Adonis Stevenson and Tommy Karpency were both on weight ahead of their World light heavyweight championship contest Friday evening in Toronto, Canada.
Stevenson came in right at the 175 lb. limit; Karpency was slightly lighter, tipping the scales at 174.5 lbs. The championship contest headlines live on Spike TV, in the network's latest installment of the Premier Boxing Champions (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.
In the televised co-feature, unbeaten Errol Spence takes on his toughest test to date, as the 2012 U.S. Olympian faces Chris van Heerden in a 10-round welterweight bout.
Both fighters weighed 146.5 lbs.
Spence (17-0, 14KOs) is viewed by many as the most talented member of the 2012 U.S. Olympic boxing squad. The team served in infamy, failing to bring home a medal in the 2012 London Olympics, but several talented prospects have developed in the pro ranks.
High among them is Spence, as evidenced by his most recent appearance, a 3rd round knockout of Phil Lo Greco this past June. The bout aired live in primetime on NBC, with his handlers insisting the tough-as-nails Texan was ready for the likes of Keith Thurman, regarded by many as the heir to the welterweight throne once Floyd Mayweather officially steps away from game.
First he needs to get past van Heerden (23-1-1, 12KOs), a skillful southpaw from South Africa who has won nine straight. Friday night will mark his fifth consecutive fight in North America, having already claimed wins over previously unbeaten Cecil McCanna and most recently Ramon Ayala this year.
Adonis Stevenson, 175 lbs. vs. Tommy Karpency, 174.5 lbs.
Errol Spence, 146.5 lbs. vs. Chris van Heerden, 146.5 lbs.
Prichard Colon, 149 lbs. vs. Vivian Harris, 149 lbs.
Dillon Carman, 234 vs. Razor Ruddock ,242.5 lbs.
Sandy Tsagouris, 128 lbs. vs. Shannon O’Connell, 127 lbs.
Jake Donovan is the managing editor of BoxingScene.com
Facebook Page: JakeBScene
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