Adonis Stevenson-Sakio Bika: Pre-Fight Report Card

by Cliff Rold

It’s not enough to win.

The opponents for Light Heavyweight Champion Adonis Stevenson are all, to some degree, simply a comparison point. For close to two years, the fight that matters most at Light Heavyweight has remained the same.

Boxing followers want to see Stevenson against triple-unified titlist Sergey Kovalev. Sakio Bika, a former titlist at 168 lbs., is the latest obstacle to that potential clash.

He’s no easy obstacle. Network TV might have a decent scrap on their hands (Saturday, CBS, 3 PM EST/12 PM PST). 

Let’s go the report card.

The Ledgers

Adonis Stevenson

Age: 37


 Current Title: Lineal/TBRB/Ring/WBC Light Heavyweight (2013-Present, 4 Defenses)

Previous Titles: None

Height: 5’11

Weight: 174.4 lbs.


 Hails from: Laval, Quebec, Canada (Born in Haiti)

Record: 25-1, 21 KO

Record in Major Title Fights: 5-0, 4 KO

Current/Former World Champions/Titlists Faced: 2 (Chad Dawson KO1; Tavoris Cloud RTD7)

Vs.

Sakio Bika


 Age: 35

Title: None

Previous Titles: WBC Super Middleweight (2013-14, 1 Defense)

Height: 5’11 ½

Weight: 174.6 lbs.


 Hails from: Sydney, Australia (Born in Cameroon)

Record: 32-6-3, 21 KO

Rankings: All at 168 - #5 (BoxingScene), #7 (ESPN), #8 (TBRB)

Record in Major Title Fights: 1-3-2

Current/Former World Champions/Titlists Faced: 6 (Sam Soliman L12, UD8; Markus Beyer D4; Joe Calzaghe L12; Lucian Bute L12; Andre Ward L12; Anthony Dirrell D12, L12)

Grades

Pre-Fight: Intangibles – Stevenson A; Bika B

Given a late pro start, Stevenson is probably younger in the ring at 37 than Bika is at 35. Bika has been a professional six years longer than Stevenson and been up and down for all his fifteen years making a gloved living.

Bika has seen a lot of top guys and been creditable against most of them. He looked on his way to beating Markus Beyer before they had to go to the cards early. He wasn’t embarrassed, even in clear defeats, against Calzaghe and Ward. Bute was the only one to just sort of sit back, box him, and win going away.

Losing well isn’t anywhere near as good as winning. Stevenson is showing a knack for that. Outside an early loss to Darnell Boone, he’s show grit when he needed it and plenty of talent. While he hasn’t faced Kovalev, his title reign has had some pretty good challengers. Andrzej Fonfara earned his crack against Glen Johnson and Gabriel Campillo and proved he belonged.

Stevenson proved he has some of the inner stuff we want. Running over Dawson and Cloud was impressive. The Fonfara roller coaster was more so. He started strong, took everything the challenger could dish, and then turned it around with the fight on the line.

Can Bika force the same sort of struggle? He’s probably a better puncher than Fonfara, even coming up in weight. And Bika isn’t afraid to let things get ugly. He’s going to grapple inside in spots and make Stevenson work. He knows the tricks of the trade.

The issue for Bika is whether he can handle the early speed and explosiveness of the champion? Stevenson is as dangerous as any fighter in boxing in the early rounds. Even as he slows, he has power late in fights. He’s scored knockouts in the first and the twelfth.

Bika, never a defensive gem, will have to be wary all night.  

The Pick

This fight could be a real problem for Stevenson if he doesn't land big and early to put Bika on the defensive. Bika can a rough guy. He’s shown good stamina and a tested beard. A late upset wouldn't shock. That said, Bika has a way of coming up just short in the big one's throughout his career. Stevenson is more athletic, quicker, a much bigger puncher, and showed physical and mental toughness in the Fonfara fight. A late rally won't be enough for Bika if he makes one at all. He lasts, it goes to the cards, and the Stevenson-Kovalev conversation resumes.

Report Card and Staff Picks 2015: 14-3

Cliff Rold is the Managing Editor of BoxingScene, a founding member of the Transnational Boxing Rankings Board, and a member of the Boxing Writers Association of America.  He can be reached at roldboxing@hotmail.com