Stevenson vs. Karpency: BoxingScene Staff Predictions

By Jake Donovan

Adonis Stevenson and Tommy Karpency were both on weight ahead of their World light heavyweight championship contest Friday evening in Toronto, Canada.

(PBC) series.

The fight will mark the sixth defense of the lineal championship Stevenson (26-1, 21KOs) claimed in a one-punch 1st round knockout of Chad Dawson in June '13. Most recently, the Haitian-Canadian southpaw earned a 12-round decision over Sakio Bika in the first episode of PBC on CBS in April. 

Karpency (25-4-1, 14KOs) also has Dawson to thank for propelling to the title picture. The veteran boxer from Midwestern U.S. claimed an upset decision win over the former champ last October to advance from gatekeeper to the contender. 

The bout will mark his second bid at a major title, having dropped a 12-round decision to then-unbeaten titlist Nathan Clevery in their Feb. '12 clash. Karpency then went on to suffer a 7th round knockout at the hands of current top light heavyweight contender Andrzej Fonfara in Nov. '12, but has since won four straight. 

ADONIS STEVENSON vs. TOMMY KARPENCY

A fight where the champion will carry Karpency for as long as he has to before detonating his formidable power on him.

I think Stevenson is looking to make a statement and Karpency is the perfect opponent to do just that. Karpency is a tough competitor but Stevenson finishes him in the first half of the fight. 

Karpency is tough, so this will be a matter of just how much punishment he can withstand in efforts to hear the final bell. Stevenson chops away and eventually gets a stoppage late in the fight. 

The reason why Karpency got the big upset win over Chad Dawson was more because of Dawson than because of Karpency. Stevenson is more than he can handle and shouldn't have too much difficulty with the latest lackluster opponent.

Don't see Stevenson having anything to worry about in this fight, even if he is regressing significantly. 

Karpency's career highlight was beating Chad Dawson. He should always take pride in that as it got him in position to be cannon fodder for a Light Heavyweight champion stuck in limbo. Unless Stevenson walks into something crazy, he should have Karpency out of there in five or six rounds.

Everything tells me that Stevenson has the best chance to win this fight. The best time to see it against better opponents is coming; Kovalev should be the next opponent.

Stevenson looked average lately but his level is way above that of Karpency, who is very lucky to get extra title shot. Power will be a difference in determining whether it's a stoppage or not but Karpency will also be outboxed.