By: Matthew N. Becher
Premier Boxing Champions brought a title fight to Toronto for the first time in the last 30 years, with the help of Canada’s own lineal Light Heavyweight champ Adonis “Superman” Stevenson who took on Tommy “Kryptonite” Karpency.
Live from the Ricoh Coliseum in downtown Toronto, Ontario, Canada Premier Boxing Champions showcased one of its brightest young talents in Errol Spence Jr. to one of its biggest and most accomplished title holders in Adonis Stevenson.
Errol Spence Jr. (17-0 14KO) vs. Chris Van Heerden (23-1-1 12KO): Welterweight
Errol Spence is a former 2012 Olympian who is an up and coming prospect, looking to become an up and coming contender in the heavily stacked Welterweight division. Spence was able to showcase all of his talents against the lesser opponent in South Africa’s Chris Van Heerden. Spence used his superior speed, power and accuracy to completely dominate the 28 year old Van Heerden.
Spence was able to use a very sharp jab which started to swell Van Heerdens eye in the first round, and had it completely swollen in the 4th.
Van Heerden took a beating in every round and continued to shake his head and showboat, saying he was never hurt. Spence continued to put in work, eventually dropping Van Heerden (for the first time in his career) in the 7th round with a strong left hand behind Van Heerden’s ear. Spence was also able to drop Van Heerden for a second time, with a perfectly placed body shot, late in the same round.
After the Knockdowns, Spence ran out of his corner to start the eighth round and unloaded. Spence was able to trap Van Heerden against the ropes, land a barrage of punches and forced Referee Allen Hudgens to step in and stop the fight
Spence TKO8 0:50
Adonis Stevenson (26-1 21KO) vs. Tommy Karpency (25-4-1 14KO): WBC/Ring Light Heavyweight Championship
Tommy Karpency came in as a big underdog and he personally gave himself the nickname “kryptonite” as soon as he found out he would be taking on “superman”. Unfortunately Karpency was nowhere close to the undoing to Adonis Stevenson. Karpency can hang his hat on his big win over former champion Chad Dawson, but he was ultimately outclassed and knocked out by the superior Stevenson.
Karpency tried to come out aggressive in the first round, both fighters landing good shots on one another. That didn’t last long for Karpency, who was ultimately caught with a huge straight left that wobbled him to the canvas at the end of the second round. Karpency seemed lucky to survive the round, as the bell sounded while he was still being counted out. Unfortunately Karpency never was able to get his legs back under him, and was immediately knocked out with a barrage of punches and a finishing left hand at the beginning of the third round.
Stevenson continues to be the Lineal Light Heavyweight champion, and called out Sergey Kovalev to meet him and unify the titles.
Stevenson TKO3 0:21
