By Hans Olson
This Friday at the Bell Centre in Montreal, Adonis “Superman” Stevenson returns to action, taking on Argentinian (by way of Uruguay) Noe Gonzalez. The fight will be televised in the United States live on ESPN2’s Friday Night Fights.
Although North American fans have begun to take notice to the hard hitting Stevenson, many aren’t as familiar with Gonzalez. Boxing Insider caught up with Noe’s advisor, Sampson Lewkowicz, on Wednesday.
“I can tell you that he’s a counter puncher,” said Lewkowicz. “He’s a boxer that doesn’t take so many chances, but is very solid, with well educated defense…and he can punch like a mule! With that in mind, I can almost guarantee you that he will win by KO.”
Gonzalez boasts a record of 28-1 with 20 knockouts. His lone defeat was at the hands of Germany’s Felix Sturm back in 2007. Currently rated #2 by the WBC, Gonzalez is putting a lot on the line against Adonis Stevenson, one of the most dangerous fighters in the sport. Going into Stevenson’s hometown won’t make the task any easier.
However, Lewkowicz feels it’s a risk well worth taking.
“I always say to my fighters, if you want to go to the next level, you need to fight high risk fights,” he says.
“This one is a risk fight—probably the best fight on ESPN this year. [It’ll be] very competitive, and I believe it’s a 51/49 percent fight—and the 51% is for Noe Gonzalez.”
Born in Pando, Uruguay, and now living in Santa Fe, Argentina, the 32-year-old Gonzalez was last seen in action back October of last year, easily knocking out Mexico’s Paul Rodriguez in 2 rounds. It was his 13th consecutive knockout win. One assumes he has every intention to make Stevenson the 14th in a row.
“I can assure you that he’s very motivated for this fight,” continued Lewkowicz.
“The winner has really something very special because they’re fighting to fight for a world title of the WBC. Furthermore, I need to give Yvon Michel credit because he put his fighter in so tough. In Montreal, it’s well educated fans [who want to see] a real fight, and that’s what it is. I imagine that he will have a full stadium, well deserved, because he brought a real fight to the fans.
“I can tell Canadian fans that you have a real fight. Don’t miss this fight because it’s bombs away. I have full confidence that Noe Gonzalez will walk away victorious.”
Adonis Stevenson vs. Noe Gonzalez is without a doubt…a real fight.
Boxing Insider’s Hans Olson can be reached at hanswilliamolson@yahoo.com