“The dogs bark, but the caravan passes on” – Old Arabic proverb.
On Friday, December 19, in Quebec City, Quebec, Canada, lineal Light Heavyweight Champion and WBC title holder Adonis “Superman” Stevenson (25-1, 21 KOs) brutally knocked out number twelve ranked 175 pound contender Dmitry Sukhotsky (22-3, 16 KOs) with a vicious straight left hand at the 2:42 mark of the fifth and final stanza.
Although the 37 year old southpaw put forth a dominant and impressive performance in front of a healthy crowd at the Pepsi Coliseum, the devastating KO didn’t do much to silence the critics who have continuously scrutinized Stevenson since making the controversial decision to pass on a unification bout with current WBA/IBF/WBO titlist Sergey Kovalev, which would have been broadcast last year on HBO.
Among the Haitian born Champion’s most ardent detractors, surprisingly is ESPN Boxing writer Dan Rafael. Before, during, and after Stevenson’s performance on Showtime Special Edition, the popular reporter was busy on Twitter.com, chastising Stevenson’s latest WBC title defense.
rafael-tweet
While the head trainer for “Superman” Stevenson understandably took exception to the various tweets, he was a bit surprised and disappointed to discover who created the disparaging remarks on the popular social medium.
“Wow…I thought a guy like Dan Rafael would know better than that,” stated Javan “Sugar” Hill. ” “He’s supposed to be a boxing insider who covers the sport objectively. But he sounds like a casual observer who really doesn’t understand the business of boxing.”
“Well I guess he still has a lot to learn about the industry.”
The astute nephew of the late, great Emanuel Steward realizes that a super fight between the two best Light Heavyweights in the world is inevitable.
“That fight will happen in 2015,” states the Kronk fight trainer. “It has to. Adonis and Kovalev are the two best fighters in the division…period.” “But it was way too soon to put together an elite level match-up like that last year. No one outside of the boxing community knew who Sergey Kovalev was at that time.”
“Next year that fight will be a much bigger money fight, and the biggest match-up outside of Mayweather/Pacquiao or Cotto/Canelo.”
“No one can punch like both of these fighters. No one else in the division is on the same level as these two guys. This is the biggest fight that can be made in one of the original eight divisions of boxing. As Adonis and Kovalev continue to knock guys out in spectacular fashion, the fight continues to grow with each great performance.”
“That’s the way great fights are made. I thought Dan knew that. I guess I was wrong.”
It was announced recently that Sergey Kovalev will defend his titles against former lineal champ and Canadian favorite Jean Pascal on March 14, 2015. Until that time, Sugar states that his fighter will continue to knock opponents out and persist in stoking the demand for the inevitable Light Heavyweight super fight.
“We’re just going to keep winning and continue knocking guys out in the meantime,” states Javan “Sugar” Hill. “Knock-outs speak volumes in boxing. Emanuel always told me that nothing shuts up critics more than decisive knock-outs. That’s exactly what we plan to do.” – See more at: http://www.fightsaga.com/news/item/5064-Adonis-Stevenson-Head-trainer-fires-back-at-ESPN-s-Dan-Rafael#sthash.yp0SGKER.dpuf
