Adonis Stevenson Promises To Hunt For a KO of Bika

By Jake Donovan

Few if any experts foresee Adonis Stevenson having much difficulty overcoming any challenge Sakio Bika poses in their upcoming April 4 light heavyweight championship bout in Quebec City, Canada. With that naturally comes the question of not if the betting favorite will win, but the manner in which he gets the job done.

Stevenson (25-1, 21KOs) has scored knockouts in 11 of his past 12 wins, including his championship winning effort in scoring a one-punch 1st round stoppage of Chad Dawson in June ’13. Andrzej Fonfara is the only fighter among the southpaw’s current 12-fight win streak to last the full 12 round distance, climbing off the canvas to accomplish that feat last May.

It’s been nearly two years since Bika (32-6-3, 21KOs) has last won a fight, but the Cameroon-born, Australia-based boxer has never been stopped through more than 14 years as a pro.

Therein lies the challenge for Stevenson ahead of their bout, which airs live on CBS during Saturday afternoon coverage preceding the NCAA college basketball Final Four.

“It’s motivation to me,” Stevenson insists. “I train very hard. I know he can punch and he keeps applying pressure. I love that kind of style. My fight, when I’m sparring and training, is for 12 rounds.”

Of course, that’s not the way the 37-year old slugger goes into his fights. Resurrecting his career under the guidance of the late Emanuel Steward, Stevenson was quick to adapt to the “Kronk Gym” way of thinking.

The proof is in his current win streak, including the two performances specifically dedicated to the legendary Hall of Fame trainer. His aforementioned win over Dawson reduced Stevenson to tears, not just winning the title but honoring Steward’s memory in doing so.

His last win while Steward was still fighting for his life came in a super middleweight eliminator, scoring a 12th round stoppage of Donovan George in Oct. ’12. The fight reached a point where it was clear that Stevenson—guided by Steward mentee Javan ‘Sugar’ Hill that night and every fight since—would win, but a matter of whether or not the valiant George would hear the final bell.

Damn if the knockout-thirsty southpaw was going to allow that to happen.

“Like Emanuel always said, knockouts sell,” Stevenson fondly recalls. “When I get in the ring, I’m looking for the knockout. If it goes 12 rounds, it makes no difference. I can box beautiful, I got good skills. It’s not a problem for me.

“But when I go in the ring, I’m looking for the knockout. I think any boxer—in the ring—they look for the knockout. Sometimes it’s not like that (for some fighters). But for me, I’m looking for the knockout and like Emanuel always said, knockouts sell.”

Jake Donovan is the Managing Editor of Boxingscene.com. Twitter: @JakeNDaBox