Adonis Stevenson retained his world title with points win over Sakio Bika
Sunday 5 April 2015 12:39, UK
Adonis Stevenson successfully defended his WBC light-heavyweight title for the fifth time with a one-sided points win over Sakio Bika.
The Haiti-born champion knocked Bika down twice as he was given a 115-111, 116-110, 115-110 unanimous decision from the judges at the Pepsi Coliseum in Quebec, Canada.
Stevenson never looked troubled by his latest challenger and although he was not able to register a trademark knockout, his languid and powerful left hand still swelled Bika’s face and provided the fight’s most memorable moments.
A left hook put Bika on the canvas in the sixth round but the Australia-based challenger returned quickly to his feet, smiling, and showed no ill effects from the champion’s punch.
As Stevenson turned up the pressure, a second knock-down followed at the end of the ninth – he wobbled Bika with a left hook and a straight shot down the pipe crumpled him again.
The 37-year-old champion asserted an authority within the opening couple of rounds that he never relinquished.
A cagey first period was followed by Stevenson finding his range and backing Bika into the ropes with his dangerous left fist, although the challenger laughed off the prospect of an early finish.
Bika, 35, was competing at 175 pounds for the first time and found it difficult to close the range and match the champion’s fluidity.
Stevenson thumped straight shots to the body in the fourth round to further slow him down.
In the next round, that brutal glove clearly staggered Bika and he gamely held on before both men clumsily tumbled to the ground. A round later, Stevenson would knock him down properly.
As the fight wore on, Bika’s swollen right eye evidenced the power in the champion’s left hand but he rarely looked like being halted before the final bell.
The ninth-round knock-down was followed by Bika finally trying to open up and swing for a remarkable comeback but Stevenson, although pressurised, evaded him without much fuss.
It was just the second time Stevenson had gone 12 rounds, and Bika became just his fifth victim to avoid a stoppage in 26 pro wins.
