By Ryan Burton

Brownsville, New York native Curtis "Cerebral Assassin" Stevens will step in a traditional boxing ring in a sanctioned boxing match for the first time in almost a year and a half when he faces unbeaten Brazilian Patrick Teixeira (26-0) on the Canelo Alvarez-Amir Khan pay-per-view undercard.  The broadcast will be distributed by HBO and will take place at the T-Mobile Center in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Stevens hasn't been away from the sport during that nearly 18-month hiatus.  The 30-year-old helped prepared Alvarez for his November mega-fight against Miguel Cotto and also participated in a BKB (Big Knockout Boxing) match where he battled Gabriel Rosado to a draw.  BKB matches are fought in small, circular rings without ropes that encourage more action and less running and moving.

"What I took from it is that I don't have to lay on the ropes.  Being that there is no ropes you had to sit there and fight so it is move forward and not back up.  I can take a little break off and set one up but there is no need to use (the ropes), I can just move forward or push someone back," explained Stevens.

The former title challenger has been in the ring with fighters such as Gennady Golovkin, Andre Dirrell, and Hassan N'Dam while Teixeira has fought much softer competition.  Stevens is in agreement that his experience advantage could play a key role in their bout.

"Yes, I have been in there with different styles of guys, tougher opponents. This is boxing in general. We have yet to see what he brings to the table within a fight, did he change something on his style? I have been in with better fighters but not taking anything away from him - I still have a job to do," Stevens told BoxingScene.com.

Stevens feels that facing an undefeated fighter is business as usual.  He knows that a victory on a high profile card will lead to more lucrative opportunities.

"I pulled guys before who had zero losses and I gave them their first loss. It is nothing new to me to be in there with a guy with a no loss record. He is a man just like I am a man. I just gotta go in there and give it to him," Stevens stated.

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