MONTREAL (April 18, 2012) – International Boxing Federation(“IBF”) No. 2-ranked, dangerous Adonis “Superman” Stevenson (17-1, 14 KOs), is ready to take on the top super middleweights in the world. First, though, the sensational southpaw must get past World Boxing Council (“WBC”) No. 2-ranked Noe “El Carbonero” Gonzalez (28-1, 20 KOs) in their much-anticipated unification showdown headlining this week’s ESPN Friday Night Fights, live at the famed Bell Centre in Montreal.
Stevenson-Gonzalez is the marquee match-up on a stacked card, which is another installment in the popular Fast and Furious Series, presented in Montreal by Mise-O-Jeu and Videotron.
In addition to future world title fight implications for the winner, the 12-round main evident will be contested for Stevenson’s IBF Inter-Continental, North American Boxing Organization (“NABO”) and North American Boxing Association (“NABA”) super middleweight title belts, as well as Gonzalez’ WBC Silver Championship.
“This is a big fight because my goal is to become world champion,” Stevenson y said prior to leaving his Kronk Gym training camp in Detroit. “And everybody is going to be watching this fight on ESPN. I don’t care who I fight for the world title – (Lucian) Bute, (Andre) Ward or any world champion – but first I need to beat Gonzalez. He’s a tough guy, a power puncher like me, and I’ve been sparring with some top guys to get ready for him. I will use my speed and movement.
“Manny Steward is the best trainer in the world to teach me how to be a world champion. He knows what it takes and is preparing me. He’s helped to improve my technique and I’ve improved in a lot of ways. He is the best trainer in boxing.”
Haiti-native Stevenson, fighting out of Quebec, is also ranked No. 7 by the World Boxing Association (“WBA”) and World Boxing Organization (“WBO”), and No. 9 by the World Boxing Council (“WBC”). Last February against Jesus Gonzales (27-1), Adonis registered a frightening “Superman”-like Knockout of the Year candidate in the opening round.
“I was happy with that win,” Adonis noted, “but I was scared watching his body shaking on the canvas. I didn’t want to hurt him. I’m glad that he’s okay.”
Gonzalez, a native of Uruguay now living in Argentina, is a feared puncher who has won 14 fights in a row, all but one by knockout. He captured the WBC Silver Belt in January, 2011, with a ninth-round technical knockout of Gustavo Magallanes (29-1) in Uruguay. Gonzalez is promoted by Sampson Lewkowicz (president of Sampson Boxing), who also handles Noe’s manager, World Super middleweight champion Sergio Martinez (48-2-2, 27 KOs).
“I’m going to win,” Stevenson predicted. “I’ll box to win and, if the knockout comes, that will be good. Gonzalez is fast and I know he’ll be prepared for this fight. I’m going to be ready and prove that I’m ready to fight for the world title.”
Unbeaten North American Boxing Organization (“NABO”) light heavyweight champion Eleider “Storm” Alvarez (7-0, 5 KOs) takes on upset-minded Rayco “War” Saunders (22-15-2, 9 KOs) in the eight-round ESPN FNF co-feature. Alvarez, rated No. 15 by the WBO, was a 2008 Colombian Olympian now living in Montreal.
Local favorites and rising stars fighting on the undercard include heavyweight Oscar “Kaboom” Rivas (9-0, 6 KOs), another Colombian Olympian living in Montreal, who steps-up in class to face veteran Kendrick “The Apostle” Releford (22-16-2, 10 KOs) in an eight-round bout; super featherweight Baha Laham (8-0, 3 KOs) vs. Leonis Francois (8-6, 2 KOs) in an eight-rounder, a pair of Canadian heavyweights, Eric Barrack (6-0, 5 KOs) vs. Sandy Pembroke (2-4, 1 KO), in a six-round fight; Montreal light heavyweight Schiller Hyppolite (2-0, 1 KO) vs. Martin Desjardins. All fights and fighters are subject to change.
The Officials for the Stevenson/Gonzalez Unification are:
Supervisor: Mike George, Rhode Island, USA
Referee: Michel Albert Griffin, Canada
Judges: Jack Woodburn, Canada
Claude Paquette, Canada
Richard Flaherty, Massachusetts, USA
GYM’s Fast and Furious is an innovative and unique series, featuring seats close to the action, staged at the Bell Centre. These exciting events are also available for PPV via Canal Indigo, Bell TV and Shaw TV.
Tickets, starting at $60.00, are on sale and available to purchase at the Bell Centre box office, or at GYM evenko.ca (383.0666).
Super Middleweights Stevenson & Gonzalez on ESPN’s Friday Night Fights
Super Middleweights Stevenson & Gonzalez on ESPN’s Friday Night Fights
Osuna Presents the Latest from Miguel Cotto’s Training Camp
Special Guest: Nigel Collins
The 12-round main event of ESPN’s Friday Night Fights presented by Corona Extra will feature top Super Middleweight contenders Adonis “Superman” Stevenson (17-1, 14 KOs) and Noe “El Carbonero” Gonzalez (28-1, 20 KOs) April 20. Friday’s show will air at 9 p.m. ET on ESPN2 HD, ESPN Deportes, and ESPN3 from Montreal. The card is presented by GYM Inc.
On ESPN2 HD and ESPN3, Joe Tessitore and Teddy Atlas will be ringside at the Belle Centre describing the action, while studio host Bernardo Osuna will present the latest boxing news and highlights. On ESPN Deportes’ Viernes de Combates (Friday Night Fights), Alex Pombo and Delvin Rodriguez will call the fights with Leopoldo Gonzalez and Pablo Viruega in the studio.
Osuna will present the latest from Miguel Cotto’s training camp as he prepares for his May 5 bout against Welterweight titlist Floyd Mayweather. Osuna visited Cotto’s training camp in Orlando earlier this week. In addition, ESPN boxing analyst/former editor and chief of The Ring magazine Nigel Collins will also be a special in-studio guest.
Main Event:
Stevenson of Montreal, who is working with Hall of Fame trainer Emanuel Steward, has won his last four fights, all by knockout, including a February first-round, one-punch KO of Jesus Gonzalez.
After that fight ESPN.com’s Dan Rafael wrote, “Boom! It’s only February, but we have our first knockout-of-the-year candidate as Stevenson simply erased Gonzalez with a thunderous left hand to move one fight closer to a mandatory shot with 168-pound titleholder Lucian Bute of Montreal.”
Stevenson said of Friday’s fight, “I know Gonzalez is a power puncher. He’s very dangerous. We’re both power punchers, so it’s going to be an amazing fight.”
Argentina’s Gonzalez, a former middleweight title challenger, is coming off a second-round knockout win over Paul Rodriguez. “I know that my opponent is a puncher and that he comes to fight,” Gonzalez said. “Like all boxers, I respect him, and may the best man win.”
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Battle of the Badges 4 May 19 @ Foxwoods – NY vs. NE
MASHANTUCKET, CT (April 18, 2012) – The nationally-acclaimed New York City Fire Department Boxing Team (“FDNY”) squares-off against a squad of New England Law Enforcement (“Team N.E.”) amateur boxers, Saturday night, May 19 in “Battle of the Badges 4,” at Fox Theater at Foxwoods Resort Casino in Mashantucket, Connecticut.
“Battle of the Badges 4” (“BOB4”) is presented by National Public Safety Athletic League (“NPSAL”) in association with the FDNY Boxing Bravest, Mass Corrections Officers Federated Union Boxing Team (MCOFU) and Foxwoods Resort Casino. Defending champion Team N.E. trails FDNY in the series, 2-1.
Proceeds from the May 19th charitable event will benefit Work Vessels For Veterans, NPSAL and FDNY Boxing Bravest Team. More than a dozen matches are scheduled pitting FDNY against Team New England, which is primarily comprised of MCOFU boxers.
“Boston and New York has always had a great sports rivalry and this is our version of the Red Sox vs. Yankees or Pats vs. Jets,” BOB4 spokesperson Denis Marrese explained. “It’s a friends and family friendly event for some worthy causes. We started out helping veterans and we still do through Work Vessels For Veterans. It’s an honor for us to help these young men and women, especially those who’ve returned home from Afghanistan and Iraq, get started in their businesses. Work Vessels For Veterans is a worldwide organization that’s based in Connecticut. Two other great charities – NPSAL and FDNY Boxing Bravest – are also benefiting from Battle of the Badges 4. We’re also very fortunate to have Foxwoods Resort Casino in our corner this year as the host venue. Without Foxwoods, as well as our generous sponsors, promoting a major sporting event like this would be impossible.”
Tickets, priced at $30.00 (general admission), $50.00 (reserved seating) and $100.00 (VIP/Ringside), are available to purchase at the Foxwoods Box Office, on line at www.foxwoods.com or www.Ticketmaster.com, by calling 1-855-660-6606 04 1-800.200.2882, or at any Ticketmaster outlet.
Doors open at 6:30 PM/ET with the first match scheduled to start at 7:30 PM/ET.
Go to www.BattleoftheBadges.info or www.foxwoods.com for additional information