'THE QUEST FOR THE MAN OF STEEL' DOUBLE WORLD LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP ACTION

For Immediate Release    ADONIS STEVENSON VS. TONY BELLEW SERGEY KOVALEV VS. ISMAYL SILLAKH Saturday, November 30 from Colisee Pepsiin Quebec City, Canada Televised Live on HBO Boxing After Dark® MONTREAL(October 17, 2013) -- The World Boxing Council (WBC), The Ring Magazine and lineal World light heavyweight champion, Adonis "Superman" Stevenson (22-1, 19 KOs), has promised to be a spectacular, popular and active champion. He is keeping his word, fighting more impressively with each other victory, as he now prepares for his fourth fight in 2013.   Stevenson's third world championship fight in a five month period, to air in the United States on HBO®, will be in the main event against his mandatory challenger and the WBC's No. 1 contender, England's Tony 'Bomber' Bellew (20-1-1, 12 KOs), onSaturday, November 30 at Colisee Pepsiin Quebec City, Canada. The event will televised live on HBO Boxing After Dark, beginning at 10:15 p. m. ET/PT. As a bonus, Quebecers will also have the pleasure of watching a second world light heavyweight title fight in the same ring as undefeated World Boxing Organization (WBO) champion Sergey "Krusher" Kovalev (22-0-1, 20 KOs), who like Stevenson is one of the most feared hitters in boxing today, defends his crown for the first time against challenger Ismayl "The Black Russian" Sillakh (21-1, 17 KOs) in the co-feature.  "The Quest of the Man of Steel" event, featuring double world light heavyweight championship action -- Stevenson vs. Bellew and Kovalev vs. Sillakh -- is being co-promoted by Groupe Yvon Michel (GYM) and InterBox, in association with Matchroom Boxing and Main Events, and co-presented by Mise- O -Jeu and Videotron. According to GYM president Yvon Michel, "This attractive boxing event also helps bring international prestige to the beautiful City of Quebec for the first time since Pascal vs. Hopkins and Bute vs. Johnson. We find ourselves with valuable support, including Mayor Régis Labeaume and his team, whom we thank for their co-operation."    "We are very happy to be participating in this event as co-promoter in the wonderful city of Quebec," InterBox President Jean Bédard said.  "We will put all our resources and knowledge at the forefront in order to contribute to the success of this event." The 36-year-old Stevenson, now living in Blainville (Quebec, Canada), won his world heavyweight title by way of a first-round knockout in 76 seconds over "Bad" Chad Dawson who was considered at that time the undisputed King of the Light Heavyweights. In Stevenson's first defense (September 28), former world champion Tavoris Cloud (24-1, 19 KOs) was supposed to be a major test for the new world champion. It was quite different as the powerful left-hander pressured Cloud from the start, forcing the challenger to retire at the end of the seventh round. Stevenson gave Cloud a boxing lesson, displaying brilliant skills, finesse, speed and defensive power. "Stevenson - 'The Man of Steel' - is receiving universal recognition as an exceptional boxer, as well as a superior athlete who, through his most recent performances, has risen to the level of his generation's greatest champions," Michel declared. "Adonis Stevenson is already considered a major international attraction in professional boxing. Every time he goes into the ring, he has an opportunity to increase its visibility and reputation." The powerful southpaw Stevenson is on a nine-fight win streak, all ending on sensational knockouts, over Cloud (TKO7 ), Dawson (KO1), Darnell Boone (KO6), Don George (TKO12), Noe Gonzalez (TKO2), Jesus Gonzales (KO1), Aaron Pryor, Jr. (TKO9), Shujaa El Amin (TKO1) and Derek Edwards (KO3). In fact, the last Stevenson fight that went the distance dates back to 2007. The 30-year-old Bellew is a native of Liverpool in the United Kingdom. After a great amateur boxing career, he turned professional in 2007 and later won the Commonwealth (2010-2011) title and he still holds the WBC Silver Belt (2012). He has suffered only one loss to then WBO world champion Nathan Cleverly in 2011. He earned his mandatory challenger position by taking the measure of Isaac Chilemba on points in a WBC title eliminator this last May 25 in the co-feature a Carl Froch vs. Mikkel Kessler headlined card in the UK. Among his notable victories was a ninth-round technical knockout of the usually durable Colombian Edison Miranda (35-7, 30 KOs). The WBO light heavyweight championship bout between champion Kovalev and challenger Sillakh has also raised a lot of interest around the world. Kovalev once terrorized boxing rings around the world representing the Russian National Team. Now a resident of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, he continues in the same vein as a professional, stopping 20 of his 22 opponents, including his last six in a row. In his WBO world title fight last August in England, he was so strong that he tore the title belt from defending champion Cleverly (26-0, 12 KOs), by way of a fourth-round knockout, putting an end to his nearly three-year reign, including six consecutive world championship fights. Kovalev has fought only 61 rounds during his pro career in 22 fights. Eighteen of his 22 fights have ended three rounds or less. Sillakh was one of the most decorated amateurs of his time in international boxing. The former World Cup champion as an amateur turned pro in 2008. In 2012, he was ranked the WBC No. 1 contender, before losing for the first and only time to Denis Grachev (11-0-1, 7 KOs) by eighth-round TKO.  Sillakh has his last four fights to reappear in the world rankings. Undercard fights will soon be announced as InterBox and GYM are working hard to set up another memorable event. Tickets will go on sale this Saturday (Oct. 19) at 10:00 a.m. ET, at Pepsi Coliseum box office, on www.billeteck.com, at GYM (514) 383-0666, InterBox (Marie-Josée Fontaine) (450) 645-1041 or Boxing Club Champion (514) 376-0980. Ticket prices range from $50 in the red up to $300 on the floor.

City Boxing Grachev Shuts Up Sillakh 8 Rd TKO

Friday, April 27th, 2012, a "Greek Tragedy" unfolded in the "Theater of the Unexpected". Light Heavyweight sensation Ismayl Sillakh (17-1, 14 KOs) tasted defeat for the first time in dramatic fashion at the hands of unheralded yet unbeaten Russian mauler Denis Grachev (12-0-1, 8 KOs) yesterday evening at the upset laden Frank Erwin Center in Austin, TX. The highly-touted Ukrainian prospect was pitching a virtual shut-out going into the fateful eighth stanza of their scheduled ten round contest when the hard Russian pressure fighter landed a staggering right hand that originally began the troubles for the former NABF Light Heavyweight Champion. The former kick-boxer turned pugilist followed up the hard right hand by a series of unanswered hooks, eventually flooring and stopping the heavily favored Ismayl Sillakh at the 2:18 mark of the eighth and final round. 

But the surprise finish to the remarkable "Friday Night Fights" main event didn't come easy for the relentless Denis Grachev. Throughout the majority of the one-sided prizefight, the tenacious challenger was ostensibly being controlled with relative ease by the unsuspecting slick boxer. With brilliant footwork and a sharp, precise jab, Ismayl Sillakh carved up the tough pressure fighter and seemed well on his way to an elementary but uninspired unanimous ten round decision. 

The 6'1" boxer/puncher had his way with the less experienced Russian, landing compact left hooks and occasional hard right hands. Sillakh displayed an exceptional command of the ring while staying out of harm's way of the relentless aggressor, dropping Grachev once in the third round with an impressive double-jab, straight right hand combination. 

The betting 11:1 favorite was tactical but dominant for seven plus rounds. But to the credit of the determined challenger, Grachev never quit and slowly but surely closed the distance between the two fighters by cutting off the ring effectively. 

When the eventual winner finally saw an opening midway through the eighth round, he decisively took advantage of the situation and shocked the fans in attendance by landing his brand of punishment to the unproven chin of the highly touted fighter. 

Just like that, the Ismayl Sillakh bandwagon came crashing to a thunderous halt, and the once bright future of the 27 year old prospect is now faced with serious question. 

The highly ranked fighter was in line to fight the eventual winner of the Hopkins/Dawson rematch with an impressive performance on ESPN's Friday Night Fights. With the shocking upset loss, Ismayl Sillakh must now go back to the drawing board and contemplate his future in the talent enriched Light Heavyweight division. After the bout, the improbable victor, Denis Grachev, had much to say about his gritty and eye-opening performance. 

"I was very familiar with his amateur fight style and knew that he would eventually crumble to consistent pressure," stated the newly crowned NABF Light Heavyweight Champion. "He had never been properly tested as a professional. I knew I would be able to break his will and catch him sometime in the later rounds." 

"It was difficult, but I knew the end would eventually come. I countered him with a big right hand in the eighth and I knew he was hurt. I quickly jumped on him and he didn't know how to react. I knew I had him at that point." 

With the impressive victory, Grachev improves his record 12-0-1 with 8 knock-outs. The natural Super Middleweight fighter admits that his big opportunity came by way of default. 

"I usually fight at 168 pounds and feel most comfortable there. But, I would be willing to fight anyone in any weight division. I could even make 162 pounds and take on Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. if the opportunity was offered to me." 

While Denis Grachev was enjoying his moment in the spotlight, he issued an official declaration to any other unsuspecting fighter in and around the Light Heavyweight division. 

"I would love to fight the winner of Dawson and Hopkins," claims the undefeated brawler. "I am not a technical fighter, but I can break any man in boxing. I wouldn't outbox a legend like Hopkins or a former Champion like Dawson, but I promise I would break their spirit and eventually knock them out. That's what I do...I break my opponents." 

The likelihood of Grachev receiving such a high-profile bout on the strength of his impressive and improbable victory is highly unlikely. But rest assured, the Russian prospect's opposition from this point forward will never underestimate his big heart and fierce determination. 

Watch Denis Grachev vs Ismayl Sillakh - Round 8 TKO 

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City Boxing's Denis Grachev vs Ismayl Sillakh ESPN Friday Night Fights

April 27, ESPN2- FNF Click-Boxingscene 

Erwin Center-Austin, Texas 

Ismayl Sillakh vs Denis Grachev | Main Event 

AUSTIN, Texas – World-class professional boxing will return to the Frank Erwin Center Friday, April 27 when Roy Jones Jr.’s Square Ring Promotions brings two riveting 10-round feature bouts to be telecast live on ESPN Friday Night Fights. 

NABF Light Heavyweight Champion Ismayl “The Black Russian” Sillakh will face unbeaten contender Denis “The Pirate” Grachev of Russia. Sillakh, 17-0 with 14 knockouts, is rated No. 2 in the world by the WBC, and is in line to meet the winner of the April 28 Bernard Hopkins-Chad Dawson WBC world title fight. He risks that title shot, his world rating and his NABF championship against danger man Grachev, 11-0-1 with 7 KO’s, a world champion kickboxer who trains in San Diego. 

"These are two great matchups with some of the most exciting young talent in the sport today," said Jones. "I can't remember a time when the top two fights on ESPN featured four undefeated boxers putting it all on the line. They're all stepping up because they want to be world champion.” 

Sillakh, a Ukrainian living in Southern California, stormed to the top of the WBC ratings last year when he dominated fellow unbeaten contender Yordanis Despaigne on an ESPN main event. Grachev earned the reputation as a spoiler after his two most recent matches, scoring impressive wins in the backyard of previously unbeaten opponents.

Team Kovalev upset with Square Ring for 'protecting Sillakh'

BIG BEAR, Calif. (March 14. 2012) -- Team Kovalev blames Square Ring for a verbally agreed upon North American Boxing Federation "(NABF") title fight between unbeaten light heavyweights, challenger Sergey Kovalev and defending champion Ismayl Sillakh, to fall apart due to a contractal dispute. Sillakh-Kovalev, according to Kovalev's manager Egis Klimas, had been approved as the main event for a proposed April 27tht ESPN Friday Night Fights show in Atlantic City.



"It would have been special having two Russian-born fighters headlining an ESPN card," Klimas said. "I understand that it was quickly approved because everybody in boxing knows it would have been a very good fight. We agreed to everything, including short money, to step-up and fight Sillakh on national television. I have a lot of respect for Ismayl as a fighter but his people are doing him a disservice. Everything was good on both sides but, right before Square Ring sent me a contract, I learned from the matchmaker about there being options on my fighter if he won. I would have agreed to a rematch if Sergey won a decision, but I wouldn't be doing my job if I gave them four options written in the contract. They couldn't lose either way if I signed that contract."



Kovalev (17-0-1, 15 KOs), born in Chelyabinsk but now living in Big Bear, California, was a highly-decorated Russian amateur boxer (193-22). Trained by Abel Sanchez, Sergey is the reigning WBC Asian Boxing Council 175-pound champion, rated No. 12 by the World Boxing Council ("WBC").



Ukrainian-born Sillakh (17-0, 14 KOs) lives in Simi Valley, California. The 27-year-old is highly rated - #2 World Boxing Council, #6 International Boxing Federation ("IBF"), #10 World Boxing Association ("WBA") and #10 The Ring Magazine - and considered a rising star in boxing. Unable to get any of the world champions or top contenders in the ring, Sillakh has been portrayed by Square Ring as being the most feared fighter in his division, which Klimas' asserts is nothing more than promotional propaganda.



"This is just another example of a promoter protecting its fighter, which is exactly what's wrong with boxing today," an irate Klimas added. "Sillakh's NABF title defense is overdue and they sent out an email to a lot of top light heavyweights looking for a fight. We accepted the challenge but then they put four options in the contract. They can't have it both ways. If Sillakh is the best light heavyweight in the world, somebody that no other top light heavyweight will fight, as they claim, why do they need four options on my fighter? I can see putting a rematch clause in the contract. I asked John Wirt (President of Square Ring) why he put four options in the contract and he said to protect his fighter and company. I guess they aren't really sure Sillakh can beat Kovalev."



Kovalev is a promotional free-agent who, based on recent conversations conducted by Klimas, has offers on the table from a few major promoters to sign an exclusive contract.



Go online to www.kovalboxer.ru for more information about Sergey Kovalev.