By Rick Reeno
Promoter Yvon Michel of GYM spoke with BoxingScene.com to provide updates on two of the top light heavyweights that are fighting under his promotional banner.
Next up for WBC light heavyweight champion Adonis Stevenson (28-1, 23 KOs) is a voluntary defense against undefeated Sean Monaghan (28-0, 17 KOs). Initially, the fight was going to take place on April 29th at the Nassau Coliseum in New York.
The April date is not going to happen, as previously reported by BoxingScene.com's Keith Idec. One of the potential dates being kicked around for that fight is May 27th.
Stevenson has continued to train and he's waiting to get word on the finalized date. Michel indicates that contrary to reports, Stevenson is staying calm and continues to train while the details for his next fight are being worked out. There are no behind the scenes issues brewing between Stevenson and his manager, Al Haymon.
"Right now Adonis is training. He's very patient because he understands the complexity of staging an event of this nature. We're just waiting to find out about the date and where it's going to take place, but Adonis understands the situation and there are no issues," Michel told BoxingScene.com.
Another top fighter at 175, and also promoted by Michel, is Artur Beterbiev (11-0, 11 KOs).
A few months ago, the IBF ordered Beterbiev to take part in a final world title eliminator, to establish a mandatory challenger to current world champion Andre Ward (31-0, 15 KOs).
Once-beaten Enrico Koelling (23-1, 6 KOs), who is promoted by Sauerland Event, has agreed to face Beterbiev and the two sides are now working to finalize the fight. Koelling has won seven fights in a row since suffering his only career defeat in February 2015.
"Koelling has stepped up. Artur is very happy about this, because he didn't want to get no freebie, he wanted to earn his title shot. I have spoken with [Sauerland executive] Chris Meyer. They want to give Koelling the opportunity to earn a world title shot and we are working things out. We have some time to make a deal before the IBF calls for a purse bid," Michel said.
