Adonis Stevenson: I’m looking to KO Gvozdyk

This Saturday night from Quebec City on Showtime, Adonis Stevenson is set to defend his WBC light heavyweight championship against mandatory challenger Oleksandr Gvozdyk, and the 41-year-old champ says he’s coming for the KO.

“I’m looking for the knockout. That’s just my mentality and the way that I train. Sugar [Hill] trains me to think that way, but I can also go 12 rounds — it’s not a problem. I know that if he makes a mistake, I’m going to catch him. He only has to slip up once in 12 rounds. One mistake, one punch. That’s all it’s going to take. I’m ready. I know I can punch and it’s 12 rounds. I just need one punch. Just one. I’m going to catch him and the night will be over.”

Stevenson (29-1-1, 24 KO) has held his title since an upset of Chad Dawson in June 2013, when he knocked Dawson out in just 76 seconds. He’s defended nine times since then, and only gone the distance on three occasions. He went to a draw last time out against Badou Jack in Toronto this past May, and has said he’s looking to unify after he gets past Gvozdyk.