WBC light heavyweight champion Adonis Stevenson (26-1, 21 knockouts) beat Sakio Bika on Saturday at Pepsi Coliseum in Quebec City, Quebec, Canada by unanimous decision with scores of 116-110, 115-110 and 115-111.
The cards were a bit generous for the challenger’s effort as the man known as “Superman” won more rounds than he was given credit for. In addition, Stevenson also had two knockdowns, dropping the “Scorpion” in Rounds 6 and 9; although the one in the sixth was more of a slip.
Stevenson, a southpaw, dictated the fight with his jab while repeatedly landing the straight left and did a good job of working both high and low. Bika is as tough and game an opponent as there is in the sport but is unorthodox and always seems to be on unsteady feet even when he is not hurt.
Although Bika landed a few power shots he was mostly awkward and outclassed by the champion and as is usually the case in a Bika fight, you had a few headbuts and rough tactics.
In the post fight interview, Stevenson was not asked about a possible future showdown with WBA, WBO, and IBF light heavy champion Sergey Kovalev…WHAT?????? I won’t name names here or comment on the faux pas because that dude took a beating on Twitter; however, his comment calling the fight “epic” was just as bad.
Stevenson did what he had to do in defending his title for a fifth time and was facing a very tough out but a like effort against Kovalev would be kryptonite.
On the undercard, rising light heavyweight prospect Artur Beterbiev (8-0 8 KO) stopped Gabriel Campillo (25-7-1) by 4th round TKO.
Beterbiev didn’t take long to let us know it would be a short night. Beterbiev dropped Campillo in the first round with a solid right hand but Campillo was able to use his wobbly legs to stay out of harms way to the bell.
Beterbiev would work the body and continue to land big power shots over the next two rounds which softened Campillo up for the kill in round four. Beterbiev walked down Campillo in the fourth and landed a huge right cross sending Campillo into the ropes, his head recoiling back and then forward as Campillo finished him with a left hook.
Beterbiev looks to have the goods, eight fights into his career, he’s already stopped two former title holders in convincing fashion. It wasn’t just this brutal stoppage against a former WBA titleholder but also against Tavoris Cloud another former titleholder.
Standing-8 