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 PREMIER BOXING CHAMPIONS SERIES LANDS IN TORONTO

STEVENSON vs. KARPENCY

WBC LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT WORLD TITLE

PRESENTED BY GYM, GLB, LENNOX LEWIS AND MLSE
TORONTO (August 5, 2015) —    Groupe Yvon Michel (GYM), in association with Global Legacy Boxing (GLB) and Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment (MLSE), is proud to officially announce the next world title defense of feared puncher, Adonis “Superman” Stevenson, September 11, at the Ricoh Coliseum in Toronto. The event is part of the prestigious Premier Boxing Champions series, airing live on Spike TV in the United States, on Indigo and Bell TV in Canada.

Stevenson (26-1-0, 21 KOs),ofMontreal, one of the most powerful pound-for- pound punchers in the world, will defend his World Boxing Council (WBC), The Ring magazine and lineal light heavyweight (175 pounds) world championship belts for the sixth time, against WBC #9 contender Tommy “Kryptonite” Karpency (25-4-1, 14 KOs), the skilled American southpaw fighting out of Adah, Pennsylvania. It was Stevenson’s wish to defend his titles in Toronto:

“I’m excited to announce my next fight on September 11 in Toronto against Tommy Karpency. I’m ready to put the hurt on. I work hard and stay focused”, said the champion.

 

The 29-year-old Karpency pulled off a major upset October 4, 2014 at the Foxwoods Resort of Mashantucket, Connecticut, defeating former light heavyweight lineal champion Chad Dawson by way of a split decision. Karpency, who has won his last four fights, is also the current Pennsylvania and NABA-USA light heavyweight champion. He is particularly excited to get this world championship opportunity.

“I beat the same guy Stevenson beat to become world champion. I beat him [Dawson] just over a year after Stevenson beat him. After that win, I said that the sky was the limit and that I wanted the best in the world. The win [over Dawson] proved that I belong amongst the elite at light heavyweight. Now it is my job to win this fight“, explained Karpency.

“GYM is trilled to bring this world championship fight and the ‘Premier Boxing Champions’ series to Toronto for the first time,” GYM president Yvon Michel said. “We have been contemplating this project for a long time. This has been possible because we found great partners with Les Woods and Lennox Lewis, from GLB, and Wayne Zronick, from MLSE. We have the conviction to bring a major boxing event that this prodigious sport city deserves. Even more, we also believe we have found the required partners to guarantee the success of the project and to do it again on a regular bases.”

“It is an immense privilege to be working alongside MLSE and GYM,” GLB president Les Woods added. “Global Legacy’s mandate of reviving world-class professional boxing in the wonderful city of Toronto has become a reality. “To continue the legacy my grandfather created and reignite a passion for ‘the sweet science’ across the city is a vision and accomplishment I hope will continue to leave a lasting imprint now as well as on all futuregenerations of boxing fans.”

Also part of this promotion is former undisputed heavyweight champion of the world, Lennox Lewis. While not fighting anymore, he stills as the passion for his sport. Lewis defeated Mike Tyson, Evander Holyfield, Vitali Klitschko among the more notables during his illustrious boxing career.

“It’s wonderful to be a part of GLB, working in conjunction with GYM and MLSE, to revive boxing in Toronto and across Canada to the highest level,” Lewis remarked. “As the former undisputed heavyweight champion of the world, I am proud to be building a nationwide platform where boxers, such as world light heavyweight champion Adonis Stevenson, can showcase their talents at home and receive the support they deserve.”

In the co-feature, current Canadian heavyweight champion Dillon “Big Country” Carman (8-2, 7 KOs), of Mississauga, Ontario, will face former Lewis and Tyson opponent, Jamaican-born Donovan “Razor” Ruddock (40-5-1, 30 KOs). A total of eight bouts will be scheduled during the event, showcasing young talents from Ontario and Quebec.

Boxing in Toronto and Ontario

Toronto was a boxing hot spot as early as 1880.

Jake Kilrain, George Dixon, Joe Gans, Kid McCoy, Harry Greb, Sam Langford, Benny Leonard, Mickey Walker, Kid Chocolate, Max Baer, Primo Carnera, Joey Giambra, Archie Moore, Floyd Patterson, Bob Foster,Muhammad Ali, and Larry Holmes all waged epic battles in Toronto during their boxing careers.

Other standouts who also fought in Toronto include Jimmy Wilde, Jimmy Welsh,Young Stribling, Rocky Kansas, “Panama” Al Brown, Sandy Saddler, Battling Levinsky, Sammy Angott, Tommy Loughran, Maxie Rosenbloom, Jose Napoles, Ernie Terrell, Jimmy Ellis, Nino Benvenuti, and Aaron Pryor.

Canadian legend George Chuvalo fought for the heavyweight world title March 29, 1966 at the Maple Leaf Gardens against defending champion and boxing iconMuhammad Ali, in probably the most famous bout ever held in the city. The always tough Chuvalo lasted 15 rounds with the man known as “The Greatest”.

Toronto native Nick Furlano also boxed and lasted 15 rounds against ferocious World Boxing Association (WBA) world super lightweight champion and International Boxing Hall of Fame member, Aaron “The Hawk” Pryor, June 22, 1984, at the Varsity Stadium of the University of Toronto.

Since then, Sarnia’s son Steve Molitor was the International Boxing Federation world super bantamweight (122 pounds) champion, from 2006 to 2011. He fought in seven world title fights in Ontario, all at the Rama Casino.

More recently, November 15, 2014 at the Hershey Center in Mississauga, Brampton’s own Denton Daley challenged WBA interim world cruiserweight champion Youri Kalenga, a nativeof the Democratic Republic of the Congo, losing in the 12th and final round.

Tickets go on sale starting Friday, August 7 at 10:00 a.m., on www.ticketmaster.ca, at GYM (514) 383-0666, GLB (416) 678-6957 or Ricoh Coliseum (416) 263-3900. Ticket prices start at 40 $. Tables are also available by contacting GLB.

 

 

About Groupe Yvon Michel Inc.:


Groupe Yvon Michel (GYM) was founded in 2004. The organization’s mission is the development of high level boxers by a coaching support, especially by competitive management. To achieve its objectives, GYM is active in recruiting talent and organizing events. Since it was founded less than 11 years ago, GYM has produced 120 boxing events, some making history in terms of ticket sales and PPV viewers, including Pascal vs. Hopkins I and II. GYM has produced more than 300 hours of television on Canal Indigo, Bell TV, Shaw TV, TVA Sports, VOX, TVA, CBC, RDS and V in Canada, as well as CBS, HBO, Showtime and ESPN in the USA. A total of seven different GYM boxers have participated in 23 world title fights. Under the tutelage of GYM, Joachim Alcine captured the WBA super welterweight title in 2007 and Jean Pascal won the WBC Light Heavyweight belt in 2009. Since June 2013, Adonis “Superman” Stevenson has held the WBC, The Ring and lineal light heavyweight titles. In addition, Stevenson was named worldwide Boxer of the Year in 2013 by The Ring, Sports Illustrated and many other publications.

 

About Global Legacy Boxing:

 

In 1972, the Woods family, boasting generations of boxing heritage, moved to Port Credit, Ontario, Canada, from Clydebank, Scotland. At the young age of 11, Leslie (Les) Junior witnessed his first world title fight, alongside his grandfather, Harry Woods, Chief Inspector of the British Boxing Board of Control. Champion Jim Watt, of Scotland, fought Howard Davis Jr. in Ibrox Stadium, in Glasgow. What was once only a riveting and engrossing account, told numerous times by his grandfather, was now an awe-inspiring reality. This was indeed a turning point for Les, leaving a marked impression on his young mind for the years to come. From that day forward, “the sweet science” ignited a passion in Les. For almost two decades, Woods was introduced to the most elegant part of the sport while attending the St. Andrew’s Sporting Club in Glasgow. He viewed boxing as a gentleman’s sport, exuding class and elegance. On his visits to Canada, Les’ grandfather envisioned bringing world-class boxing shows to Toronto, emanating the elegance of Scotland’s St. Andrew’s Sporting Club. In the late 1980s Tommy Gilmour, president of the club, contemplated this venture. Unfortunately, logistics and timing just weren’t feasible. Two-and-a-half decades later, however, the timing couldn’t be better. One night, over what could now be considered a very providential dinner, Les was inspired from speaking with Olympic medalist Chris Johnson and world heavyweight champion Lennox Lewis, to bring his grandfather’s dream to fruition and continue his family’s legacy. The decision was unanimous…”it’s time”.

 

About Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment:

 

Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment is one of North America’s leading providers of unimaginable experiences. We are the parent company of the Toronto Maple Leafs (NHL), the Toronto Raptors (NBA), Toronto FC (MLS) and Toronto Marlies (AHL). Our talented group of professionals are accountable for delivering everything our teams need to win. At the end of the day, our mission is simple: bring to world to its feet.

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