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Credit: Amanda Kwok/SHOWTIME
QUEBEC CITY (Dec. 16, 2014) - WBC Light Heavyweight Champion Adonis "Superman" Stevenson and Russian challenger Dmitry "The Hunter" Sukhotskiy held a main event final press conference on Tuesday in Quebec City, Canada, as they prepare for their showdown on SHOWTIME BOXING: SPECIAL EDITION this Friday, Dec. 19.
Stevenson (24-1, 20 KOs) and Sukhotskiy (22-2, 16 KOs) will square off in the 12-round main event of a SHOWTIME quadrupleheader that begins live at 9 p.m. ET/PT (delayed on the West Coast) fromPepsi Coliseum in Quebec.
Joining the main event fighters at Tuesday's press conference was super middleweight contenderAndre "The Matrix" Dirrell (23-1, 16 KOs), who will face Derek "The Black Lion" Edwards (27-3-1, 14 KOs) in a 12-round IBF super middleweight elimination bout.
Here's what the participants had to say on Tuesday:
ADONIS STEVENSON:
"This was probably the best training camp that I've had. We're ready for this fight. We're not underestimating him. I know he's coming to fight and I will be ready.
"I know he's a tough contender. And I know he's training very hard for this fight. He's going to try to surprise me, but I'm very prepared because I know the contender is always going to try to take your belt.
"I'm going to win by knockout. Emmanuel (Steward) always told me that knockouts sell, so I'm going to win by knockout. It's going to be a short night on SHOWTIME.
"My plan is to face (Sergey) Kovalev in 2015. But first we need to focus and win this fight. Then we can talk 2015."
DMITRY SUKHOTSKIY:
"He looked nervous at the podium, like he wasn't ready to fight. But I am ready to fight.
"I'm not going to say that he is underestimating me because I'll show that in the ring. I came here to win; I came here to bring the world title back to Russia.
"He has flaws and it is our job to find them and find a way to win the fight.
"It's always different when you fight a southpaw, but we prepared for it. We prepared for everything that can happen in the ring.
"I'm ready to fight. I'm here to make a statement. This isn't my first time fighting for a world title. Only this time, I will win."
ANDRE DIRRELL:
"I'm here to do a job and it will get done.
"It's good to be back. This is my third fight in six months, and before that I fought three times in the past four years. I'm on a very busy schedule right now and it feels good.
"I'm just looking forward to the fight. It will put me in a high ranking in the IBF and bring me this much closer to challenging for that title pretty soon.
"I want that rematch with Carl Froch. He's the IBF Champion and a win on Friday will bring me closer to fighting him again and proving that I beat him the first time.
"I'm excited to be here. It's cold but it's beautiful in Canada. I just can't wait for the action to start."
SUGAR HILL, Stevenson Trainer:
"This was the best training camp we've had. It was a fun training camp, and when you have a fun camp you learn a lot, you're relaxed and you get better results.
"His attitude has been great. He's happy and he's ready to fight.
"Dmitry is a very sound fundamental fighter. He uses his jab very well and he likes to punch and get knockouts. His nickname is 'The Hunter; so we're expecting him to come forward. He's not going to be bouncing around and moving and making it a boring fight.
"Adonis is a come-forward kind of boxer, but he can also move backwards and counterpunch. It's going to be a strategic fight up until a certain point. As Adonis always says, 'I'm going to wait for you to make a mistake and I'm going to catch you.'
"I'm looking forward to Dmitry making a mistake and Adonis capitalizing and catching him.
"I always see Adonis' fights ending in knockouts. He's such a tremendous puncher, he can move well, and he's still learning. His boxing IQ is off the charts. He can think so fast in the ring. He can remember something from the first round in the ninth round and come back and capitalize on that.
"The original training was supposed to be in Detroit at the New Kronk Gym that was opened by my cousin, Sylvia Steward, Emmanuel's daughter. The gym is open, but it's just not ready. Some of the equipment was not ready in time so we continued the camp in Brampton, Canada."
# # #
Stevenson vs. Sukhotskiy, a 12-round light heavyweight bout for Stevenson's WBC Light Heavyweight World Championship, will air live on SHOWTIME (9 p.m. ET/PT, delayed on the West Coast) in the main event SHOWTIME BOXING: SPECIAL EDITION from Pepsi Coliseum in Quebec City, Canada. In the co-feature, Jo Jo Dan will face Kevin Bizier in a 12-round IBF welterweight eliminator. Also on the card, Andre Dirrell will face Derek Edwards in a 12-round IBF super middleweight elimination bout and Artur Beterbiev will take on Jeff Page Jr. in a 10-round light heavyweight scrap. The event is presented by Groupe Yvon Michel (GYM) in association with Mise-O-Jeu and Videotron.
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