An ugly scene took place at today's official weigh-in in Quebec City, as WBC light heavyweight champion Adonis Stevenson, challenger Tony Bellew, and their respective camps - nearly brawled it out on stage after the two boxers came together for a face to face after making the required division limit. Some amateur footage was shot by Cogeco Nouvelles
The tension has been building for Saturday’s attractive HBO card at the Colisée Pepsi in Quebec City, Quebec, Canada, featuring two light heavyweight world championship fights. Things have been getting testy between WBC light heavyweight champion Adonis Stevenson (22-1, 19 KOs) and mandatory challenger Tony Bellew (20-1-1, 12 KOs) after the 6’2 Bellew’s references to the 5’11 Stevenson as a “little man,” “midget” and “dwarf.”
During Wednesday's final press conference, light heavyweight contender Tony Bellew lashed out at WBC champion Adonis Stevenson. Bellew (20-1-1, 12KOs) is not impressed with Stevenson (22-1, 19KOs) and says the public and HBO are overhyping the champ. They will collide on Saturday night at the Pepsi Coliseum in Quebec City, Canada. Bellew says Stevenson is being pushed based on his last two wins, but doesn't do well against opponents who fight back and says history proves his point - when Stevenson was stopped by Darnell Boone (then 16-15) in two rounds in 2010. Stevenson got revenge in March of this year with a sixth round knockout of Bellew.
This Saturday night at the Colisee Pepsi in Quebec City, WBC light heavyweight champion Adonis Stevenson (22-1, 19 KOs) of Quebec will defend his title on his home turf against the UK’s Tony Bellew (20-1, 12 KOs), the mandatory challenger. Stevenson, 36, dismantled former champion Chad Dawson with a first-round knockout in June to win his first world championship, and successfully defended his title in September, stopping another top veteran, Tavoris Cloud, at the end of the seventh round. Photos by Peter Cziborra.
With a hectic weekend now a fond memory, Dave Coldwell ditches the promoter tag for the next few days as he wraps up warm to brave the freezing Quebec conditions that await him this Thursday. After surviving numerous niggles at his “Hot Shots” event on Friday evening which saw the return of Manchester’s John Murray, Coldwell’s focus has now switched to joining Mick McAllister in ensuring that Liverpool’s Tony Bellew ransacks the lion’s den when he faces the in-form Adonis Stevenson this Saturday night.
By Jake Donovan - No matter how much he has achieved over the past year and regardless of what he goes on to accomplish, Adonis ‘Superman’ Stevenson will never forget what brought him to this point. “Emanuel Steward’s spirit will last with me forever.” The Hall-of-Fame trainer was sadly in his last days when Adonis Stevenson (22-1-1, 19KO) secured the necessary win to thrust him to the title stage. A 12th round stoppage of Donovan George in their thrilling super middleweight elimination bout last October landed the southpaw knockout artist in a position to challenge for a major title. The fight itself came without Steward in his corner, instead taking advice between bells from the trainer’s nephew, Javon ‘Sugar’ Hill. What got him to that point was the hard work and countless hours spent on the grind at Kronk headquarters in Detroit, where Stevenson spends his time when the Haiti-born boxer isn’t at home in Montreal. In the year and change since Steward’s passing, Stevenson has fought with a level of inspiration that has clearly taken his career to new heights. A brilliant 2013 campaign has included avenging the lone loss of his career, capturing the lineal light heavyweight championship and a systematic beat down of a former titlist. A win on Saturday over England’s Tony Bellew – which airs live on HBO from Colisée de Quebec (nee Pepsi Coliseum) in Quebec City – will land Stevenson clear in the center of any 2013 Fighter of the Year discussion. Whether or not he actually wins such honors is secondary to the continued advancement of one of the sport’s better success stories.
Anticipation continues to grow for Adonis Stevenson’s upcoming World light heavyweight championship title defense versus mandatory challenger Tony Bellew. The bout headlines at Colisée de Quebec (nee Pepsi Coliseum) this Saturday, and airs live on HBO World Championship Boxing. Stevenson (22-1, 19KO) became one of 2013’s breakout stars, scoring three stoppage wins in as many fights in what has been a career-best year for the Haitian-Canadian. For his upcoming showdown with England’s Bellew (20-1-1, 12KO), current tickets sales confirm his star on the rise.
It appears that the full card beneath next Saturday’s light heavyweight championship bout between Adonis Stevenson and Tony Bellew has finally taken shape. Days after it was announced that welterweight prospect Mikael Zewski would be added to the bill, two more Canadian-based up and comers will now see action in Quebec City as well. Former world amateur champion Artur Beterbiev (2-0, 2 knockouts) makes his third professional appearance, taking on journeyman Billy Bailey in light heavyweight action.
Less than a month away from heading across the Atlantic for the biggest fight of his life, Liverpool light heavyweight Tony Bellew remains confident that he can upset the odds and rip the WBC belt away from its current owner, Canadian power puncher Adonis Stevenson. Bellew believes that Stevenson may have one eye on a proposed unification fight with WBO boss Sergei Kovalev, who is also defending his title on the bill in Quebec City on 30 November. As a result, he might be looking past the former British champion, and perhaps even under-estimating him. Bellew will be quite happy if that proves to be the case.
Tony Bellew has dismissed Adonis Stevenson's 'Superman' tag by warning that he will be the Canadian's Kryptonite. Liverpool fighter Bellew, 30, takes on the highly-rated Stevenson for the WBC light-heavyweight title in Quebec City on November 30. It is Bellew's second shot at a world title after losing on points to Nathan Cleverly with the WBO crown at stake two years ago. The Everton fan is confident of making up for that disappointment against WBC champion Stevenson, who is known as Superman for his strong punching power and impressive record.