WBC allows Stevenson step-aside, orders Eleider Alvarez vs. Oleksandr Gvozdyk

Well, this aged like milk.

The WBC has once again permitted Adonis Stevenson to avoid a fight with mandatory challenger Eleider Alvarez, who accepted step-side money to allow Stevenson to fight Badou Jack. As a reward for his compliance, Alvarez must now face the surging Oleksandr Gvozdyk for an interim title.

This is normally the part where I do a little breakdown of Alvarez’s recent career, but we’ve been over this so many times that I don’t see the point, so let’s just do it for Gvozdyk.

Gvozdyk (14-0, 12 KO) has stopped eight straight opponents, including tough veterans Isaac Chilemba and Yunieski Gonzalez. He’s every bit the challenge Stevenson is, only without a real belt for Alvarez to earn if he pulls the upset.

Also, the funniest part of that article?

The WBC will then mandate that the Stevenson-Jack winner face the Alvarez-Gvozdyk winner.

Yeah, because that’s worked so well the last four years.