Adonis Stevenson warns: “Tavoris Cloud is going to make a mistake and I’m going to catch him!”

WBC, Ring Magazine and linear world light heavyweight champion, Adonis ‘Superman’ Stevenson had some stern words for former IBF light heavyweight champion, Tavoris ‘Thunder’ Cloud when he was MIA for their media conference call last week. Stevenson and Cloud clash on Saturday, September 28 in a titanic collision at the Bell Centre in Montreal, airing live on HBO in the United States.

Photo: Pierre Lavoie - Way Productions

“I’ve got a game plan,” Adonis Stevenson told the international media this week regarding his Sept. 28 title defense against Tavoris Cloud. “I know what he’s going to try to do. I’ve prepared for everything. I know that the first two or three rounds are going to be pure fireworks. I’m ready. I’ve practiced my defense and movement so I’m ready for anything that Cloud brings.”

“Make no mistake,” he added. “I’m going for the knockout. Knockouts sell and (the late) Emanuel Steward told me so. That is the reason I always want to win by knockout because it’s what everyone wants to see. On Saturday I will be going for the knockout. But, if it doesn’t come I am prepared to go all twelve rounds. It will be (terrible for Cloud) if this is the case, because he will be punished for all twelve rounds. I am going to punish him. I have got Plan A, B, C, D…. as soon as I get in the ring I’m a master. Tavoris Cloud is going to make a mistake at some point, and I’m going to catch him.”

By FightFan News

Adonis Stevenson Fight Week Quotes:

On being ‘The Man’ at light heavyweight:

“It is different now so I’m training more and harder than ever. My dedication is only to boxing. I’m preparing more and more for each fight because I’m “the man” at 175 punds and I’m going to need to keep proving that. Every fight is going to speak to that so I’m training harder than ever any time I get in the right.”

On his one-punch KO of Chad Dawson:

“I call that my Superman punch. It’s an overhand left that I personally call my “Superman” punch. We knew Chad had a habit of letting his right hand drop – I learned this in camp from my trainer – and I jabbed and saw his hands down so I caught him with my left. Dawson is a good boxer but he tried to put pressure on me and his hands came down. Chad is a good technician, but he made a mistake and I caught him.”

On preparing for Tavoris Cloud:

“I know Tavoris Cloud. He is a good fighter, an impressive boxer. I know he is coming to my hometown of Montreal and you’ve got to be ready. That is why I’m training very hard. Cloud is going to be ready and he is going to come in and try to take my belt, but it is not going to happen. I know he’s going to be hungry since he lost to Bernard Hopkins and I’ve prepared for everything he might do.”

“He has some power and I respect it, but his last knockout was years ago against Mack. I have sparred with heavyweights and I know I can take a punch… but we have been working on defense and movement for this fight also.”

“I am always practicing and my boxing IQ is improving because of my coach Javon ‘Sugar’ Hill. I can punch but I can also box. I have practiced movement. Cloud has fought some good fighters recently, but they couldn’t punch. That is the big difference in this fight. When you are a power puncher like I am, you can’t make a mistake. You have to be careful at every moment. Tavoris Cloud is going to make a mistake at some point, and I’m going to catch him.”

On Team Cloud’s missing media events for this promotion:

“I don’t know (if Cloud missing press events) is disrespect or not. I really don’t care what he or his team think or do. I’ve got a job to do on Sept. 28 and that’s to knock him out. That’s the only thing I’m focused on. To me his actions would suggest he is not confident. I don’t know what kind of problems he and his team have. He missed press events but he will be in Montreal this week and he will see me then and in the ring.”

Final thoughts:

“I want to thank God. I want to thank my trainer ‘Suga’ Hill, GYM Promotions, HBO has been doing a great job, and I want to thanks Don King and Gary Shaw for the opportunity to defend my title. I want to thank all my fans, especialy those who come to support me in Montreal. This is a great city for boxing. I want everyone to come and see the fight Saturday or to watch on HBO. Thank you.”

About Stevenson-Cloud:

World Boxing Council (WBC), The Ring Magazine and linear world light heavyweight champion, Adonis “Superman” Stevenson (21-1-0, 18 KOs), will defend his crown for the first time, facing former International Boxing Federation (IBF) world light heavyweight champion, American Tavoris “Thunder” Cloud (24-1-0, 19 KOs), on Saturday, September 28 in a titanic collision at the Bell Centre in Montreal, airing live on HBO in the United States.

“Superman Returns” will be co-promoted by Groupe Yvon Michel (GYM), Don King Productions (DKP) and Gary Shaw Productions (GSP), in association with Mise-O-Jeu and Videotron.

This prestigious boxing event launches the start of the new GYM season, which promises to be more exciting and glamorous than ever.

Stevenson, who turns 36 on September 22 and now lives in Blainville, won his world light heavyweight title by knocking out undisputed light heavyweight king “Bad” Chad Dawson (31-3-0, 17 KOs) in 76 seconds. His dramatic victory before a stunned audience at Bell Centre and HBO viewers was amazing as “Superman” immediately catapulted into the stratosphere of elite international boxing stars. Stevenson was the IBF super middleweight mandatory challenger but IBF Carl Froch wasn’t interested in battling the dangerous southpaw Stevenson. Instead, Stevenson gained instant fame and a privileged place among boxing’s greats. The Bible of Boxing, The Ring Magazine, selected him as its Fighter of the Month for June, as the WBC also did.

“Adonis Stevenson” goal is not to become just a world champion,” GYM president Yvon Michel said on the eve of Stevenon’s fight against Dawson. “Adonis Stevenson has the required potential to become a major international attraction in professional boxing, but to get there he needed the stage offered him in the June 8 fight of June 8: a seasoned and dangerous opponent, world title, and prestigious television. The table is set; the future is now in his fists of steel! This prediction is now being achieved!”

Back on June 8, 2012, Stevenson’s late, great trainer Emanuel Steward had prophesied, “Adonis will become an authentic, major star in boxing.” His presence in the life of Stevenson was short, like a shooting star, but the mark he left is indelible. His head trainer is now Stewart’s nephew, Javan “Sugar” Hill, who can now say their mission has been partially accomplished. Knowing that there is often a small margin between victory and defeat, Hill once again because the recipe works has brought back Stevenson to training camp on the reclusive borders of Michigan in Traverse City.

The powerful Stevenson is riding a streak of eight sensational knockout victories including Dawson (KO1), Darnell Boone (KO6), Don George (TKO12) Noe Gonzalez (TKO2) Jesus Gonzales (KO1), Aaron Pryor Jr. (TKO9), Shujaa El Amin (TKO1) and Derek Edwards (KO3). In fact, the last time a fight Stevenson went the limit dates back to 2007.

The 31-year Cloud, fighting out of Tallahassee Florida, has had an illustrious nine-year pro career, highlighted by his 4 years reign as IBF world champion. He won his title in 2009 winning a decision over former world champion Clinton Woods (42-4-1, 25 KOs). He then defended it four times, first against durable Glen Johnson (50-13-2, 34 KOs), another former world champion, following against contenders Fulgencio Zuniga (24-4-1, 21 KOs), Yusaf Mack (29-3-2, 17 KOs) and Gabriel Campillo (21-3-1, 8 KOs). His winning streak ended at 24, the same time as his reign as champion concluded last March in New York, losing by decision to the inimitable Bernard Hopkins (52-6-2, 32 KOs).

According to The Ring Magazine, Cloud is ranked fourth among the world’s leading light heavyweights, and he is considered the No. 1 175-pound light heavyweight contender in the United States. Cloud has suffered only the one defeat in his entire career and he has never visited the canvas. Cloud has an experience advantage over newly crowned champ Stevenson having fought a total of 123 rounds, including 78 in world championships, nearly as Stevenson’s total of 80 rounds fought. Cloud believes he has what it takes to become world champion again because of his proven track record combined with his aggressive style and power. This major challenge has Stevenson chomping at the bit to make his mark. Since his resounding and expeditious victory over Dawson, HBO executives demonstrated a sustained interest in presenting the next fight for “Superman” on the air, provided it he agreed to face “Thunder” Cloud, considered by many as the most dangerous contenders in the division. They say in life you need to be careful about what you want because it might happen; Stevenson wanted strong opposition his first title defense, and that is what he has on Sept. 28.

Tickets will go on sale starting August 17 at the Bell Centre, online at www.evenko.ca, at GYM (514-383-0666) or club Boxing Champion (514 376-0980). Ticket prices range from $50 in the red up to $ 300 on the floor.

About Groupe Yvon Michel Inc.:
Yvon Michel (GYM) Group was founded in 2004. The organization’s mission is the development of high-level boxers with a support frame in direct competition. To achieve its objectives, GYM actively recruits talent and organizes events. Since its founding nine years ago, GYM has promoted 109 events, some of which have made history in ticket and PPV sales like Pascal vs. Hopkins I and II. GYM has produced more than 300 hours of television for Canal Indigo, Bell TV, Shaw TV, TVA Sports, VOX, TVA, CBC, RDS and V, in Canada, as well as HBO, Showtime and ESPN in the USA. A total of seven different GYM boxers have participated in 17 world title fights. Under the tutelage of GYM Joachim Alcine captured the WBA super welterweight in 2007, Jean Pascal won the WBC Light Heavyweight championship in 2009, and since June 2013 Adonis “Superman” Stevenson has held the WBC,The Ring Magazine and linear light heavyweight.