn’t watch Andre Ward’s comeback victory over Paul Smith and instead concentrated on his July 25 title defense against Nadjib Mohammedi.

“Empty talk right now,’’ Kovalev said Saturday during an hour-long session with reporters before a card featuring Timothy Bradley-Jessie Vargas at StubHub Center.

The internet is on fire with speculation about a Ward-Kovalev fight in the wake of Ward’s ninth-round stoppage of Smith on June 20 in Oakland, Calif.

The unbeaten Ward, a ringside analyst for HBO Saturday night, is still deliberating about whether he’ll move to light-heavy or stay at super-middleweight. He fought Smith at a catch-weight, 172 pounds. The guessing game is that Ward is moving toward a big-money showdown against either Kovalev or middleweight champion Gennady Golovkin.

Kovalev manager Egis Klimas said he did watch Ward’s comeback, his first bout in about 19 months.

“He’s interesting,’’ Klimas said. “He’s a different kind of fighter. A very good fighter.’’

Klimas also foresees a Ward-Kovalev showdown, which he says would be “the biggest fight for Sergey.’’

Meanwhile, Kovalev, who faces Mohammedi in a mandatory defense at Las Vegas Mandalay Bay, had plenty to say about Adonis Stevenson, who holds the WBC’s version of the light-heavyweight title.

Kovalev, who is training in nearby Big Bear, continued to call Stevenson a piece of excrement.

“Because he’s running from me,’’ Kovalev said.

Adonis Stevenson retained his Light Heavyweight title with a 12-round unanimous decision over Sakia Bika at the Pepsi Coliseum in Quebec City, Canada.

In round six, Stevenson dropped Bika with a straight left. In round nine, Stevenson scored a 2nd knockdown with a lead left to the head.

Stevenson, 175 lbs of Montreal won by scores of 116-110, 115-110 and 115-111 and is now 26-1. Bika, 174 1/2 lbs of New South Wales, AUS is now 32-7-3.

Artur Beterbiev remained perfect by scoring a crunching 4th round stoppage over former world champion Gabriel Campillo in round four of a scheduled 10-round Light Heavyweight bout.

Beterbiev scored a knockdown in round one from a hard right that was follwed up by a combination, In round four, Beterbiev landed a booming right on the ropes that snapped Campillos head back as he crumbled to the canvas and the fight was over at

Beterbiev, 175 lbs is now 8-0 with 8 knockouts. Campillo, 174 1/2 lbs of Madrid, Spain is now 25-7-1.

ADONIS STEVENSON: 174 ½ Pounds

SAKIO BIKA: 174 ½ Pounds

ARTUR BETERBIEV: 175 Pounds

GABRIEL CAMPILLO: 174 ½ Pounds

(TV Swing Bout)

JULIAN WILLIAMS: 154 ½ Pounds

JOEY HERNANDEZ: 155 pounds

QUEBEC CITY (April 2, 2015) – Before the inaugural Premier Boxing Champions on CBS telecast begins (3 p.m. ET/12 p.m. PT), a bevy of young stars will look to ignite the Pepsi Coliseum crowd in a series of undercard bouts beginning at 1 p.m. ET.

Tickets for the live event are on sale and can be purchased at the Pepsi Coliseum box office in Quebec, by calling (418) 691-7211 or (800) 900-7469, online at www.billetech.com, at GYM (514) 383-0666 and Champion Boxing Club (514) 376-0980. Ticket prices range from $25 to $250 on the floor.

PBC on CBS, headlined by the light heavyweight world championship fight between Adonis “Superman” Stevenson and Sakio “The Scorpion” Bika and featuring Artur Beterbiev as he faces Gabriel “The Handsome Man” Campillo, is promoted by Groupe Yvon Michel (GYM) and presented by Videotron and in association with Mise-O-Jeu.

Headlining the undercard action is rising undefeated super welterweight contender Julian “J Rock” Williams (18-0-1, 11 KOs), who’ll be looking to continue his rise to stardom when he faces exciting Joey “Twinkle Fingers” Hernandez (24-2-1, 14 KOs)in a 10-round welterweight bout.

In another top non-televised match, Kevin Bizier (23-2, 16 KOs)returns to the ring in his hometown to face Fouad El Massoudi (12-4, 1 KO)in an eight-round super welterweight showdown. In an eight-round heavyweight scrap, undefeated Oscar “Kaboom” Rivas (15-0, 10 KOs) will face Oezcan Cetinkaya (19-9-2, 13 KOs).

In a pair of super welterweight bouts, Sebastien Bouchard (9-1, 3 KOs) will take on Denis Farias (19-6-2, 1 KO) in an eight-round clash and Custio Clayton (2-0, 1 KO) will face Ronald Berti (4-3-1, 1 KO)in a six-round showdown.

The remainder of the card is rounded out by a trio of Canadian prospects looking to build their pro resumes. Jan Michael Poulin (1-0-1) takes on Michel Tsalla (1-9-2) in a four round middleweight bout, Vislan Dalkhaev (1-0) battles Adel Hadjouis (7-3) in a four-round bantamweight bout and Shakeel Phinn (1-0, 1 KO) faces Roody Rene (0-2-1)in a four-round super middleweight bout.

An undefeated prospect hailing from f the great fighting city of Philadelphia, Williams is looking to keep his undefeated record intact and impress on the big stage. The 24-year-old faces a stiff test in Miami-native Hernandez. The 30-year-old Hernandez has battled some of the best in boxing and he intends to hand Williams his first professional loss when the two square off.

After dropping a title-eliminator by split decision in his last bout, Bizier, 30, returns to his hometown of Quebec looking to get back in the win column and into title contention. He hopes to build his case with a victory over the 27-year-old El Massoudi, who is making his North American debut. The fighter out of Clermont-Ferrand, Puy-de-Dome, France hopes to make an immediate impact in his battle against Bizier.

An undefeated heavyweight who represented Columbia at the 2008 Olympics, Rivashas fought exclusively in his adopted hometown of Montreal since turning pro in 2009. He’ll be making his first start at Pepsi Coliseum when he faces Cetinkaya, of Kassel, Hessen, Germany.

Fighting for the third time as a professional at Pepsi Coliseum, Quebec’s Bouchard is seeking his second consecutive victory since suffering his lone defeat. The 27-year-old faces a difficult test in the experienced Farias, of Aulnay-sous-bois, Seine-Saint-Denis, France. This is the 27-year-old Farias’ first fight outside of France.

A 2012 Canadian Olympian, Clayton looks to build his professional resume and show why he was considered one of the best amateur boxers to come out of Canada. The 27-year-old from Montreal battles the 27-year-old Berti from Bracquegnies, Belgium.

A latecomer to the professional ranks, Poulin is looking to build off of his first career victory in December 2014. The 32-year-old from Quebec faces the 31-year-old Tsalla, who also hails from Quebec.

Russian-born but fighting out of Quebec, Dalkhaev is making his second pro start after earning his first pro victory in December 2014. The 26-year-old will be tested by the 28-year-old Hadjouis, of Rueil-Malmaison, Haut-de-seine, France.

Rounding out the non-televised undercard, Phinn, 24, will be looking for his second pro victory after picking up a TKO win over Eddie Gates in January of this year. The Quebec-native battles the 36-year-old Rene out of Ontario.

Below are quotes from Thursday’s press conference:

YVON MICHEL, President of GYM
“In my opinion, the biggest fight in the history of Pepsi Coliseum was Pascal-Hopkins 1, but the scale of this event presented on a general network like CBS exceeds all that was done previously. “We are privileged to have the PBC series for this historic first. All of this is possible thanks to Adonis Stevenson. The undercard is also stacked.

“PBC on CBS will also ensure that the people there love the experience. There will be screens everywhere and spectacular entrances. It will be a unique experience!” added the promoter.”

BERNARD BARRE, Executive Vice President of GYM
“There will be 10 fights Saturday, including nine non-televised bouts that only people who bouthg tickets to be at the Coliseum will see. It’s a Marathon!”

JULIAN WILLIAMS
“I’m just looking to perform well and get the win on Saturday. I’ve been preparing and training extremely hard for this fight. I’m taking it one fight at a time, and I’m definitely not looking past a fighter like Hernandez.”

JOEY HERNANDEZ
“There’s no excuses this time around. I’ve had some trouble motivating myself for training in the past, but not this time. I respect my opponent and have worked very hard to prepare for this fight. This will be the fight of my life and I’m looking to put on a great show on Saturday.”

KEVIN BIZIER
“I’m happy to close the Coliseum. It is my home here. And you know I always do good fights! My opponent will come to fight and he loves going inside to brawl. It will be a good battle me and him. May the best man win Saturday.”

FOUAD EL MASSPOUDI
“It is a first time for me in Canada. I am ready for this fight and we have all the weapons to succeed”

OEZCAN CETINKAYA
“I’m glad to have the opportunity to box at the Quebec Coliseum. It’s a new year and I look forward to make a statement this year

SEBASTIEN BOUCHARD
“We worked hard in the gym and that labor paid off when I stopped Cédric Spera. We continued in the same vein for this fight.”

DENIS FARIAS
“It’s been over a month I’ve been training twice a day for this fight. I came here to win.”

JAN-MICHAEL POULIN
“I look forward to settling something Saturday. It’s nothing personal against Michel Tsalla, but I have a draw to erase against him.”

MARC RAMSAY (trainer of Vislan Dalkhaev)
“I have a special history with Vislan Dalkhaev. Initially, he came here on the recommendation of Artur Beterbiev. The initial goal was to help Artur to acclimate to Montreal and I knew that having a friend here would help. At the gym, however, I discovered that, not only were they friends of the each other, but Vislan was a high-level boxer.”

# # #

For more information visit www.sports.sho.com and www.groupeyvonmichel.ca, follow on Twitter at @SHOSports, @yvonmichelgym, @AdonisSuperman and @Sakio_Bika, follow the conversation using #StevensonBika, become a fan on Facebook atwww.facebook.com/SHOBoxing or visit the SHOWTIME Boxing Blog at http://theboxingblog.sho.com.

QUEBEC CITY, QUEBEC (April 1, 2015) – During Wednesday’s final press conference at Le Bonne Entente in Quebec City, both Adonis “Superman” Stevenson and Sakio “The Scorpion” Bika promised a knockout when they meet in the main event of the debut presentation of Premier Boxing Champions (PBC) on CBS Television Network this Saturday, April 4, at 3 p.m. ET/Noon PT.

The hard-hitting Stevenson (25-1, 21 KOs) will defend his light heavyweight world championship against former super middleweight world champion Bika (32-6-3, 21 KOs) in the main event from the Pepsi Coliseum in Quebec City.

The case was the same with the co-main event fighters as both undefeated light heavyweight and two-time Russian Olympian Artur Beterbiev (7-0, 7 KOs) and former light heavyweight world champion Gabriel Campillo (25-6-1, 12 KOs) expected to win via KO this Saturday afternoon. Campillo, sporting a Tom Brady jersey, even promised he would win in dramatic fashion like this year’s Super Bowl Champion New England Patriots.

Below are quotes from the fighters and trainers from Wednesday’s press conference:

ADONIS STEVENSON:
“I know Sakio is going to try to take my title, but I’m prepared for that.

“I know he was a champion. I made the move from 168 to 175 pounds and it worked well for me. I expect him to bring his best at 175 pounds. He’s a former champ so I’m preparing to face a champion.

“I’m looking for the KO because I’m from the Kronk Gym. Knockouts sell. But I can go 12 rounds, that’s not a problem. I train for 12 rounds.

“My trainer has given me a great plan. He knows Sakio Bika very well and we’ll see what happens in the ring.

“Bika is still going to have the same power moving up in weight. He should actually be stronger.

“I’m very focused because I know Bika is very dangerous. I know he’s going to come into the ring and try to give me trouble.

“I’m a knockout artist. I can do a lot in the ring, but first and foremost I’m a knockout artist.

“I’d love to unify the belts eventually, but I’ll let my manager Al Haymon take care of that.

“My mentor Emanuel Steward always told me that as soon as I enter the ring the knockout is what sells. I’ll definitely be going for the knockout this Saturday on CBS.”

“I’m ready to go toe-to-toe. Adonis Stevenson vs. Sakio Bika on CBS, baby.”

SAKIO BIKA:
“To beat a great fighter you have to be your best. I’m looking to take the WBC title back home.

“I’ve fought everyone – I’ve never ducked an opponent – and I don’t know if he can handle the pressure.

“I feel more comfortable at 175 pounds. I want to test the big boy [Stevenson] and I feel like I can do that. On Saturday we’ll see.

“He’s knocked people out, but I’ve never been knocked out. On Saturday I’ll be the one to knock him out.

“I’m very hungry to get a world title back. I trained very hard at light heavyweight to get a title back.

“I didn’t come here to Canada just to walk and look around. I came here to take this belt back home and I’m very confident I’m going to do that.

“Training camp went very well, we put in good work and now we’re here in Canada ready to shock the world.”

JAVAN “SUGAR” HILL:
“Training camp was very good as always. Nothing different, just hard work perfecting his boxing and the basic fundamentals. We’re looking for him to make a mistake and catch him.

“The way you prepare for an unorthodox fighter like Bika is to make sure your basics are sound. You have to have a good jab, you have to have good movement and you have to have ‘super power’ And I have “Superman.

“Emanuel also told me the knockout sells. It’s something that we both know and it’s something that is imbedded in us. We’re looking for the knockout on April 4. Sometimes I see things that Adonis is looking to do before he does it. So I’ll just be sitting there waiting for Adonis to catch Sakio Bika making a mistake and getting a knockout.

“I’m super proud to represent Kronk Gym. That’s why I wear my hat here. Kronk to me is like my family name and that’s what I live by. I was born into Kronk when I was a little kid going to a tournament with my uncle Emanuel and all I remember is the Kronk fighters winning. And that’s what I do now: win.

“Adonis is an artist, he’s a KO artist. My prediction for Saturday is a knockout on CBS.

“There’s been a lot of talk and now it’s time for action. Toe-to-toe on April 4. Don’t miss it.”

KEVIN CUNNINGHAM:
“We had a great training camp. Everyone was relaxed. We had great sparring.

“He was making 168 pretty easy, but stepping up he’s able to eat whatever he wants. The weight is good. We think he’s going to be good and strong at 175. It’s a good move for him.

“He’s never had any problems with power, so I think the extra weight and energy should be good for him at light heavyweight.

“All this talk about Stevenson fighting (Sergey) Kovalev has motivated him pretty good. I think it gave him a pretty good picture of how the business of boxing works. He realizes that when the bell rings he needs to do something about it and he’s motivated by that.

“I can’t say if Stevenson is overlooking him because I’m not around him enough. But I know the fans and media want to make the Kovalev fight. It was good for Bika to hear that because it motivated him. He knows he has an opportunity to do something about it. On Saturday afternoon he can change all that.

“If Stevenson does what he says he’s going to do – meet him in the center of the ring and go toe-to-toe – this is going to be a tremendous fight.

“If he comes to the center of the ring and fights and goes toe-to-toe then this fight won’t go the distance. If Stevenson comes to trade I think he gets knocked out. If he runs around the ring and boxes then it could be a different outcome.”

ARTUR BETERBIEV:
“I don’t think this is a big challenge for me. I’m ready to face the world champions and raise the bar higher. This is just another opponent for me.

“This is another step that will move me closer to facing the champions at 175 pounds. I want to put on a solid fight and show that I’m one of the best fighters in this division.

“A knockout is never a goal for me. I’m trying to show my work and my dedication in the ring, but usually that’s what happens. Usually I finish with a knockout but that is not my main goal. My main goal is to box and show my skills.

“My motivation is to face the champions. That’s why I work so hard every day in the gym. I will get there soon.

“Why not face Kovalev? I’m ready. When I turned professional my goal was to meet the champions. He’s a champion now and I’d like to face the champions.”

GABRIEL CAMPILLO:
“We started training Jan. 1 and camp has been very good. We’ve been working very hard and I think I’m in great condition for this fight.

“Beterbiev may not have a lot of professional experience, but he’s had a very long amateur career. So we know that he’s ready and is a good opponent for us. We’ll see how he handles things once we get past the 5th, 6th and 7th rounds.

“To get ready for a hard-hitter like Beterbiev required lots of conditioning training. We worked the neck and the chin a lot. We think we’ve got a great chance in the second half of this fight though considering Beterbiev hasn’t really been tested like that.

“As for a prediction, I’m going to knock Beterbiev out in the seventh round.”

# # #

PBC on CBS, headlined by the light heavyweight world championship fight between Stevenson and Bika, is promoted by Groupe Yvon Michel (GYM) and presented by Videotron and in association with Mise-O-Jeu. Tickets are on sale now at the Pepsi Coliseum box office in Quebec, by calling (418) 691-7211 or (800) 900-7469, online at www.billetech.com, at GYM (514) 383-0666 and Champion Boxing Club (514) 376-0980. Ticket prices range from $25 to $250 on the floor.

UEBEC CITY, QUEBEC (March 31, 2015) – This Saturday afternoon, April 4, hard-hitting light heavyweight world champion Adonis “Superman” Stevenson (25-1, 21 KOs) plans to dish out plenty of punishment when he defends against former super middleweight world champion Sakio “The Scorpion” Bika (32-6-3, 21 KOs) in the main event of the debut presentation of Premier Boxing Champions (PBC) on CBS Television Network (3 p.m. ET/Noon PT) from the Pepsi Coliseum in Quebec City.

Today, however, in what has become a tradition before his fights at Pepsi Coliseum, Stevenson served food at La Maison de Lauberivière, a local shelter and soup kitchen for homeless men and women. Besides serving food, Stevenson and his team also gave away tickets, autographed posters and posed for photos with people in the shelter and some of his local fans.

In Saturday’s second main on CBS, promising undefeated light heavyweight Artur Beterbiev (7-0, 7 KOs) gets tested when he faces former light heavyweight world champion Gabriel Campillo (25-6-1, 12 KOs) in a 10-round bout.

# # #

PBC on CBS, headlined by the light heavyweight world championship fight between Stevenson and Bika, is promoted by Groupe Yvon Michel (GYM) and presented by Videotron and in association with Mise-O-Jeu. Tickets are on sale now at the Pepsi Coliseum box office in Quebec, by calling (418) 691-7211 or (800) 900-7469, online at www.billetech.com, at GYM (514) 383-0666 and Champion Boxing Club (514) 376-0980. Ticket prices range from $25 to $250 on the floor

LAS VEGAS (March 28, 2015) – Popular, hard-hitting Light Heavyweight World Champion Adonis “Superman” Stevenson and his upcoming opponent, former super middleweight titleholder Sakio “The Scorpion” Bika, were interviewed via satellite by Brian Custer to appear on tonight’s SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING telecast, live on SHOWTIME® (10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT).

Stevenson will defend his 175-pound crown against Bika on Saturday afternoon, April 4 (3 p.m. ET/ Noon PT) when Premier Boxing Champions makes its debut on CBS Television Network from The Pepsi Coliseum in Quebec City

Stevenson (25-1, 21 KOs), speaking from his gym in Montreal, and Bika (32-6-3, 21 KOs), speaking from Boca Raton, Fla., discussed their world title fight, training and more, during a recent taped interview with Custer.

“Don’t miss it, Superman is in the building!,’’ exclaimed Stevenson, who went on to praise his opponent [Bika]. He insisted he was not underestimating him and stressed that his total focus was squarely on April 4.

Bika, who has never been knocked out, said he was not concerned about fighting on Stevenson’s home turf, was looking forward to becoming a three-time world champ and warned Stevenson if he came out seeking a KO, it might cost him.

“Every time he gets caught on the chin, he goes down,” Bika said.

Live boxing was a staple on CBS in the 1980s, consistently featuring future Hall of Famers Sugar Ray Leonard, Ray “Boom Boom” Mancini and others. Boxing’s history on CBS dates back to 1948 when the Pabst Blue Ribbon Bouts premiered featuring legendary blow-by-blow commentator Russ Hodges.

The sport was a popular weekend afternoon staple on CBS in the 1980s and featured the memorable announce team of Tim Ryan, Gil Clancy and Leonard.

In tonight’s doubleheader on SHOWTIME (10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT), WBC Featherweight World Champion Jhonny Gonzalez will defend his 126-pound title against 2008 U.S. Olympian and former world title challenger Gary Russell Jr., and undefeated super welterweight Jermell Charlo and once-beaten super welterweight Vanes Martirosyan will clash in a battle of world-ranked contenders for the WBO Intercontinental 154-pound championship at The Pearl Theater at the Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas.

MONTREAL (March 27, 2015) – The concretization of the The Ring, WBC, WBA, IBF and WBO light heavyweight unification fight between Adonis “Superman” Stevenson and Sergey “Krusher” Kovalev has taken another important step. The World Boxing Council (WBC) has ordered a purse bid to take place April 17 in order to determine the promoter of this major event.

Initially requested by Groupe Yvon Michel (GYM) to insure the required time to prepare for a major event like this super fight, the WBC agreed to host the purse bid on Apr. 17 in Mexico.

The winner of this purse bid will have an advantage over the other promoter in terms of determining the date, place and television network for the light heavyweight showdown. Each group will split the bid equally on a 50-50 basis.

Before the Stevenson (25-1, 21 KOs) vs. Kovalev (27-0-1, 24 KOs) rumble can happen, though, both fighters must win their next bout. Stevenson, the Haitian-born Quebecer, has to successfully defend his WBC and The Ring crowns April 4 in Quebec City against Cameroon native Sakio Bika (32-6-3, 21 KOs), while Kovalev has 90 days to execute a mandatory defense of his IBF belt against Frenchman Nadjib Mohammedi (37-3, 23 KOs) at a place to be determined.

Stevenson’s promoter, GYM president Yvon Michel, is excited by the possibility of promoting what could be the biggest light heavyweight brawl of all-time. “We went ahead because Adonis and his team (adviser Al Haymon and head trainer Jevan Sugar Hill) wanted this awesome fight to happen,” Michel explained. “My boxer (Stevenson) wants to give his fans, not only from Quebec but from around the entire world, the fight they really want.

“Adonis was unfairly accused of ducking Kovalev last summer but his ultimate goal has always been to prove he is the King of the Light Heavyweights.”

“Everybody talks to me about Sergey Kovalev,” WBC, The Ring and lineal world light heavyweight champion Stevenson added. “I am fully focussed on Sakio Bika right now, but I really want to unify the titles. I am the king of my division and ready to prove it.”

The 37-year-old southpaw, fully confident of winning all the major world title belts, also noted, “In fact, the two titles (WBA and IBF) that Bernard Hopkins lost to Kovalev were supposed to be mine, but Hopkins ran away to HBO rather than fight me.”

With the help of the WBC

Sanctioning bodies rarely allow champions of other organizations to be part in its rankings. In this case, however, the WBC made an exception and stated that, at its 52th annual convention last December in Las Vegas, the Kovalev vs. Jean Pascal bout winner would be the mandatory challenger for Stevenson’s title.

The importance and magnitude of a fight with all the titles of a single division at stake influenced the WBC Board of Governors to make that decision.

“That was an excellent strategy by Kathy Duva (president of Main Events and Kovalev’s promoter),” Michel commented. “Adonis is now obligated to face Kovalev in a unification bout, guaranteeing a simple process without long, unnecessary bargaining. Our champion won’t back down, the countdown has just started.”

By Norm Frauenheim–

It’s the question Adonis Stevenson can’t shake. It’s there when he wakes up and sits down for breakfast. It’s there when he goes to the corner store. When he looks in the rear view mirror, there it is:

What about Sergey Kovalev?

It was asked again, again and ad nauseam Wednesday during a conference call that included Sakio Bika. At least, I think it included Bika.

Stevenson fights Bika in Quebec City on April 4 in Al Haymon’s first PBC card on CBS, yet Bika was little more than a mere prop during the telephone Q-and-A.

In fact, the Kovalev question ended the call. An exasperated Kevin Cunningham, Bika’s trainer, had heard enough.

“You guys have done it for me,’’ Cunningham said. “This is getting my fighter fired up. This call has been about Stevenson fighting Kovalev. I don’t even know if Sakio is on the call.

“Everyone keeps asking about Kovalev-Stevenson.

“What the bleep are we even doing here? Why are we here? This call is over for us.’’

Bika (32-6-3, 21 KOs) figures to be a lot tougher then a dial tone. Stevenson’s maturity will be tested in part by his ability to ignore the Kovalev buzz and focus on the challenge in front of him.

He promised to do exactly that. But, remember, this was a conference call.

“There’s so much talk about that,’’ Stevenson (25-1, 21 KOs) said. “But I’m very focused on Bika. He’s the one in my face now.’’

A grown-up evaluation of the Bika fight and its potential significance for Stevenson came from his trainer, Javan Hill, a student of the late Emanuel Steward.

“For the growth of Adonis, this very important,’’ Hill said. “It’s an opportunity for Adonis to go maybe 12 rounds or into the later rounds. This is a test, a chance for him to grow and become a superstar.’’

Hill’s comment is little bit surprising because of Stevenson’s age. He’s 37. But he’s late to the game because of a troubled youth. The light-heavyweight spent four years in prison. He didn’t make his pro debut until 2006. He might lack some of the instinct acquired by fighters who grow up within the ropes. Nevertheless, his power is almost scary. It’s what Steward noticed right away.

“Emanuel always used to say: ‘Knockouts sell, knockouts sell,’ ‘’ he said of Steward, who began to turn Stevenson into a star before he died in 2012. “I always go into the ring thinking knockout first.’’

That aggressiveness, a natural byproduct of his power, leads straight back to the question that – with apologies to Cunningham – has been around ever since it looked as if Kovalev and Stevenson would fight on HBO late last year.

Didn’t happen, of course. Stevenson jumped to Haymon and Showtime. But Kovalev continued on his relentless path, beating Bernard Hopkins in a victory that earned him pound-for pound-credentials.

All the while, Stevenson languished, scoring forgettable victories over Dmitry Sukhotsky and Andrzej Fonfara. But he and Kovalev remained on their collision course, mostly because Kovalev looks unstoppable and Stevenson has Haymon’s influence.

But is Stevenson a mature enough fighter to handle Kovalev, who is as poised as he is dangerous. Kovalev thinks through adversity, which was evident in his eighth-round TKO of Jean Pascal on March 14.

There are questions about what, if anything, Stevenson will do if somebody takes away his power. He’s gone 12 rounds twice and 10 rounds once, but not against anybody with Kovalev’s smarts.

In the tough, forward-charging Bika, Hill hopes to see some of those smarts in Stevenson. If he doesn’t, don’t be surprised if there’s another conference call a lot like the last one.

MONTREAL (Feb. 27, 2015) – Light heavyweight world champion Adonis “Superman” Stevenson (25-1, 21 KOs) returns to the ring Saturday, April 4 at Pepsi Coliseum in Quebec City to defend his title against former super middleweight world champion Sakio “The Scorpion” Bika (32-6-3, 21 KOs). The April 4 event marks the debut of Premier Boxing Champions (PBC) on CBS (3 p.m. ET/12 p.m. PT).

“I am excited to be the headliner for first PBC event on CBS,” Stevenson said. “I know Bika will stop at nothing, so the fight will be spectacular and extremely offensive-minded. I predict that Bika will lose by knockout for the first time in his career.”

“After all these years fighting at 168 pounds, it was becoming increasingly difficult to make weight and that was a major factor in my defeats,” Bika said. “I see no problem making the jump to light heavyweight to face Stevenson and I do not feel I’ll be at a disadvantage because the champion made this transition successfully himself less than two years ago against Chad Dawson. I promise you that I will be the new champion on April 4.”

Stevenson, 37, won the world light heavyweight title in June of 2013 in Montreal, via a sensational 76-second, first-round knockout just over the then-undisputed king of the division, Dawson. The impressive victory earned Stevenson “Knockout of the Year” and “Fighter of the Year” accolades. In his first defense the following Sept. 28, former world champion Tavoris “Thunder” Cloud was meant to be a major test for the new champion, but the powerful southpaw forced Cloud to retire at the end of the seventh round.

Two months later, “Superman” concluded the year with an unequivocal victory over his No. 1 mandatory contender, Tony “Bomber” Bellew of Great Britain, who was unable to complete the sixth round. In May 2015 at the Bell Centre in Montreal, Polish challenger Andrzei Fonfara proved to be a tough challenger and fans were treated to a memorable bout as Stevenson knocked Fonfara down twice in the early rounds only to visit the canvas himself in the ninth round. Judges scored the fight 116-109, 115-110 and 115-110 for Stevenson in his SHOWTIME® debut. In his last outing, Dec. 19, 2014 on SHOWTIME from the Pepsi Coliseum, “Superman” made short work of Russian veteran Dmitry “The Hunter” Sukhotskiy, stopping him in the fifth.

Bika, fighting out of Australia by way of his native Cameroon, which he represented at the 2000 Olympics, has earned the reputation as a tough, rough brawling warrior who has fought the best. He has been in six world title fights (1-3-2), holding one of the 168-pound division crowns in 2013-14. He has fought many world champions, never been knocked out in 41 professional bouts and he was “The Contender, Season 3” reality television series champion in 2007.

“The Scorpion” demonstrated his world-class toughness and determination in fights with the world’s elite super middleweights at that time, challenging world champions Markus Beyer and Joe Calzaghe in 2006, Lucian Bute in 2007 and Andre Ward in 2010. Resilience and hard work finally paid off for Bika when he won the coveted 168-pound title, defeating Marco Antonio Periban by decision in 2013 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, N.Y. He successfully defended his title six months later by fighting to a 12-round draw with Anthony Dirrell on SHOWTIME in 2013. Bika eventually lost his belt in a rematch with Dirrell on SHOWTIME last August.

PBC on CBS, headlined by the light heavyweight world championship fight between Stevenson and Bika, is promoted by Groupe Yvon Michel (GYM) and presented by Videotron and in association with Mise-O-Jeu.

Tickets go on sale Saturday, Feb. 28 at 10 a.m. E, at the Pepsi Coliseum box office in Quebec, by calling (418) 691-7211 or (800) 900-7469, online at www.billetech.com, at GYM (514) 383-0666 and Champion Boxing Club (514) 376-0980. Ticket prices range from $25 to $250 on the floor.

Because the show is being held the day before Easter, GYM encourages the Quebec public to come as families and groups by offering two tickets (in the stands) for-the-price-of-1 special offer for two days only (Saturday, Feb. 28 and Sunday, March 1) for those purchasing tickets directly through www.billetech.com.

For more information visit www.sports.sho.com and www.groupeyvonmichel.ca, follow on Twitter at @SHOSports, @yvonmichelgym, @AdonisSuperman and @Sakio_Bika, follow the conversation using #StevensonBika, become a fan on Facebook at www.facebook.com/SHOBoxing or visit the SHOWTIME Boxing Blog at http://theboxingblog.sho.com.

Adonis Stevenson retained the WBC Light Heavyweight title with a 5th round stoppage over Dmitry Sukhotsky at Colisee de Quebec in Quebec City, Quebec, Canada.

In round two, Stevenson dropped Sukhotsky with a straight left. In round five, Stevenson dropped Sukhotsky three times all from hard left hands with the final being a crushing shot to the jaw the left Sukhotsky on the canvas for several minutes at 2:42 of round five.

Stevenson, 174 1/2 lbs of Montreal is now 25-1 with 21 knockouts. Sukhotsky, 173 1/2 lbs of Russia is now 22-3.

“I gave a beautiful knockout for SHOWTIME,” Stevenson said. “I just used my speed, my movement. I have the power and I know the knockouts are going to come. I’m not going to force it. I was just waiting for him and, bang, I caught him. I wanted to hit him with my left hand and it worked.

“I’m the big champion. He has to come to me,” said Stevenson of any challengers. “I’m the man in the light heavyweight division. They have to come to me. My job is to go in the ring and knock everybody out. I’m a ‘Superman.’”

In a rematch of Welterweights, Jo Jo Dan eked out his 2nd split decision win over Kevin Bizier to earn the number-one spot in the IBF.

It was a tough fight early as Bizier getting the better of the action.

In round seven, Bizier knocked Dan with a good left hook. Later in the round, Bizier was cut over the right eye from an accidental clash of heads. Dan steadied himself and upped his workrate over the second half of the fight. It was that volume punching that proved to be the difference as he won by scores of 115-112 Dan, 114-113 Bizier, 114-113 Dan.

Dan, 146 3/4 lbs of Romania is now 34-2 and is line for IBF champion Kell Brook. Bizier, 146 3/4 lbs of Montreal is now 23-2.

“Yes, of course (I’d fight Bizier again), but first I want to fight Kell Brook,” Dan said. “I hope we’ll make an exciting fight like this one.”

After the fight, Bizier (23-2, 16 KOs) was disappointed to again be on the losing end of a close split-decision.

“All the close rounds went to Jo Jo,” Bizier said. “We knew we had to win those last two rounds and I guess they gave it to him. When I hurt Jo Jo in the seventh I hurt my right hand. At that point, I was fighting with one hand.

“Let’s fight again. Why not? The first two fights were close. I don’t know why, but the judges just seem to give the close rounds to him.”

Former world title challenger Andre Dirrell scored a 12-round unanimous decision over Derek Edwards in a Super Middleweight bout.

Dirrell dominated the bout ,mostly from the southpaw stance. He landed some hard flurries with the best being in round eight when he landed a blistering combination where he snapped the head Edwards back several times. He rocked Edwards in round ten as he landed some thudding uppercuts. In round twelve. Edwards had s light glimmer of hope when he landed a hard left hook that momentarily stunned Dirrell. He could not capitalize and Dirrell came home with the victory by scores of 119-109, 120-108 and 119-107.

Dirrell, 167 3/4 lbs of Flint, MI is now 24-1. Edwards, 167 lbs of Winston Salem, NC is now 27-4-1.

Punch stats saw Dirrell 225-591. Edwards 47-269

“I want to perfect my craft as far as fighting southpaw,” Dirrell said. “I was shooting the left hand. This guy has a tough, tough head so I’m not going to doubt my power one bit. I’m glad to walk away with a victory. My knuckle was hurting but it wasn’t bad enough that I couldn’t throw it. This boy could take a punch.

“I’m getting there. I’m proud of my performance, but it was a tough 12 rounds.”

“I believe he’s scared to fight me,” Dirrell said. “It’s too risky a fight to take. But I’m going to push it to the best of my ability. There’s a win on his record that’s questionable to everyone in the world. Give me the rematch. Prove to your fans that you beat me and try to do it again. Step in the ring with Andre Dirrell and you’re going to see what I’m all about.”

Super prospect Artur Beterbiev remained undefeated but was knocked down to come back and score a 2nd round stoppage over previously undefeated Jeff Page Jr. in a scheduled 10-round Light Heavyweight bout.

In round one, Page landed a right that sent Beterbiev to the canvas. In round two, Beterbiev landed some head shots that rocked Page and sent Page to the deck. He sent Page down later in the round from another hard round. Beterbiev finished things seconds later when he dropped Page for a third and final time and the fight was stopped at 2:21 of round two.

Beterbiev, 174 1/2 lbs of Russia now 7-0 with 7 knockouts. Page, 174 1/4 lbs of Wichita, KS is 15-1.

“I felt a bit sleepy before the fight and I don’t think I was concentrating for a fraction of a second (in the first round),” Beterbiev said. “I got angry after the knockdown and decided to go forward. I have a lot to learn in professional boxing, but I’m looking forward to the experience.”

When asked if he thinks he could beat WBO/WBA/IBF Champion Sergey Kovalev, who he defeated as an amateur, Beterbiev was noncommittal.

“I beat him (Kovalev) as an amateur so I can’t say much,” Beterbiev said. “It’s hard to say right now.”

WBC LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP – 12 Rounds
Adonis Stevenson – 174 ½ Pounds
Dmitry Sukhotskiy – 173 ½ Pounds

IBF WELTERWEIGHT TITLE ELIMINATOR (No. 1 Spot) – 12 Rounds
Jo Jo Dan – 146 ¾ Pounds
Kevin Bizier – 146 ¾ Pounds

IBF SUPER MIDDLEWEIGHT ELIMINATOR (No. 2 Spot) – 12 Rounds
Andre Dirrell – 167 ¾ Pounds
Derek Edwards – 167 Pounds

LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT BOUT – 10 Rounds
Artur Beterbiev – 174 ½ Pounds
Jeff Page Jr. – 174 ¼ Pounds

# # #

Stevenson vs. Sukhotskiy, a 12-round light heavyweight bout for Stevenson’s WBC Light Heavyweight World Championship, will air live on SHOWTIME (9 p.m. ET/PT, delayed on the West Coast) in the main event SHOWTIME BOXING: SPECIAL EDITION from Pepsi Coliseum in Quebec City, Canada. In the co-feature, Jo Jo Dan will face Kevin Bizier in a 12-round IBF welterweight eliminator. Also on the card, Andre Dirrell will face Derek Edwards in a 12-round IBF super middleweight elimination bout and Artur Beterbiev will take on Jeff Page Jr. in a 10-round light heavyweight scrap. The event is presented by Groupe Yvon Michel (GYM) in association with Mise-O-Jeu and Videotron.

Tickets range from $25 to $250 and are on sale in the branches of the Pepsi Coliseum in Quebec (418) 691-7211 or 1 (800) 900-7469, online at www.billeteck.com, at GYM (514) 383-0666 or Boxing Club Champion (514) 376-0980.

QUEBEC CITY (Dec. 17, 2014) – Jo Jo Dan, Kevin Bizier, Artur Beterbiev and Jeff Page Jr. held a final press conference at Houston’s Bar & Grill in Quebec City on Wednesday just two days before their bouts on the undercard of this Friday’s SHOWTIME BOXING: SPECIAL EDITION from Pepsi Coliseum.

Bizier (23-1, 16 KOs), of Quebec, will face the only man to defeat him, Canadian-based Romanian Dan (33-2, 18 KOs) in a 12-round IBF welterweight eliminator – the winner to face World Champion Kell Brook – in the co-feature of a four-fight telecast, live on SHOWTIME (9 p.. ET/PT, delayed on the West Coast).

In the opening bout of the telecast, two-time Russian Olympian Beterbiev (6-0, 6 KOs), who twice beat WBO/WBA/IBF Champion Sergey Kovalev in the amateurs, will square off with fellow unbeaten Page (15-0, 10 KOs), of Andover, Kansas, in a 10-round light heavyweight scrap.

In the main event, WBC Light Heavyweight Champion Adonis “Superman” Stevenson (24-1, 20 KOs) will defend his title against Russian challenger Dmitry “The Hunter” Sukhotskiy (22-2, 16 KOs) in a 12-round bout. Rounding out the telecast, super middleweight contender Andre “The Matrix” Dirrell (23-1, 16 KOs), will face Derek “The Black Lion” Edwards (27-3-1, 14 KOs) in a 12-round IBF super middleweight elimination bout.

Here’s what the participants had to say on Wednesday:

JO JO DAN:
“I’m more prepared than I was for the first fight [against Bizier in November 2013]. I’m in better shape, both physically and mentally. I expect it to be a great fight. I’m going to put on a great performance to win the fight.

“It depends on him if this fight will be a war. If he wants to bang, we’ll bang. If he wants to box, we’ll box. It depends on his strategy. I’m able to adjust to anything.

“I can’t predict the ending until the fight starts. I’m ready for Friday. I can’t wait to get in the ring to prove that I will win again.

“I’m excited to make a great impression for the fans in the U.S.”

KEVIN BIZIER:
“It was the best training camp since I turned professional. I’m happy with where I am and I feel I did everything necessary to walk out of the ring with a victory.

“What killed us in the first fight was the holding from Jo Jo Dan. Every time I did something good he would hold me, and then he would respond with garbage punches that made him look good. Even if I landed the cleaner punches he would score with garbage punches after holding.

“The holding was a huge issue and we’re going to make sure the referee doesn’t allow it this time around.

“I’m ready for everything. I’m ready for a war. I’ve been ready since the last fight. Whatever he brings to the table, I will be one step ahead.

“I will win. I promise you. If the knockout comes, it comes.”

ARTUR BETERBIEV:
“I trained really hard. Everything was on schedule. We’re prepared and ready to fight.

“My main goal isn’t to knock him out, it’s to win the fight. If I do everything right then the fight will end in a knockout.

“I’ll do what I have to do to win over the U.S. fans. I know I’m not that well known in the U.S., but I’m going to show them my skills and give them my best. I’m a simple person but I’m going to open up and earn their respect.

“I’d like to fight for a world championship and become a world champion in 2015.”

JEFF PAGE JR.:
“Training camp went great. We trained up in the higher altitude of Big Bear [Calif.] with Abel Sanchez, bringing in fighters from all over the world. I’m in the best shape of my life. We’re very confident for this fight.

“I’m coming to win. I didn’t come all the way here to get knocked out.

“I’ve been in Quebec for two days and I love this city, I love the people here. I’m ready to put on a good show for them.

“He has power, but I have a lot of power, too. I’m going to counter his power with my speed and footwork. I have great power – 10 knockouts in 15 fights.

“I’m not afraid to trade with him, but I’ll use my footwork and speed to beat him.

“I’m predicting a knockout. I train for knockouts, but I’m prepared to go the full 10 rounds.”

# # #

Stevenson vs. Sukhotskiy, a 12-round light heavyweight bout for Stevenson’s WBC Light Heavyweight World Championship, will air live on SHOWTIME (9 p.m. ET/PT, delayed on the West Coast) in the main event SHOWTIME BOXING: SPECIAL EDITION from Pepsi Coliseum in Quebec City, Canada. In the co-feature, Jo Jo Dan will face Kevin Bizier in a 12-round IBF welterweight eliminator. Also on the card, Andre Dirrell will face Derek Edwards in a 12-round IBF super middleweight elimination bout and Artur Beterbiev will take on Jeff Page Jr. in a 10-round light heavyweight scrap. The event is presented by Groupe Yvon Michel (GYM) in association with Mise-O-Jeu and Videotron.

Tickets range from $25 to $250 and are on sale in the branches of the Pepsi Coliseum in Quebec (418) 691-7211 or 1 (800) 900-7469, online at www.billeteck.com, at GYM (514) 383-0666 or Boxing Club Champion (514) 376-0980.

DATE: Friday, Dec. 19

SITE: Pepsi Coliseum
Quebec, Canada

TELEVISION: SHOWTIME BOXING: SPECIAL EDITION
SHOWTIME
LIVE at 9:00 p.m. ET/PT (Delayed on the West Coast)

PRINCIPALS: WBC Light Heavyweight World Championship – 12 Rounds
Adonis Stevenson vs. Dmitriy Sukhotskiy
24-1, 20 KOs 22-2, 16 KOs
Quebec, Canada Barnaul, Russia

IBF Welterweight Elimination Bout – 12 Rounds
Kevin Bizier vs. Jo Jo Dan
23-1, 16 KOs 33-2, 18 KOs
Quebec, Canada Montreal, Canada

IBF Super Middleweight Bout – 10 Rounds
Andre Dirrell vs. Derek Edwards
23-1, 16 KOs 27-3-1, 14 KOs
Flint, Mich. Las Vegas, Nev.

Light Heavyweights – 10 Rounds
Artur Beterbiev vs. Jeff Page Jr.
6-0, 6 KOs 15-0, 10 KOs
Montreal, Canada by way of Russia Andover, Kansas

QUEBEC CITY (Dec. 16, 2014) – WBC Light Heavyweight Champion Adonis “Superman” Stevenson and Russian challenger Dmitry “The Hunter” Sukhotskiy held a main event final press conference on Tuesday in Quebec City, Canada, as they prepare for their showdown on SHOWTIME BOXING: SPECIAL EDITION this Friday, Dec. 19.

Stevenson (24-1, 20 KOs) and Sukhotskiy (22-2, 16 KOs) will square off in the 12-round main event of a SHOWTIME quadrupleheader that begins live at 9 p.m. ET/PT (delayed on the West Coast) from Pepsi Coliseum in Quebec.

Joining the main event fighters at Tuesday’s press conference was super middleweight contender Andre “The Matrix” Dirrell (23-1, 16 KOs), who will face Derek “The Black Lion” Edwards (27-3-1, 14 KOs) in a 12-round IBF super middleweight elimination bout.

Here’s what the participants had to say on Tuesday:

ADONIS STEVENSON:
“This was probably the best training camp that I’ve had. We’re ready for this fight. We’re not underestimating him. I know he’s coming to fight and I will be ready.

“I know he’s a tough contender. And I know he’s training very hard for this fight. He’s going to try to surprise me, but I’m very prepared because I know the contender is always going to try to take your belt.

“I’m going to win by knockout. Emmanuel (Steward) always told me that knockouts sell, so I’m going to win by knockout. It’s going to be a short night on SHOWTIME.

“My plan is to face (Sergey) Kovalev in 2015. But first we need to focus and win this fight. Then we can talk 2015.”

DMITRY SUKHOTSKIY:
“He looked nervous at the podium, like he wasn’t ready to fight. But I am ready to fight.

“I’m not going to say that he is underestimating me because I’ll show that in the ring. I came here to win; I came here to bring the world title back to Russia.

“He has flaws and it is our job to find them and find a way to win the fight.

“It’s always different when you fight a southpaw, but we prepared for it. We prepared for everything that can happen in the ring.

“I’m ready to fight. I’m here to make a statement. This isn’t my first time fighting for a world title. Only this time, I will win.”

ANDRE DIRRELL:
“I’m here to do a job and it will get done.

“It’s good to be back. This is my third fight in six months, and before that I fought three times in the past four years. I’m on a very busy schedule right now and it feels good.

“I’m just looking forward to the fight. It will put me in a high ranking in the IBF and bring me this much closer to challenging for that title pretty soon.

“I want that rematch with Carl Froch. He’s the IBF Champion and a win on Friday will bring me closer to fighting him again and proving that I beat him the first time.

“I’m excited to be here. It’s cold but it’s beautiful in Canada. I just can’t wait for the action to start.”

SUGAR HILL, Stevenson Trainer:
“This was the best training camp we’ve had. It was a fun training camp, and when you have a fun camp you learn a lot, you’re relaxed and you get better results.

“His attitude has been great. He’s happy and he’s ready to fight.

“Dmitry is a very sound fundamental fighter. He uses his jab very well and he likes to punch and get knockouts. His nickname is ‘The Hunter; so we’re expecting him to come forward. He’s not going to be bouncing around and moving and making it a boring fight.

“Adonis is a come-forward kind of boxer, but he can also move backwards and counterpunch. It’s going to be a strategic fight up until a certain point. As Adonis always says, ‘I’m going to wait for you to make a mistake and I’m going to catch you.’

“I’m looking forward to Dmitry making a mistake and Adonis capitalizing and catching him.

“I always see Adonis’ fights ending in knockouts. He’s such a tremendous puncher, he can move well, and he’s still learning. His boxing IQ is off the charts. He can think so fast in the ring. He can remember something from the first round in the ninth round and come back and capitalize on that.

“The original training was supposed to be in Detroit at the New Kronk Gym that was opened by my cousin, Sylvia Steward, Emmanuel’s daughter. The gym is open, but it’s just not ready. Some of the equipment was not ready in time so we continued the camp in Brampton, Canada.”

# # #

Stevenson vs. Sukhotskiy, a 12-round light heavyweight bout for Stevenson’s WBC Light Heavyweight World Championship, will air live on SHOWTIME (9 p.m. ET/PT, delayed on the West Coast) in the main event SHOWTIME BOXING: SPECIAL EDITION from Pepsi Coliseum in Quebec City, Canada. In the co-feature, Jo Jo Dan will face Kevin Bizier in a 12-round IBF welterweight eliminator. Also on the card, Andre Dirrell will face Derek Edwards in a 12-round IBF super middleweight elimination bout and Artur Beterbiev will take on Jeff Page Jr. in a 10-round light heavyweight scrap. The event is presented by Groupe Yvon Michel (GYM) in association with Mise-O-Jeu and Videotron.

Tickets range from $25 to $250 and are on sale in the branches of the Pepsi Coliseum in Quebec (418) 691-7211 or 1 (800) 900-7469, online at www.billeteck.com, at GYM (514) 383-0666 or Boxing Club Champion (514) 376-0980.

NEW YORK (Nov. 18, 2014) –- An IBF super middleweight elimination bout between 168-pound contender Andre “The Matrix” Dirrell (23-1, 16 KOs), of Flint, Mich., and veteran spoiler Derek “The Black Lion” Edwards (27-3-1, 14 KOs), of Las Vegas, has been confirmed as a 12-round co-feature of a SHOWTIME BOXING: Special Edition quadrupleheader on Friday, Dec. 19, live on SHOWTIME® (9 p.m. ET/PT, delayed on the West Coast) from Pepsi Coliseum in Quebec City, Quebec.

For the switch-hitting Dirrell, the elimination bout for the IBF’s No. 2 position behind No. 1 James DeGale and champion Carl Froch will be his first start on SHOWTIME and fifth overall since getting injured against then-undefeated Arthur Abraham in his second Super Six World Boxing Classic fight on SHOWTIME on March 27, 2010.

Dirrell had scored a knockdown in the fourth and was comfortably ahead of the Armenian on all scorecards heading into 11th. About a minute into the round, Dirrell slipped on a wet canvas and Abraham blatantly hit him while he was down, knocking Dirrell out cold and resulting in Abraham being disqualified. Dirrell suffered neurological issues as a result of the punch, withdrew from the tournament and was sidelined for 21 months.

A fixture on SHOWTIME before the injury, Dirrell is quickly approaching the peak form he exhibited when he entered the Super Six and was regarded by many as one of boxing’s fastest-rising contenders. Dirrell has won his last five fights, three by stoppage.

“I’m excited to be back on the fast track and I’m ready to show that this is definitely where I belong,” Dirrell said. “It takes time to move back to the top, but I like to improve myself each time I step into the gym. I almost feel like I’ve been overworking myself in the gym to prove that I’m back.

“But I feel like I’m there and ready for a title shot. And, when the time comes to prove that I’m ready, I won’t leave any doubt.’’

A 2004 U.S. Olympic bronze medalist and the older brother of WBC Super Middleweight World Champion Anthony Dirrell, Andre scored a second-round TKO in his return to the ring on Dec. 30, 2011, but didn’t fight again until February 2013. He’s been victorious in both his fights in 2014, winning his last via fourth-round TKO over Nick Brinson on Oct. 8.

After blasting out Vladine Biosse two starts ago, the 31-year-old Dirrell called out IBF Champ Froch, who was the unbeaten WBC 168-pound champion when he dealt Dirrell his lone loss via a controversial, 12-round split-decision in his native England in the first Super Six fight for both fighters on Oct. 17, 2009.

“I know I won that fight against Froch,” Dirrell said. “I think everyone knows I won that fight. He’s the one opponent I want and the fact that he’s a world champion again is just icing on the cake. I don’t think I’ve ever been defeated and I want that title shot. Hopefully he doesn’t retire because I know the world wants to see that rematch.

“I want to fight the best at 168. I want to unify the division, but if my brother does that first then I will move up to 175. I have a lot of work to do in a little amount of time – I want to fight for about five more years – and if Anthony runs me out at 168 then I’ll go up to 175.”

Before Dirrell gets his shot at a title he must first defeat a power-punching opponent who has a knack for upsets.

“This guy may have power, but power-punchers are the best opponents for pure boxers, for slick guys like me,” Dirrell said. “That’s when I’m at my best. I’m not even looking at his power – his will and determination in the fight will be more important than his power.

“I know he’s going to be at his best when he steps in the ring on Dec. 19. He’s been in some tough fights, but I don’t think we’ve seen the best from him yet. I’m not worried about anything but getting the job done and I know I will when the time comes.”

Edwards, who once fought light heavyweight kingpin Adonis Stevenson when he was campaigning at 168 pounds, is coming off perhaps the most unlikely result of the year, a stunning 1:01, first-round knockout of previously-unbeaten, top-five ranked Badou Jack on ShoBox: The New Generation last Feb. 28 on SHOWTIME.

An extreme longshot going in, Edwards twice dropped Jack, the first coming with an overhand short right 32 seconds into the match. Moments later, Edwards registered another knockdown from a right followed by a glancing left hook. Jack stumbled to his feet but the referee had seen enough and waved off the bout.

“I’m definitely confident going in against Andre,” Edwards said. “He’s a different fighter than Jack. He had a good amateur background and fought some of the best super middleweights in the Super Six, but I see some things I can exploit in Andre. I know I’ll need to force the action on him and be the aggressor.

“A win like this would put a lot of other fighters on notice; let guys know that I can deal with the speed of a fighter like Andre and the power of a guy like Jack. And it would give me the confidence to fight anyone.’’

A “traveling underdog” who has fought from 161 to 185 pounds, Edwards, a native of Winston-Salem, N.C., is known for an ambidextrous style of fighting. Despite only six amateur bouts, he won his first 25 fights – more than 50 percent by knockout – after turning professional in October 2002.

And while he’s never faced an opponent with the speed, amateur pedigree and as naturally athletic as Dirrell, he knows that a second consecutive upset victory could forever change his life.

“I’ve never been this motivated for a fight,” said the 34-year-old Edwards. “A win like this would put a lot of things on the table, open up a lot of doors and opportunities. It’s definitely the biggest fight of my life.

“There’s no tomorrow. It’s just one night. I need to seize the moment and lay it all out on the line. This is my one big shot.”

In the main event on Dec. 19, hard-hitting WBC and The Ring Magazine Light Heavyweight World Champion Adonis “Superman” Stevenson (24-1, 20 KOs) will defend against Dmitry “The Hunter” Sukhotskiy (22-2, 16 KOs), of Russia.

Kevin Bizier (23-1, 16 KOs), of Quebec, will face the only man to defeat him, Canadian-based Romanian Jo Jo Dan (33-2, 18 KOs) in a 12-round IBF welterweight eliminator – the winner to face World Champion Kell Brook – in the second clash of a four-fight telecast. The opener will feature the SHOWTIME debut of two-time Russian Olympian Artur Beterbiev (6-0, 6 KOs), who twice beat WBO/WBA/IBF Champion Sergey Kovalev in the amateurs. Beterbiev meets fellow unbeaten Jeff Page Jr. (15-0, 10 KOs), of Andover, Kansas, in a 10-round light heavyweight scrap.

Tickets for an event presented by Groupe Yvon Michel (GYM) in association with Mise-O-Jeu and Videotron, range from $25 to $250 and are on sale in the branches of the Pepsi Coliseum in Quebec (418) 691-7211 or 1 (800) 900-7469, online at www.billeteck.com, at GYM (514) 383-0666 or Boxing Club Champion (514) 376-0980.

MONTREAL (Nov. 5, 2014) – Popular, hard-hitting WBC and The Ring Magazine Light Heavyweight World Champion Adonis “Superman” Stevenson (24-1, 20 KOs), of Montreal, will defend against top-10 contender Dmitry “The Hunter” Sukhotskiy (22-2, 16 KOs) of Russia, in the main event of a SHOWTIME BOXING: Special Edition® quadrupleheader Friday, Dec. 19, live on SHOWTIME® (9 p.m. ET/PT, delayed on the West Coast) from the Pepsi Coliseum in Quebec City, it was formally announced Wednesday at a jam-packed press conference at NRJ Bell Media building in Montreal.

The final SHOWTIME boxing telecast of the year, presented by Groupe Yvon Michel (GYM) in association with Mise-O-Jeu and Videotron, will include three other fights: former world title challenger and super middleweight contender Andre Dirrell (23-1, 16 KOs), of Flint, Mich., will box an opponent to be announced in the co-feature, Kevin Bizier (23-1, 16 KOs), of Quebec, will rematch Canadian-based Romanian Jo Jo Dan (33-2, 18 KOs), in an IBF welterweight elimination fight and undefeated contender and two-time Russian Olympian Artur Beterbiev (6-0, 6 KOs) will face fellow unbeaten Jeff Page Jr. (15-0, 10 KOs) of Andover, Kan., in a 10-round light heavyweight match.

Tickets, ranging from $25 to $250 will go on sale next tomorrow, Thursday, Nov. 6, at 10 a.m. ET, in the branches of the Pepsi Coliseum in Quebec (418) 691-7211 or 1 (800) 900-7469, online at www.billeteck.com, at GYM (514) 383-0666 or Boxing Club Champion (514) 376-0980.

Here’s what Stevenson, Bizier, Dan, Beterbiev and Page had to say on Wednesday:

ADONIS STEVENSON, WBC and The Ring Magazine Light Heavyweight World Champion

“My hand has healed from the injury when I fought Fonfara. I’m healthy and I’m ready to go.

“Going 12 rounds was a good experience for me. I train for 12 rounds in the gym. Sometimes it’s good to go the distance and get the experience.

“Everybody brings their A-game because I’m the champ.

“I know I’m the king of the light heavyweight division and I know that everyone wants to take my belt. I’m going to train very hard.

“Sukhotskiy is a tough guy and he’s hoping to surprise me. I’ll prepare, my hands will be perfect and it will be a short night on SHOWTIME.”

JO JO DAN, Once-Beaten Welterweight Contender

“I’m hoping to fight with Kell Brook, but I’m concentrating 100 percent on the fight with Kevin Bizier. I’ve been waiting for this fight since I started boxing.

“I know he’s learned some things and has more experience since our first fight. But I also know him better now than when we first fought, so I think it’s going to be an exciting fight.

“If the knockout comes, it’s comes, but I always prepare for 12 rounds. If the chance is there, I won’t miss it. But that doesn’t mean we aren’t preparing for 12 rounds.

“I train 100 percent and I’m sure he’ll be in the best shape of his life. We’re looking to make the fight of the year in Quebec.”

KEVIN BIZIER, Once-Beaten Welterweight Contender

“If I want to win the world championship then I need to prepare for the best and the toughest fight of my life against [Jo Jo] Dan.

“It puts a little more pressure knowing that I could fight for a title if I win in December. But I’m focused on Dan and no one else. I’m just focusing on boxing. I’m not worried about stopping him.

“I learned to be more relaxed after our first fight. In the first fight I was going for the KO. I’m going to try to be more relaxed and use my jab this time around.”

ARTUR BETERBIEV, Former Amateur Standout And Undefeated Light Heavyweight

“I’m not worried about getting another knockout. It all depends on the strategy of the fight. I’m going to fight until the last round.

“With [Tavoris] Cloud I was preparing for 12 rounds and I could never have predicted that I would only box for four minutes. I was just doing my job and that’s what happened.

“I’m going to be more motivated for this fight because he’s undefeated. Every fight I go in the ring thinking that I’ve already lost to my opponent before. That way I won’t take my opponent lightly.

“The amateur career helped and I hope it will help me for the rest of my life. But at the same time I need to progress. I have a lot to learn in professional boxing and I’m looking forward to it.”

JEFF PAGE JR., Undefeated Light heavyweight

“No, I don’t think he’s overrated. He had a great amateur background and he went to the Olympics twice. He has beaten a lot of good fighters and he just beat Tavoris Cloud, so I think he’s a tough opponent.

“I have great hand speed and great footwork, but I know I can’t run from him like everyone else has. I’m ready to exchange – I have great power myself.

“I think him and his team are underestimating me, but I’m going to use that to my advantage. I’m going to come in and show him right away that I’m there to win, that I’m not an opponent.

“Being an underdog is absolutely a motivator for me. Everybody back home is going to be watching. If I win this fight big things are going to start happening for me and my team. Everyone will know who I am.

“I think my experience helps. He’s had a lot of amateur fights, but amateur and pro fights are a lot different. I’ve trained with a lot guys – I’ve been to Vegas, I’ve been to Chicago – and I’m getting ready to go to Big Bear. I have a lot of experience and I plan to use it.

“I train for knockouts but I’m ready to 10 rounds.”

NEW YORK (Nov. 5, 2014)–-SHOWTIME Sports will close out its 2014 boxing calendar with the return of WBC and The Ring Magazine Light Heavyweight World Champion Adonis “Superman” Stevenson as he defends his title against top-10 ranked Russian challenger Dmitry “The Hunter” Sukhotskiy in the main event of a SHOWTIME BOXING: Special Edition on Friday, Dec. 19, LIVE on SHOWTIME at 9 p.m. ET/PT.

Stevenson will once again headline in his adopted home province of Quebec for his ninth consecutive fight and his fourth world title defense. The showdown will originate from Pepsi Coliseum in Quebec City and is presented by Groupe Yvon Michel (GYM) in association with Mise-O-Jeu and Videotron.

In the co-feature of the stacked quadrupleheader, former world title challenger and super middleweight contender Andre Dirrell (23-1, 16 KOs) will return to SHOWTIME for the first time since appearing in the Super Six World Boxing Classic in 2010. Dirrell will face an opponent to be announced in the super middleweight division.

Once-beaten Kevin Bizier (23-1, 16 KOs) will face the only man to defeat him, fellow welterweight contender Jo Jo Dan (33-2, 18 KOs), in a rematch of their 2013 split-decision showdown. The winner of Bizier-Dan II, a 12-round welterweight bout, will determine the mandatory challenger to IBF Welterweight World Champion Kell Brook.

In the opening bout of the telecast, undefeated light heavyweight contender and two-time Russian Olympian Artur Beterbiev (6-0, 6 KOs) will face fellow unbeaten Jeff Page Jr. (15-0, 10 KOs) in a 10-round 175-pound bout.

The 37-year-old Stevenson (24-1, 20 KOs) is coming off a hard-fought unanimous decision victory against Andrzej Fonfara in his SHOWTIME debut this past May 24 in which the champion was knocked down for just the second time in his career. Stevenson started strong, scoring two early knockdowns of his own and was cruising to an easy win until Fonfara battled back and floored the champ in the ninth round. The two went toe-to-toe from then until the final bell, with Stevenson prevailing with a convincing victory.

Stevenson, one of the most exciting and destructive fighters in boxing, had a breakout year in 2013. He won the WBC crown with a first-round knockout of Chad Dawson and then followed up that performance with two successful title defenses, against Tavoris Cloud and Tony Bellew, to close out one of the most impressive campaigns of the year.

Now, the Haitian-born slugger will face the 33-year-old Sukhotskiy (22-2, 16 KOs), a former world title challenger currently ranked No. 7 by the WBC and WBO, and No. 8 by the WBA. Sukhotskiy challenged for the WBO Light Heavyweight World Championship against then-champ Juergen Braehmer in 2009 and lost in the champ’s hometown in Germany.

Sukhotskiy, who has never been stopped, is currently riding a four-fight winning streak that features three knockouts. He’s just one fight removed from a career-best win, a fifth-round TKO of former world title challenger Eduard Gutknecht, and owns a 2011 second-round TKO over current IBF light heavyweight No. 1 contender Nadjib Mohammedi.

Ranked in the top 15 in all four sanctioning bodies (11th in the IBF), Sukhotskiy has fought in his native Russia for all but three of his professional bouts and has seven knockouts in his last nine fights.

Dirrell, of Flint, Mich., was one of boxing’s fastest-rising contenders entering the innovative Super Six tournament, which matched the top super middleweights in a round-robin tournament to determine the best in the division. Undefeated when he entered the tournament, Dirrell traveled to England in 2009 to challenge then-WBC champ Carl Froch in his hometown, losing a close, disputed 12-round split-decision.

In his next bout in the tournament, Dirrell faced then-unbeaten Arthur Abraham and was winning on all three judges’ scorecards when Abraham was disqualified in the 11th round for punching Dirrell while he was defenseless on the canvas after slipping on the wet surface. The former Olympic Bronze Medalist suffered neurological issues as a result of the punch, withdrew from the tournament and stepped away from boxing for 21 months.

The 31-year-old Dirrell, the older brother of WBC Super Middleweight World Champion Anthony Dirrell, is undefeated since his return to the ring, winning three of his four bouts by knockout. The switch-hitting southpaw has been called one of the most athletically gifted fighters of today. At this point in his career, he is looking to reassert himself as one of the top fighters in the sport.

Quebec’s Bizier, 30, a pro since 2008, was undefeated and the favored fighter heading into his first showdown with fellow contender Dan. The two battled for 12 action-packed rounds with Dan taking a split decision – 116-111, 114-1113 for Dan and 117-110 for Bizier. Dan controlled the early rounds; Bizier the later sessions of a thrilling fight.

Still a top contender at 147 pounds, Bizier has recorded consecutive knockouts in 2014 including his most recent performance, a first-round TKO of Laszlo Fazekas in Montreal this past September. Bizier is ranked No. 6 by the IBF and will get his first shot at a world title if he avenges the loss to Dan.

The 33-year-old Dan was born in Romania and has campaigned for most of his career in Canada. The only blemishes on the southpaw’s record are a pair of close, controversial decision losses to then-undefeated contender Selcuk Aydin – the first in 2010 and the second in 2011 – both in Aydin’s native Turkey.

Dan, whose full name is Ionut Dan Ion, has registered four consecutive wins since the 2011 loss to Aydin and is coming off a fifth-round TKO over Lukasz Janik on the Stevenson-Fonfara undercard in May.. A consensus top-10 fighter, Dan is currently ranked No. 2 in the IBF, No. 6 in the WBC and No. 8 in the WBA.

Beterbiev is fresh off a dominating second-round TKO of former IBF light heavyweight champ Tavoris Cloud on Sept. 27 in Montreal in which he floored the former champion four times in less than 4 minutes. An amateur standout who turned pro in June of 2013 and has campaigned exclusively in Canada, the highly regarded Beterbiev has knocked out all of his professional opponents in four rounds or less.

The 29-year-old Beterbiev, who holds two amateur victories over current WBO Light Heavyweight Champ Sergey Kovalev, is already ranked in the top-10 by the WBO (No. 10) after just six professional fights and 26 rounds of boxing.

The 24-year-old Page, of Andover, Kansas, is a former college linebacker. He turned professional in March 2013 and fought 10 times in nine months, facing limited opposition. Page has registered two consecutive knockouts and is coming off a fifth-round KO of Maxwell Taylor in October.

Tickets, ranging from $25.00 to $250.00, will go on sale next Thursday, Nov. 6, at 10:00 a.m. ET, in the branches of the Pepsi Coliseum in Quebec (418) 691-7211 or 1 (800) 900-7469, online at www.billeteck.com, at GYM (514) 383-0666 or Boxing Club Champion (514) 376-0980.

MONTREAL (October 29, 2014) – Boxing has its “Superman” — World Boxing Council (WBC) light heavyweight champion Adonis Stevenson — and from the same country, ironically, comes “Batman” — world super middleweight contender Schiller Hyppolite (13-0-1, 9 KOs).

The 28-year-old Hyppolite, like Stevenson, was born in Haiti and he also lives in Montreal. Hyppolite has won eight straight fights and is world rated by the International Boxing Federation (IBF) at No. 15, as well as No. 19 by the WBC.

The multi-talented boxer-puncher headlines a show November 21, presented by his promoter Camille Estephan’s company, Eye of the Tiger Management (EOTTM), streaming live in high definition on www.punchinggrace.com from Colisee Cardin in Sorel-Tracy, Quebec. Hyppolite faces Alan Campa (10-1, 7 KOs) in the 12-round main event for the vacant IBF North American and WBC Continental Americas 168-pound titles.

If not for a major attitude adjustment after suffering his lone loss as a professional in 2012, to then 7-0 Francy Ntetu by six-round split decision, Hyppolite would probably be a struggling journeyman instead of one of the hottest prospects in boxing, “Batman.”

“I was undisciplined when I lost that fight,” Hyppolite explained. “I was not doing well at that time, but I had an opportunity to spar for a month with Tavoris Cloud and that changed my life. I started doing what I was supposed to be doing to accomplish my goals in the ring. That changed everything and now I work hard every day in the gym. I’m definitely ‘The Next One’ out of Canada. I work so hard that I can’t see why I won’t be the next great fighter from up here.”

Cloud was preparing to fight living legend Bernard Hopkins, who Hyppolite not only idolizes but is somewhat similar to, style-wise, in the squared circle. “I would love to spar with Bernard Hopkins,” Schiller gushes. “He’s so smart in the ring. I’m sneaky like him; I move around a lot and make adjustments, too. I’m a boxer but can go to war when I have to. My heart is with Bernard for his fight with (Sergey) Kovalev.

A native of Haiti, Hyppolite has closely followed his fellow countrymen in Canada: Stevenson and former world light heavyweight champion Jean Pascal, as well as his EOTTM stable-mates, WBC heavyweight champion Bermane “BWare” Stiverne, and former world junior lightweight title challenger Dierry “Dough Style” Jean.

“I’m glad to be with other Haitian fighters here who have done so well in boxing,” Hyppolite noted. “Today, when people here about a Haitian boxer, they know he’s a good fighter.”

“Someday, ‘Batman’ will out do ‘Superman,'” Estephan commented. “He’s always been a nice kid but he had a bad attitude. He was kicked off the Canadian National Team. His coach, 1996 Canadian Olympian and NABF heavyweight champion Jean Francois Bergeron, asked me about getting Hyppolite a fight. I saw him in the gym and liked what I saw. I got him a six-round fight. He clearly won five rounds but was showboating. The judges didn’t like him and he lost a split decision. Schiller needed to and made an attitude adjustment after that fight and since then he’s won eight fight with seven knockouts. He’s also worked very hard on strength and conditioning for the past two years.

“Schiller is more talented than (Lucian) Bute, Stevenson or Pascal at the same point in their careers. He’s slick, dangerous and fast. Sparring with Cloud really changed things for him. His confidence improved after that training camp and another in which he sparred with (Gennady) Golovkin. He proved himself against those guys as being a very talented fighter capable of adjusting during a fight. Schiller is EOTTM’s top prospect and I’m confidence that he will eventually surpass Bute, Stevenson and Pascal.”

Unlike these aforementioned Canadian fighters who graduated from super middleweights to light heavyweights, Hyppolite has no plans to move up from 168 to 175 pounds, at least in the immediate future. In 2015, hopefully, he’ll get a world title shot.

“I figure in a year, 1 ½ years, I will be fighting for a world title,” Hyppolite concluded. “I know that Camille will get me a world title shot, as long as I keep winning and improving. I don’t really care which world champion I fight but, if I had a choice, I’d want to fight Andre Ward because he’s the best super middleweight in the world right now.”

For further information about EOTTM, Hyppolite or any of his stable-mates please visit www.eottm.comand follow on Twitter @eotmvd.

MONTREAL (Oct. 27, 2014) – World Boxing Council (WBC), The Ring Magazine and lineal light heavyweight champion Adonis “Superman” Stevenson (24-1, 20 KOs), the The Ring Magazine and ESPN’s 2013 Fighter of the Year and 2013 Knockout of the Year winner, returns to the ring December 19 at Pepsi Coliseum in Quebec to face Russian challenger Dmitry “The Hunter” Sukhotskiy (22-2, 16 KOs),

“THE REIGN OF SUPERMAN,” featuring the world light heavyweight championship between Stevenson and Sukhotskiy, is presented by Groupe Yvon Michel (GYM) in association with Mise-O-Jeu and Videotron. Stevenson’s fourth world title defense will be against Sukhotskiy, who is world rated by all four major governing bodies: WBC #7, WBO # 8, WBA # 7 and IBF # 11.

For the second time in a row Stevenson will headline on Showtime as part of its prestigious series, SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING, which will televise Stevenson’s title defense on American television, thanks to the close cooperation of Stephen Espinoza, Showtime Executive Vice President & General Manager, Sports and Event Programming.

WBA #10, and WNC #13 light heavyweight contender, two-time Russian Olympian sensation Artur Beterbiev (6-0, 6 KOs), as well as dangerous IBF #5 welterweight Kevin Bizier (26-1, 16 KOs) will also be in action.

Two press conferences will be held next Wednesday, Nov. 5, in the morning in Quebec City and Montreal in the afternoon. All details will be announced then.

Tickets, ranging from $25.00 to $250.00, will go on sale next Thursday, November 6, at 10:00 a.m. ET, in the branches of the Pepsi Coliseum in Quebec (418) 691-7211 or 1 (800) 900-7469, online at www.billeteck.com, at GYM (514) 383-0666 or Boxing Club Champion (514) 376-0980.

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ABOUT GROUPE YVON MICHEL, INC.: Founded in 2004, Yvon Michel’s GYM’s mission is the development of high-level boxers by providing a supportive coaching and especially management competition. GYM is active in recruiting talent in order to achieve its objectives and event planning. Since its founding nine years ago, GYM has promoted 117 events, including ticket and PPV viewing history making fights such as Pascal vs. Hopkins I and II. GYM has produced more than 300 hours of television with Canal Indigo, Bell TV, Shaw TV, TVA Sports, VOX, TVA, CBC, RDS and V, in Canada, as well as HBO, Showtime and ESPN in the USA. A total of seven different GYM boxers have fought in 21 world championship fights. Under the tutelage of GYM, Joachim Alcine captured the WBA super welterweight title in 2007 and Jean Pascal the WBC light heavyweight championship in in 2009. Since June of 2013, Adonis “Superman” Stevenson has held the WBC light heavyweight title. In addition to also being The Ring and lineal light heavyweight champion, Stevenson was named the 2013 Boxer of the Year by The Ring, Sports Illustrated and many other publications.

Totowa, NJ: Having achieved its goal of making a light heavyweight unification fight for Sergey Kovalev, Main Events filed paperwork in the Southern District of New York today formally dropping their lawsuit against Groupe Yvon Michel, Inc., Yvon Michel, Adonis Stevenson, Al Haymon, Showtime, Golden Boy Promotions, Inc., and Richard Schaefer. With the announcement of the upcoming unification bout between WBO Light Heavyweight Champion Sergey “Krusher” Kovalev (25-0-1, 23 KOs) and WBA/IBF Light Heavyweight Champion Bernard “The Alien” Hopkins (55-6-2, 32 KOs), Main Events succeeded in obtaining the result it sought for Kovalev.

Main Events filed the lawsuit in April after Groupe Yvon Michel and Stevenson failed to honor an agreement for a scheduled bout between Sergey “Krusher” Kovalev and WBC Light Heavyweight Champion Adonis “Superman” Stevenson (24-1, 20 KOs). Now that Kovalev is scheduled for a unification bout with Hopkins, Main Events decided to drop the suit without prejudice, retaining the right to reinstate the litigation in the event the fight between Hopkins and Kovalev does not proceed as scheduled.

Main Events’ CEO Kathy Duva said, “The purpose of the lawsuit was to secure a unification bout for Sergey and allow him to face the top competition in the light heavyweight division. By signing on with Hopkins and Golden Boy Promotions for a three-title unification bout, Main Events secured the big fight that Sergey wanted. We no longer have damages, so we will not proceed with the litigation at this time.”

Miami, FL (July 3, 2014) Next Thursday night, July 10, top rated light heavyweight contender HUMBERTO SAVIGNE will battle former world champion JEFF “Left Hook” LACY from the American Airlines Arena in Miami, Florida and LIVE on FOX Sports 1.

Presented by Iron Mike Productions, the Savigne/Lacy scheduled ten rounder at “JUDGMENT DAY” for the World Boxing Council (‘WBC’) Latino Light Heavyweight Title is the co-featured attraction to the highly anticipated IBF Super Featherweight Title Rematch between ARGENIS “La Tormenta” MENDEZ and RANCES “Kid Blast” BARTHELEMY.

Savigne is currently ranked # 3 by the WBC.

Boxing legend MIKE TYSON is adamant that Savigne is the future undisputed king of the light heavyweight division.

“Savigne can beat both Sergev Kovalev and Adonis Stevenson, he’s got as much power as they do but he’s also a very skilled and intelligent fighter. Boxing fans deserve the chance to see those two fight against someone who has a chance to beat them.”

Sporting a record of 12-1-0 with 9 knockouts, Savigne is on a ten bout-winning streak, having turned professional in 2009 following an illustrious amateur career for the Cuban National Team. Now based in Miami, Florida, the Tyson led charge is looking to repeat the recent success of fellow amateur standouts.

Continued Tyson, “ In just the last couple of weeks, two brilliant amateur stars have fought for world titles, Vasyl Lomachenko schooled the game but overmatched Gary Russell Jr. while Yuriorkis Gamboa stepped up in weight and was knocked out by the former United States National Amateur Champion, WBO champ Terence Crawford.”

“Savigne’s stellar amateur career was just as dominant as Lomachenko’s and Gamboa’s as well as Erislandy Lara’s and Guillermo Rigondeaux’s. His rise has been slower as he struggled for eight years to come to the United States and start a professional career. But now is clearly his time. The question is when will he get his shot at the current light heavyweight world champions who seem to prefer hand picked matchups based upon the criteria that the opponents don’t have knockout power.”

With 450 amateur fights, and recent wins over former world champion Richard Hall and undefeated contender Jackson Junior, Savigne hopes that a win over former world champion Lacy will seal the deal with the major networks and show them that he is ready to battle either Kovalev or Stevenson.

Lacy, 26-4-0 (18KO’s) has been chomping at the bit to get an opportunity to fight a top light heavyweight and is ready to try to return to the top of the rankings, fighting injury free for the first time since his loss to the long running world champion Joe Calzaghe.

“Savigne vs. Lacy promises action from the opening bell and with the card we’ve put together, boxing fans in Miami will see a card that will be talked about for years”, said Tyson.

Opening the FOX Sports 1 telecast will be the nationally televised debut of heralded and undefeated 18-year-old welterweight prospect ERICKSON “The Hammer” LUBIN clashing with Mexican veteran NOE “Platanito” BOLANOS in a scheduled eight round bout.

A sensational off-TV undercard for “JUDGMENT DAY” will be announced shortly.

For more information on “JUDGMENT DAY” please visit the website, www.IMPMIAMI.com. Advance tickets, starting at $49 may be purchased through www.Ticketmaster.com with V.I.P Ringside Table Packages also available.

The American Airlines Arena is located at 601 Biscayne Boulevard, Miami, Florida, 33132. For more information, please visit their website at www.aaarena.com. Doors will open on the evening of the event at 6:30 p.m. with the first bell at 8:00 p.m.

For additional information on Iron Mike Productions visit www.IronMikeProductions, follow on Twitter at @IronMikeProd and on Facebook at IronMikeProductionsOfficial.

Adonis Stevenson survived a couple anxious moments but he retained the WBC Light Heavyweight title with a 12-round unanimous decision over Andrzej Fonfara at the Bell Centre in Montreal

In round one Stevenson landed a hard left and sent Fonfara to the canvas. Stevenson was all over Fonfara and tried to end the fight in the opening frame. The shots opened up a cut around the right eye of Fonfara in round three. Fonfara settled down and had a decent round four. In round five, Steveson landed a hard left to the body that put Fonfara on the canvas. When Fonfara got to his feet, Stevenson continued to work the body and then landed a huge uppercut. Stevenson hurt Fonfara yet again in round six with a hard right to the body.

Fonfara hung in and tried to work behind the jab in round seven. The fight turned in round nine when a right hook sent Stevenson down to the canvas. Fonfara continued to pepper Stevenson with shots throughout the round. Round ten was a good bounce back round for Stevenson as he hurt Fonfara on a couple of occasions by mixing up head and body shots. Stevenson came out in round 11 by battering the body and then hurt Fonfara with an uppercut. The two battled to the end which was much to the delight of the crowd at the Bell Centre

Stevenson, 173 1/2 lbs of Montreal won by scores of 115-110 twice and 116-109 and is now 24-1. Fonfara, 174 1/2 lbs of Chicago is 24-3.

After the fight, Stevenson told SHOWTIME Sports® ringside reporter Jim Gray, “(It was a) good fight. I hurt my left hand in the second round. He did very well. I threw the punch but I caught the elbow and I hurt my hand.”

Stevenson was satisfied with his victory despite getting knocked down. “Everyone gets knocked down. But I came back strong. I showed the world because I’m a true champion.

“I told everybody (Fonfara) is strong. He’s been training since December. He is ranked No. 1 and No. 3 in the world. He was ready for this fight. I never overlooked him because he’s a tough fighter.”

When asked by Gray about the prospect of fighting Bernard Hopkins and Sergey Kovalev, Stevenson said, “I accept any challenge. Bernard can be next. And I have no problem with Kovalev. If I fight him I fight him.”

Fonfara, despite the loss, made an emphatic statement. After the fight, he said, “I survived because I have the heart to fight. Every time he hit me I felt the punch. Tonight Stevenson is better. I’m still young. I’m only 26 years old. I’m training hard and one day I’ll be a world champion.”

Middleweight power puncher destroyed former world title challenger Fernando Guerrero in round three of a scheduled 12-round bout.

Guerrero had a good first two-minutes of the bout as he darted in and landed lead lefts. Lemieux finally caught Guerrero with a massive left hook that set up two hard rights that sent Guerrero to the canvas. In round two, Guerrero landed huge shots and opened up a cut from the right eye. Lemieux scored a second knockdown at the end of the round from a hard combination. Lemieux was relentless to start round three to the point Guerrero to a knee without a punch being thrown. With the blood streaming out of his eye, Guerrero went down from hard uppercuts and the fight was stopped at 1:56 of round three.

Lemieux, 159 1/2 lbs of Montreal is now 32-2 with 30 knockouts. Guerrero, 159 lbs of Los Angeles is now 26-3.

“I knew Fernando Guerrero is a very strong fighter. Very tough,” said Lemieux. “He’s been down many times and always gets back up. Once I started to land my shots I could see it in his eyes that the game started to change.

“The results in the ring are from my dedication and my training. I want to tip my hat to Fernando Guerrero. He is a great fighter. I studied him for many months prior to the fight. So I am very happy with the outcome.”

“I’m determined to be a world champion. I would love to fight anyone in the world at 160.”

Jr. Middleweight Jermell Charlo remained undefeated with a 12-round unanimous decision over Charlie Ohta.

Charlo took charge with his boxing in the first 2 rounds. In round three, Ohta landed a right hand that sent Charlo to the canvas. Charlo was not hurt and boxed as if nothing happend and came back to land a hard upper cut the bell. Charlo continued to box and mix up his punches with right and left hooks. He jabbed well too. Ohta would get in an occasional nice counter.

In round nine, Charlo was deducted a point for low blows but was never threatened during the fight.

Charlo, 153 3/4 lbs of Houston won by scores of 115-111 and 118-109 twice and is now 24-0. Ohta, 153 lbs of Tokyo is now 24-2-1.

After the fight, Charlo said that he was not concerned with the knockdown. “To me, I slipped. I didn’t feel the solid shot. He hit me with the right hand. He just caught me off balance. But it is what it is.

“This was a rough one. I did what I had to do tonight.”
Good looking Jr. Middleweight prospect Julian Williams remained undefeated with a terrific 8th round stoppage in a 10-round bout.

Williams dominated with quick over hand rights in the 1st couple of rounds. He rocked Medina on several occasions through out the fight. In round six, he shook Medina with a beautiful 10 punch combination for which 6 of the punches landed flush. In round eight, Williams landed a perfect double right hand that sent Medina to the canvas and the fight was stopped upon Medina getting to his feet at the count of 10 at 1:59 of round 8.

Williams, 154 3/4 lbs of Philadelphia is now 16-0-1 with 10 knockouts. Medina, 154 lbs of Los Angeles, CA is now 26-5-2.

Light Heavyweight prospect Eleider Alvarez scored a 10-round unanimous decision over Alexander Johnson.

Alavarez dominated with a the right hand against the southpaw Johnson. In round five, Alavarez dropped Johnson with a combination. Johnson was able to get out of the round finished the fight as Alavarez seemed content to box from the outside.

Alvarez, 175 lbs of Montreal won by scores of 97-92 on all cards and is now 15-0. Johnson, 171 1/2 lbs of Washington, DC is now 15-2.