By Isaac Brodie: This is what I hope for in an increasingly exciting division during 2014.
We’ve all seen Adonis Stevenson establish himself as an exciting and well-deserved champion, with his devastating straight left and increasingly apparent and slick movement. After demonstrating his power against Dawson he was always supposed to defeat Cloud, but the way that he did it, the movement and reflexes he displayed, made it clear that there can be few genuine challenges to his at this weight.
Likewise Sergey Kovalev recently put on an exhibition of his destructive power in capturing his own title at 175. It then became obvious to all fans that these two hard punching champions should meet, thereby proving in dramatic fashion who is the baddest man at 175lbs.
And that point this fight was all I could imagine until Stevenson himself put us in check. He pointed out in his post fight interview that Kovalev has only just won a title. Fair point. It would be understandable to ask for a little more evidence from Sergey before we build him up. I think the best way to do this would be to have him face the ultra savvy Bernard Hopkins. Hopkins has made a habit of embarrassing overrated young fighters with a style that was decades in the making. If Kovalev could get to Hopkins with his power he would prove without a doubt that he is ready for Stevenson and pick up another slice of the title in the process. Alternately if Hopkins did it again and schooled the younger man, which he very well could, that too would be an exciting prospect. If Hopkins proved capable of neutralizing Kovalev’s power it would make a showdown between him and Stevenson much more sellable. Stevenson boxing skills are decent, but would they appear that way against Hopkins? Well personally I think yes. I would favor Stevenson over Hopkins.
While this was playing out, in my ideal play-off, Stevenson wouldn’t be fighting Ward quite yet. I’d like to see him take a fight on the side that he himself has taken an interest in. Following all aforementioned fighters’ matchups, a good way to build his increasing fan base would be for Stevenson to face the winner of Bute vs. Pascal. This would be an obvious winner with his home crowd, though not the best challenge for Stevenson, I don’t rate either anywhere nearly as high as Stevenson, but both are decent so would put up enough of a fight to give the fans a chance to cheer.
At this point, once presumably Adonis has prevailed (as I can only hope in my biased view), then I would have him face the number two pound for pound Andre Ward. At this point in my imaginings the prevailing fighter from the play-off fights should already be in contention for a pound for pound placing so with Ward being the pound for pound king (of divisions within range) this is an obvious step up.
From Wards perspective as well as mine the best possible final would be between him and Stevenson, with the fight taking place in Montreal. Despite being a young and dominant fighter Ward has not seen financial rewards anywhere near the top of the scale. This would be the best money fight possible for Ward at this point, except perhaps Chavez Jr. if he ever stops flailing.
And for Adonis this would be a chance for him to put place himself amongst the pound for pound elite and set himself up as a possible successor for Mayweather’s soon to be vacate seat upon the pay per view throne.
Who would win this fight? I’m not going to pretend to know.