Premier Boxing Champions 2015: Fight Card and TV Schedule for September 11
What do you do when you're trying to defeat Superman? You try to find some kryptonite. Tommy "Kryptonite" Karpency (25-4-1, 14 KOs) has taken that advice as he adopted a new moniker after he agreed to challenge WBC light heavyweight champion Adonis "Superman" Stevenson (26-1, 21 KOs) for his title at the Ricoh Coliseum in Toronto, per PremierBoxingChampions.com.
The fight will headline Premier Boxing Champions' next Spike TV broadcast, which starts at 9 p.m. ET. Bringing a title fight to Toronto is a huge deal since it is the first one since 1984. This video from Fight Network explains more of the significance of the bout:
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The Haitian-born Stevenson has adopted Canada as his second home, and he'll undoubtedly have mounds of supporters there to cheer him on against the American Karpency. In case you're wondering why you haven't heard of Karpency, take a moment to consider the champion we're talking about.
Stevenson has unfortunately gained the reputation of a fighter who doesn't want to take on a serious challenger. For the past two years, he's been accused of ducking WBA, IBF and WBO champion Sergey Kovalev. In all honesty, Karpency doesn't look to have a chance in this fight. Stevenson's critics would argue that's probably the reason the champ's camp picked him.
While a Karpency win seems far-fetched, stranger things have happened. Stevenson is an underrated boxer with huge power. Karpency doesn't pack a big punch, but he has been in the ring with a few meaningful light heavyweights, such as Chad Dawson, Karo Murat and Andrzej Fonfara. Stevenson's chin has been suspect, but it's unclear whether Karpency has the power to test the champion's beard.
Can Karpency be a real test for Stevenson, or is he the pushover many of us expect him to be? Most don't believe he can create much of an issue for the champion. Bleacher Report's Kevin McRae sounds as if he's losing faith in PBC because of what appears to be a string of mismatches:
Free boxing is definitely a positive, but on paper, Stevenson-Karpency looks like a dreadful rematch.
Also on the card is dynamic, young welterweight prospect Errol "The Truth" Spence Jr. (17-0, 14 KOs). The 25-year-old will take on South African Chris van Heerden (23-1-1, 12 KOs). Leading up to the fight, Spence has exuded confidence.
He is Floyd Mayweather Jr.'s newest protege, and he's been getting a ton of attention since receiving Money's endorsement back in June. This bout will be the stiffest test of Spence's young career. Van Heerden is a slick southpaw—much like Spence—but he doesn't pack the punch or the aggressiveness that The Truth brings into the ring.
Still, it will be interesting to see how Spence handles an experienced and skilled fighter who will likely be able to show him some things he hasn't seen. Is it bad that the co-feature has far more potential to be an interesting fight than the main event?
At any rate, keep it locked to Bleacher Report for full details on the bout after it takes place on Friday.
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