IN Toronto, Canada, light-heavyweight powerhouse Adonis Stevenson ploughed through Tommy Karpency in three rounds to retain his WBC title and then called out main 175lb rival Sergey Kovalev afterwards.
The contest at the Ricoh Coliseum was Toronto’s first world title fight in 30 years, and Stevenson ensured his local fans went home happy with a powerful display. He rocked Karpency – who outpointed former champion Chad Dawson to earn his shot – in the opening round with a huge left.
The 29-year-old challenger was decked at the close of the second session, another left hand doing the damage, before Stevenson closed the show in 21 seconds into the third.
After the fight a jubilant Stevenson – now 27-1 (22) – declared his wish to challenge IBF, WBA and WBO boss, Kovalev.
“C’mon Kovalev, it’s time to fight for the unified title,” he said.
Impressing in chief support was unbeaten welterweight Errol Spence Jnr who defeated sturdy South African fringe contender Chris Van Heerden in eight rounds.
Further down the bill, the comeback of 51-year-old former heavyweight contender Razor Ruddock – who has shared the ring with the likes of Mike Tyson and Lennox Lewis in the past – came to an inglorious end when he failed to win the Canadian title when he was knocked out in three rounds by Dillon Carman.
