Memory, a faculty that forgets

By Boxing News - 03/31/2014 - Comments

By Frank Boileau: Do you remember 2 years ago When Adonis Stevenson was calling out just about everyone at 168 pounds? Nobody answered the call. Not Carl Froch, Lucian Bute, Andre Ward nor Mikkel Kessler. Why? Easy answer: Because he wasn’t bringing enough money to the table for the risk he represented. He was clearly avoided. What has he done? Well he moved up to 175 and fought the of division at the time: Chad Dawson.

You see here the behavior of a guy not trying to compete with the best? A guy that seems to be afraid of anyone? Not me.

For a chance at Dawson’s WBC light heavyweight title, Stevenson did not grant the long awaited dream purse… But he jumped on the occasion, despite the fact that he was a big time underdog among twitters and bookmakers. All this in a class above his weight. Remember the outcome right? First round KO.

A few months later, Stevenson had to give Tony Bellew a shot since he was mandatory contender. However, Stevenson’s clan agreed with Bellew and WBC to postpone that fight on behalf of a duel against Tavoris Cloud, a pugilist considered more dangerous than Bellew by the entire boxing world.

You see here the behavior of a guy who does not try to compete with the best? A guy that seems to be afraid of anyone? Not me, and we all know the result. He toyed with Cloud!

It is now publicly known that Stevenson will get his best career purse against Andrzej Fonfara on Showtime.

Was Froch accused of ducking when he chose Yusaf Mack instead on Stevenson? No, it made senses for not wanting to ruin a mega fight against Kessler. Back then, it was Superman that was labeled as dangerous non lucrative opponent. It was an understandable business decision.

You will recall that Bute was seen by many as the best in the super middle weight of the world despite not competing in the Super Six tournament. At this point, his uppercut to the body was considered by many as the most devastating punch in boxing… Yet Bute had not really been tested. Ringing any bells?

No?

Not even some Russian guy perceived as an unbeatable monster? A terrifying Krusher? A man that will be ringside for most important fights in his division this year? A man that has ko’ed Cedric Agnew – Nathan Cleverly – Gabriel Campillo as easily as Bute was knocking the Edison Miranda, Llibrado Andrade or Brian Magee?

You remember what happen to that untested KO machine when the Super Six was over right? He was brutally ko’ed by the tournament finalist, not even the winner.

So instead of whining like his manager Kathy Duva, he should roll up his sleeves and tackle what remains of good and available. If he waste 2014 fighting HBO leftovers… It will not improve he’s chance to beat whoever comes out with all the belts. Whether it’s Stevenson or Bernard Hopkins.

He has the right to be frustrated and it is understandable. However, he should rather blame HBO for not putting up the cash for this fight to be done as expected.

No ducking here… Just logic financial decisions.



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