On Friday, 29th March at the Bell Centre, Montreal, Quebec in Canada, Eleider Alvarez confirmed his class and potential, as he stopped rival Nicholson Poulard, in three rounds in a light heavyweight contest.
Colombian Alvarez known as “Storm” put on a classy display of boxing, mixed in with good handspeed and power and announced his arrival, as a top contender, in the division after only twelve fights. Poulard had his own ambitions but once again faltered, at the higher level.
Coming into the contest, the fighters knew each other well from extensive sparring, in the past, and both had claimed to have gotten the upper hand, so it was good to see who would come out on top in a proper bout.
Alvarez was the victor after winning the opening two rounds, which were competitive. Alvarez used a nice variety of shots and was the quicker of the two. The third round saw Poulard standing off, too much, in an attempt to catch his opponent by counter shots but all too slow. A devastating, right hand, which felled him like a tree – by the ropes, signalled the ‘end of the road’ for Poulard. He made it to his feet (somehow) but was not responding to the referee, Marlon Wright, who rightly, waved it all over, in the third round.
The Main Event saw “Superman” defeat his Kryptonite, as Adonis Stevenson gained an emphatic revenge victory over Darnell Boone. The contest was a rematch of their 2010 meeting, in which journeyman Boone shocked the favourite by registering a second round knockout. Three years is a long time to wait, for redemption, and Stevensons career had progressed to a level that saw him become the No.1 contender, with the IBF, while Boone went back to being the ‘opponent’ for contenders and promising prospects.
The rematch followed a similar pattern, round after round, of Boone using a high guard while Stevenson attacked with hard shots to body and head. Boone was always looking for a big, wild counter but wasn’t gaining any real success. Boone started the fourth round well and had occasional flurries but it was Adonis, who bossed and won the rounds.
Darnell took some tremendous lefts, in the fifth round, but the damage was beginning to build-up. In the sixth round, a well-placed right hand bodyshot put Boone down, along the ropes. He beat the count but then was under a lot of pressure in the corner. He got nailed with a vicious, left uppercut and was out, on his feet, but stationery and a big left knocked him down and out. It was a chilling, frightening finish by Stevenson and certainly a top contender for ‘KO of the Year’.
Boone (19-21, 8 KOs) has been in with some of the best names in the business like Andre Ward and Jean Pascal but I doubt he’s had quite as punishing a contest, as this one. Stevenson (20-1, 17 KOs) is a typical big punching ‘gunslinger’ in the Nigel Benn mold and he could next face WBC light heavyweight champion, Chad Dawson (possibly on June 8th, at the Bell centre) or the winner of the Carl Froch vs Mikkel Kessler super middleweight clash. Whoever “Superman” fights, it will be entertaining and explosive.
On the undercard we saw Heavyweight prospect, Didier Bence gain a hard fought decision over willing, Jonte Willis.
A big right hook dropped Willis in the third round though the cagey fighter survived the round. Again, in the fifth round Bence right hand power had his opponent staggering around the ring but it was too late in the round to be able to capitalise.
Willis (9-5, 3 KOs) is a tough, durable journeyman and you can see why he gets work. He is capable of giving any young prospect a tough nights work and was robbed, by the judges, last year in Russia against Denis Bakhtov.
Though he put-up a good showing against Bence (8-0, 2 KOs) he lost on the scorecards by 73-78 x 2 and 75-76. The decision was a fair result and Bence will have gained plenty of experience from the bout. The Canadian prospect is now trained by former Olympian, Chris Johnson and while there is work to be done, it looks like they have a fighter, who has the tools to progress.
Making his professional debut, English Heavyweight Hughie Fury scored a second round stoppage over experienced David Whittom, of Canada. There was a huge difference in height with the 6’6 debutant towering over the 6’1, listed, Canadian.
Fury, 18, showed a good left jab and head movement and brought the finish with a chopping right to the top of the head. Whittom (11-20, 7 KOs) made it to his feet unsteadily and his corner threw in the towel. It was a nice start to his pro career from Hughie Fury, the younger cousin of Heavyweight contender, Tyson Fury.
Light middleweight, Sebastien Bouchard scored a four round points decision over Polands Adam Grabiec. Grabiec (3-7) hadn’t fought for over a year and wasn’t expected to put up a great deal of resistance but put up a good effort. Bouchard, showed decent combinations and his record improves to 5-0, 2 KOs. The three judges were all in favour of, Quebec native, Bouchard by scores of 40-36 x 2 and 39-37.
Other Results:
Marc Pagcaliwangan WRTD 1st Jose Adan Fernandez
Mian Hussain WKO2nd Basilio Silva
