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By Cliff Rold - Adonis Stevenson always made it clear he was more interested in a showdown with Bernard Hopkins than he was in a puncher’s duel with Sergey Kovalev. Now working with ‘advisor’ Al Haymon, and under the Showtime banner, Stevenson is likely just a win away from getting what he wanted.
Andrzej Fonfara has a chance to upset the apple cart.
The Polish-born fighter has built a solid fan base in his adopted home of Chicago, laudably packing in a solid crowd at the Chicago White Sox’s ballpark last summer. He’s also built his body out from a gangly Middleweight to a stout Light Heavyweight over the last six years. Unbeaten in sixteen fights, including a knockout win turned No Contest for a positive steroid test in 2009, Fonfara earned his shot with wins over Glen Johnson and Gabriel Campillo in his last four starts.
Stevenson isn’t the faded veteran Johnson was. He hits a hell of a lot harder, and faster, than Campillo. The champion is favored. Are the odds right?
Fonfara enters the fight with a height advantage but his style isn’t likely to make it an issue. Fonfara keeps a high, tight guard and often engages at close range. He counters well out of that posture, a way to compensate for less than stellar handspeed. Stevenson, who also looks to counter, works the ring better and may find Fonfara coming to him.
That favors the champion.
Stevenson’s power is clear. The one shot stoppage of Chad Dawson for the title was plenty of evidence of that. He’s one of the best power punchers in boxing right now. He has long arms, explosive speed, and his boxing ability continues to evolve. His performance against Tavoris Cloud in his first defense was a technical and physical schooling. [Click Here To Read More]
Andrzej Fonfara has a chance to upset the apple cart.
The Polish-born fighter has built a solid fan base in his adopted home of Chicago, laudably packing in a solid crowd at the Chicago White Sox’s ballpark last summer. He’s also built his body out from a gangly Middleweight to a stout Light Heavyweight over the last six years. Unbeaten in sixteen fights, including a knockout win turned No Contest for a positive steroid test in 2009, Fonfara earned his shot with wins over Glen Johnson and Gabriel Campillo in his last four starts.
Stevenson isn’t the faded veteran Johnson was. He hits a hell of a lot harder, and faster, than Campillo. The champion is favored. Are the odds right?
Fonfara enters the fight with a height advantage but his style isn’t likely to make it an issue. Fonfara keeps a high, tight guard and often engages at close range. He counters well out of that posture, a way to compensate for less than stellar handspeed. Stevenson, who also looks to counter, works the ring better and may find Fonfara coming to him.
That favors the champion.
Stevenson’s power is clear. The one shot stoppage of Chad Dawson for the title was plenty of evidence of that. He’s one of the best power punchers in boxing right now. He has long arms, explosive speed, and his boxing ability continues to evolve. His performance against Tavoris Cloud in his first defense was a technical and physical schooling. [Click Here To Read More]
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