Adonis Stevenson vs Badou Jack

[Counter-puncher]

As to this match-up, I'm with the consensus: Jack needs to keep the guard up early & keep marching forward, working the body & forcing Stevenson's 40-something legs to move.

Yeah, not necessarily high punch output from Jack early but lots of pressure with the feet making Stevenson use as much of the ring as possible.

[geronimo]

Strange fight. We have a 40 years old boxer who never beat a "real champ", but, he knocked out almost every opponent. On the other side, a boxer who moved recently in another weight of class beating a good boxer - Cleverly - but not in his prime. But the Jack's opponents in the super-middle weight division were far better than Stevenson ones. For this fact, age, and a solid chin, i favour Jack.

I know it's a looong time ago & Dawson was coming off a loss down at super-middle, but Chad had beaten Hopkins for the WBC title & before that had disposed of Tarver, Johnson & Adamek for light-heavy belts.

Stevenson flattened him in one for the title.

Yes, i know that Stevenson beat Dawson. But Dawson, came from the TKO loss to Ward and after the fight with Ward and Stevenson never had a decent vicotry. Anyway is true, Dawson has been a "real champ".

[nfc90210]

Is the fight on UK tv?

[Boxerbeetle]

Is the fight on UK tv?

Yeah, on Sky Sports I think

[oogiebe]

I really think Adonis takes this by Kayo, but I'd like to see a real scrap!

[Ruthless-RKO]

I really think Adonis takes this by Kayo, but I'd like to see a real scrap!

I think too. Adonis always comes in a few pounds under the limit. It seems like he still has it. Should be a good fight..

[brilo33]

I think jack is improving still.is turning in to be solid overall boxer. But with Stevenson power .Should be a tense cracker I think. Was really looking forward to this fight when made.jack ko win

[Noxy]

I think Jack takes it on points.

[chatty]

It's a bit of a weird fight to call tbh. Stevenson has been so inactive since winning the title from Dawson and mainly fighting fringe contenders it's hard to assess where he is at. He didn't look particularly good against Williams and Fonfana even though Joing the former and then the latter Inna rematch. Also didn't look too good v Bika but then who does. Cloud ain't a bad win and the Bellew win looks much better in hindsight but Stevenson is fourty, relies heavily on KO power and has fought twice in nearly three years.

Jack on the other hand has looked constantly improved since his KO loss in round one to Derek Edwards. Wins over Groves, Bute, Dirrell, Cleverly and in a lot of people's opinions Degale is a very solid run. He's looked a lot more solid in the ring, works hard, fights well on his feet, improved his jab, looks a lot more solid all round. Still has flaws as do most of the SMWs at the top tbf.

I'm going with the consensus that if Jack can avoid walking into an early KO he should have more in the tank to take a points victory or late KO.

[oogiebe]

Stevenson, Kayo 8.

[MightyWarrior]

It’s quite rare a fighter comes back from a 1st round KO and proves himself very durable, which Jack has done ( as has Adonis ) going 12 with Groves shows you can take a hit alright.
But he’ll need to avoid that sneaky left bomb from Adonis - really hope he wins, Stevenson has made a joke of his so called world champ status, blatantly avoiding Kov for years & taking on an underwhelming array of challengers.

I reckon Jack outworks him for a points win though it may well go a draw in Canada.

[ElJefe]

What are the pound for pound implications of this fight?

Is there an argument for the winner being a top 10 P4P fighter? For me, if either man wins decisively then he'd have a definite claim to being in there. After GGG, Crawford, Loma, Sor Rungivsai, Canelo and Inoue, I'd have no problem with putting the winner around the likes of Mikey, Kovalev, Spence etc.

[handsofstone]

Loved that fight, another case of getting bang for your buck when the best square off with each other, I had it a draw myself, 115-115, some really tough rounds to score, the first 5 rounds were cagey and I had Stevenson in front with the bigger single shots, Jack came into it though as Stevenson seemed to tire, some good body work from both men, Jack especially seemed hurt downstairs in the 10th/11th but he had some great success himself, great on the inside caught Stevenson with some great uppercuts and I think both men were hurt during the fight, both men showed championship heart though to win


Jack done a great job of avoiding Stevenson's big left hand, he fought another smart fight and ive seen a few people thought he won it, I thought a lot of Stevenson's work in the earlier rounds was being ignored though, the draw works for me

[Taansend]

Fight started quite slowly but finished in style. I thought Stevenson was done around the 8th but he fired back.

Didn't score it but a draw seemed fair

[Andrew]

From round six onwards that was a quality fight. I dislike Stevenson more than any fighter in the sport but I have always said he is a good fighter.

I didn't score but I think a draw is fair. Jacks cagey start cost him the victory.

The WBC have been a disgrace with regards to Stevensons belt. They need to mandate the Gvozdyk fight immediately. If Stevenson does his usual and not fight for a year he has to be stripped.

I can't see a rematch because Stevenson knows he is on borrowed time. The only chance I see Stevsnon losing his belt is against Gvozdyk as he wont fight anyone else decent.

Over to the WBC to do the right thing.......but I won't hold my breath.

[jamamb]

he hasnt fought a mandatory challenger in 5 years

[Datsue]

From round six onwards that was a quality fight. I dislike Stevenson more than any fighter in the sport but I have always said he is a good fighter.

I didn't score but I think a draw is fair. Jacks cagey start cost him the victory.

The WBC have been a disgrace with regards to Stevensons belt. They need to mandate the Gvozdyk fight immediately. If Stevenson does his usual and not fight for a year he has to be stripped.

I can't see a rematch because Stevenson knows he is on borrowed time. The only chance I see Stevsnon losing his belt is against Gvozdyk as he wont fight anyone else decent.

Over to the WBC to do the right thing.......but I won't hold my breath.

All of the above.

Also, nice to see IJL take a left hook.

[milpool]

Also, nice to see IJL take a left hook.

I enjoyed the reaction by IJL after he took it. He looked like he was acting in a slapstick comedy!

[forcefraser]

Quality fight. I thought Jack just edged it. He gave too many rounds away at the start though.

Adam Smith commentary was pish

[PredatorHayds]

I had Jack just edging it 115-113.

Great fight. Would love a rematch.

I have no idea how SKY gave Jack the first two rounds though.
Jack is a solid all around fighter.
Stevenson showed heart here to hang in. I had the impression it was his last hurrah.
If they do rematch I fancy Jack to end one of the worst/bizarre long title reigns in the last few years.

[Ezzard]

Fantastic fight.

I think Macklin and Barker are great guys in and out of the ring. But please...they just agree with one another. What's the point?

With Sky they see a close fight, call a close fight and then when the result comes in try and act like it was controversial.

[Ruthless-RKO]

Fantastic fight.

I think Macklin and Barker are great guys in and out of the ring. But please...they just agree with one another. What's the point?

With Sky they see a close fight, call a close fight and then when the result comes in try and act like it was controversial.

Sky were being asssholes. They even gave the first 2 rounds to Jack.

[Ezzard]

I sat there thinking...can I really be that wrong...

[Boxerbeetle]

It’s weird how the B&I forum all seemed to think it was an excellent fight and CS have various threads saying it was a snoozefest?

[jamamb]

i also notice brit sections favouring jack more in scoring and north americans favouring stevenson more

theres often splits like that