Adonis Stevenson to fight Andrzej Fonfara in rematch on June 3
WBC light heavyweight champion Adonis Stevenson (28-1, 23 KOs) will fight Andrzej Fonfara (29-4, 17 KOs) in a rematch on June 3 at the Bell Centre in Montreal, Canada, the same venue of their first meeting in May 2014.
In the first fight, Both fighters exchanged knockdowns, Stevenson dropped the Polish fighter in the first and fifth rounds, while Fonfara knocked the Canadian down in the 9th, before Stevenson retained his WBC belt by unanimous decision.
Stevenson has not fought since July 2016 when he defeated Thomas Williams Jr by fourth round KO and will be making his eighth title defence.
"I'm very excited for this rematch with Fonfara, but it is going to be a short night for him because they don't pay me for overtime," said Stevenson. "I'm very happy to be back in the ring for my first fight of 2017. I can't wait to fight in front of my hometown fans at the Bell Centre.
"The first time I fought Fonfara was at the Bell Centre in 2014 and now we're back doing it for a second time. I will put on a great, exciting show for the fans in my hometown."
Fonfara lost by a first round TKO against Joe Smith Jr in a upset last June, but in March he rebounded with a 10th round TKO over Chad Dawson, whom Stevenson took the title from by First round KO in 2013.
"I feel good that I'm back here after three years," said Fonfara. "I'm ready for revenge. I'm a different fighter physically and mentally. I've shown in a couple of fights that I'm a better fighter. It's a great opportunity to get the rematch and be a world champion. The last fight against Chad Dawson gave me experience because it was very technical. But really all the fights since then - Julio Chavez Jr., Nathan Cleverly and even Joe Smith - have helped me prepare for Stevenson again.
"I changed my team, got a new coach and a trainer (Virgil Hunter), which makes me physically and mentally where I need to be for this fight. I don't have a problem fighting in Montreal. I love Montreal. It's a beautiful city with beautiful people. It will be a great night of boxing and I'm sure that I will be victorious on the night of June 3.''
Also on the card, Eleider Alvarez (22-0, 11 KOs) will risk his status as Stevenson's mandatory challenger when he fights former world champion Jean Pascal (31-4-1, 18 KOs).
The Stevenson-Fonfara winner will be obligated to face the Colombian next as long as he doesn't lose to Pascal.