By Ryan Burton
Former two-division champion Badou Jack was hoping to get an immediate rematch of his May 19th clash against Adonis Stevenson.
The fight for Stevenson's WBC light heavyweight title ended in a draw. Stevenson (29-1-1, 24 KOs) started fast but Jack closed the show well, stunning the 40-year-old on several occasions.
"I thought I won the fight. Maybe I started a little slow but I still thought I won. The rounds that he won were kind of because I didn't do nothing or they were almost even and the rounds I won I destroyed him but you don't score fights like that. I can't complain about it. I just have to go home and work harder and knock him out but it is either said than done," Jack told BoxingScene.com.
An immediate rematch became impossible when the WBC ordered a purse bid for Stevenson and Oleksandr Gvozdyk, who is his mandatory challenger.
Jack will face a different opponent in his next fight but is still hopeful that he can secure a rematch down the line. While he believes Stevenson is the favorite against Gvozdyk (15-0, 12 KOs), he doesn't rule out the challenger coming out with the victory.
"I don't know too much about the other guy but hopefully we can get the rematch. I have only seen (Gvozdyk) once or twice. He is pretty good but Stevenson is on another level than the guys he is used to fighting. He might be younger and Stevenson might not be the same after our fight. It was a tough fight for him," said Jack.
"I broke (Stevenson) down. He went to the wrong corner. He was all over the place. You never know though. He might come back stronger. Stevenson is not a bad fighter."
December 1st is being set down for Stevenson-Gvozdyk with the champion's backyard of Quebec City, Canada playing host to the event.
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