Groupe Yvon Michel (GYM), in association with Global Legacy Boxing (GLB) and Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment (MLSE), is proud to officially announce the next world title defense of feared puncher, Adonis “Superman” Stevenson, September 11, at the Ricoh Coliseum in Toronto. The event is part of the prestigious Premier Boxing Champions series, airing live on Spike TV in the United States, on Indigo and Bell TV in Canada.
Stevenson (26-1-0, 21 KOs),of Montreal, one of the most powerful pound-for- pound punchers in the world, will defend his World Boxing Council (WBC), The Ring magazine and lineal light heavyweight (175 pounds) world championship belts for the sixth time, against WBC #9 contender Tommy “Kryptonite” Karpency (25-4-1, 14 KOs), the skilled American southpaw fighting out of Adah, Pennsylvania. It was Stevenson’s wish to defend his titles in Toronto:
“I’m excited to announce my next fight on September 11 in Toronto against Tommy Karpency. I’m ready to put the hurt on. I work hard and stay focused”, said the champion.
The 29-year-old Karpency pulled off a major upset October 4, 2014 at the Foxwoods Resort of Mashantucket, Connecticut, defeating former light heavyweight lineal champion Chad Dawson by way of a split decision. Karpency, who has won his last four fights, is also the current Pennsylvania and NABA-USA light heavyweight champion. He is particularly excited to get this world championship opportunity.
“I beat the same guy Stevenson beat to become world champion. I beat him [Dawson] just over a year after Stevenson beat him. After that win, I said that the sky was the limit and that I wanted the best in the world. The win [over Dawson] proved that I belong amongst the elite at light heavyweight. Now it is my job to win this fight”, explained Karpency.
“GYM is trilled to bring this world championship fight and the ‘Premier Boxing Champions’ series to Toronto for the first time,” GYM president Yvon Michel said. “We have been contemplating this project for a long time. This has been possible because we found great partners with Les Woods and Lennox Lewis, from GLB, and Wayne Zronick, from MLSE. We have the conviction to bring a major boxing event that this prodigious sport city deserves. Even more, we also believe we have found the required partners to guarantee the success of the project and to do it again on a regular bases.”
“It is an immense privilege to be working alongside MLSE and GYM,” GLB president Les Woods added. “Global Legacy’s mandate of reviving world-class professional boxing in the wonderful city of Toronto has become a reality. “To continue the legacy my grandfather created and reignite a passion for ‘the sweet science’ across the city is a vision and accomplishment I hope will continue to leave a lasting imprint now as well as on all futuregenerations of boxing fans.”
Also part of this promotion is former undisputed heavyweight champion of the world, Lennox Lewis. While not fighting anymore, he stills as the passion for his sport. Lewis defeated Mike Tyson, Evander Holyfield, Vitali Klitschko among the more notables during his illustrious boxing career.
“It’s wonderful to be a part of GLB, working in conjunction with GYM and MLSE, to revive boxing in Toronto and across Canada to the highest level,” Lewis remarked. “As the former undisputed heavyweight champion of the world, I am proud to be building a nationwide platform where boxers, such as world light heavyweight champion Adonis Stevenson, can showcase their talents at home and receive the support they deserve.”
In the co-feature, current Canadian heavyweight champion Dillon “Big Country” Carman (8-2, 7 KOs), of Mississauga, Ontario, will face former Lewis and Tyson opponent, Jamaican-born Donovan “Razor” Ruddock (40-5-1, 30 KOs). A total of eight bouts will be scheduled during the event, showcasing young talents from Ontario and Quebec.
Boxing in Toronto and Ontario
Toronto was a boxing hot spot as early as 1880.
Jake Kilrain, George Dixon, Joe Gans, Kid McCoy, Harry Greb, Sam Langford, Benny Leonard, Mickey Walker, Kid Chocolate, Max Baer, Primo Carnera, Joey Giambra, Archie Moore, Floyd Patterson, Bob Foster, Muhammad Ali, and Larry Holmes all waged epic battles in Toronto during their boxing careers.
Other standouts who also fought in Toronto include Jimmy Wilde, Jimmy Welsh, Young Stribling, Rocky Kansas, “Panama” Al Brown, Sandy Saddler, Battling Levinsky, Sammy Angott, Tommy Loughran, Maxie Rosenbloom, Jose Napoles, Ernie Terrell, Jimmy Ellis, Nino Benvenuti, and Aaron Pryor.
Canadian legend George Chuvalo fought for the heavyweight world title March 29, 1966 at the Maple Leaf Gardens against defending champion and boxing icon Muhammad Ali, in probably the most famous bout ever held in the city. The always tough Chuvalo lasted 15 rounds with the man known as “The Greatest”.
Toronto native Nick Furlano also boxed and lasted 15 rounds against ferocious World Boxing Association (WBA) world super lightweight champion and International Boxing Hall of Fame member, Aaron “The Hawk” Pryor, June 22, 1984, at the Varsity Stadium of the University of Toronto.
Since then, Sarnia’s son Steve Molitor was the International Boxing Federation world super bantamweight (122 pounds) champion, from 2006 to 2011. He fought in seven world title fights in Ontario, all at the Rama Casino.
More recently, November 15, 2014 at the Hershey Center in Mississauga, Brampton’s own Denton Daley challenged WBA interim world cruiserweight champion Youri Kalenga, a nativeof the Democratic Republic of the Congo, losing in the 12th and final round.
Tickets go on sale starting Friday, August 7 at 10:00 a.m., on www.ticketmaster.ca, at GYM (514) 383-0666, GLB (416) 678-6957 or Ricoh Coliseum (416) 263-3900. Ticket prices start at 40 $. Tables are also available by contacting GLB.
