This evening at 7:45 pm ET live on Showtime and streaming right above this block of text on Bad Left Hook, Adonis Stevenson returns to the ring in Quebec City to defend his WBC light heavyweight title against mandatory challenger Oleksandr Gvozdyk.
Stevenson (29-1-1, 24 KO) won the title back in 2013 against Chad Dawson, and has made nine successful defenses, including a draw last time out with Badou Jack. The 41-year-old Haitian-Canadian southpaw has been one of the sport’s most consistent fighters for half a decade.
Gvozdyk (15-0, 12 KO) has pretty much run through everyone he’s faced thus far as a professional, but Stevenson is a pretty big step up from Mehdi Amar and Craig Baker and Yunieski Gonzalez, even Isaac Chilemba. It’ll be a career-toughest test for the Ukrainian, on the road in Quebec, as he gets his first world title shot.
Wil Esco will be here on the round-by-round call. Join us as we kick off a huge night of boxing!
RESULTS
- OLEKSANDR GVOZDYK def. ADONIS STEVENSON by TKO (Round 11)
ROUND BY ROUND
ADONIS STEVENSON vs. OLEKSANDR GVOZDYK
Round 1: Stevenson comes out to center ring, looking to apply pressure and partially lands a lead right hook. Stevenson paws with a few jabs that fall short and then finds himself out of position as he looks to land his big left hand. Gvozdyk tries to go down to the body and makes a little contact. Gvozdyk tries to counter a Stevenson left hand but can’t land the shot that clean. Stevenson lands a left hand this time as he catches Gvozdyk circling the ring. Overhand left partially lands for Stevenson. Not a lot of action but I think Stevenson forced the fight. Stevenson 10-9.
Round 2: Gvozdyk tries a short right hand lead that doesn’t find the target. Stevenson throws a quick jab as he tries to bait Gvozdyk into overreacting. Stevenson lands a left hand now. Gvozdyk tries to go to the body with a right hand but Stevenson is able to defend it. Another clean left hand lands well for Stevenson. Stevenson throws two more punches that are partially blocked by Gvozdyk. Gvozdyk isn’t throwing many punches thus far and it’s not going to help him win rounds. Stevenson 10-9, 20-18.
Round 3: Stevenson hits the deck right away off a right hand from Gvozdyk and the referee calls it a slip! Looked like a clean knockdown to me. Gvozdyk tries to jump right back on him to see if he’s stunned by Stevenson is steady. Stevenson steps in behind a straight left hand that makes Gvozdyk retreat. Gvozdyk starting to get to work now and throws to the head and body, Stevenson shakes his head. Stevenson comes back with another left hand that pushes Gvozdyk back to the ropes. Now Gvozdyk comes in with a straight right hand lead. Stevenson tries to line up a big straight left but misses. Gvozdyk 10-9.
Round 4: Stevenson looks to lead with a right hook but it’s mostly blocked. Another one-two comes from Stevenson as Gvozdyk covers up. Stevenson lands a lead left hand this time, though. Stevenson continues to look for his big left hand while Gvozdyk is actively looking to avoid it. Short combination comes from Gvozdyk as Stevenson takes his turn covering up. Both fighters trade but Gvozdyk gets in a better right hand. Short left lands for Gvozdyk right at the bell. I think Gvozdyk just edged this round. Gvozdyk 10-9, 38-38.
Round 5: Stevenson’s trainer yells at him to stop throwing the straight left hand so much, urging him to mix up his attack more. Stevenson tries a counter left hand that doesn’t quite land clean on Gvozdyk. Another straight left comes from Stevenson and it falls short, then another one. Stevenson sticks the left hand downstairs this time and both fighters try to trade but neither land clean. There hasn’t been a lot of clean punches landed in this fight, very tactical. Hard left to the body lands for Stevenson and Gvozdyk responds with a short combination that doesn’t do much damage but he’s being more active. Clean left hand from Gvozdyk lands upstairs. Gvozdyk 10-9.
Round 6: Stevenson gets in a short uppercut to the body to start the round. Now Stevenson tries a right hook to the body. Short right hand lead splits Stevenson’s guard. One-two lands for Stevenson. More straight lefts come from Stevenson, to both the head and body. Another straight left to the body lands for Stevenson. Jab lands clean for Gvozdyk at center ring. Stevenson 10-9, 57-57.
Round 7: Gvozdyk comes forward with two shots that Stevenson backs away from. Now Gvozdyk comes forward again with a few more punches as Stevenson puts up his guard. Stevenson misses on a straight left but partially lands a right hook. Four punches come from Gvozdyk but only one really lands. Right hand lead lands for Gvozdyk but Stevenson lands a clean jab shortly after. Another straight right hand lands clean for Gvozdyk. Three more punches come from Gvozdyk at center ring. Gvozdyk lands another straight left hand as Stevenson becomes more and more stationary. Gvozdyk 10-9.
Round 8: Gvozdyk throws a double right hand to the head and body. Stevenson tries to load up on a straight left but Gvozdyk backs out of range. Stevenson lands a short left hook to the body. Right hand lead lands for Gvozdyk again to the head. Now Gvozdyk pivots and lands a one-two on Stevenson. Another pivot gets Gvozdyk in position to land a clean right hand. Gvozdyk is the better technician at this point as Stevenson looks to be fading a little. Another hard right hand lands clean for Gvozdyk! Good round for Gvozdyk. Gvozdyk 10-9, 77-75.
Round 9: Both fighters miss on punches as they meet at center ring. Stevenson lands a clean left hand upstairs, then another one. Stevenson tries to draw out Gvozdyk’s guard but Gvozdyk lands a shot that knocks Stevenson back. Stevenson tries another huge straight left that misses. Short right hand gets in for Gvozdyk, then another one shortly after. I think Stevenson edged it with his early work. Stevenson 10-9.
Round 10: Stevenson tries a jab to the body, then tries to follow up with a big left that misses. Jab lands for Gvozdyk, then another. Gvozdyk isn’t landing hard, but he’s scoring. Chopping left hand partially lands for Gvozdyk. Big left hand lands for Stevenson and it knocks Gvozdyk into the ropes! Gvozdyk is hurt but regains his balance before Stevenson can capitalize. Gvozdyk is trying to hold on as Stevenson tries to follow up with another big shot. Gvozdyk pivots and lands a combination on Stevenson! Wow! Close round. I’m going to edge it to Stevenson because he clearly hurt Gvozdyk. Stevenson 10-9, 95-95.
Round 11: Stevenson come out walking down Gvozdyk and looking to land something big. Gvozdyk circling away from Stevenson’s left hand. Stevenson throws a couple of jabs and then lets go the left hand but it can’t find the mark. Hard right hand lands for Gvozdyk who follows it up with a flurry! Stevenson breathes deep and tries to shake it off. Right hand lead lands a range for Gvozdyk. Another one-two lands for Gvozdyk! Stevenson is retreating! Gvozdyk batters Stevenson in the corner and Stevenson crumbles in a heap! It’s over! Gvozdyk TKO-11.