By Steve Kim
In the wake of the twelve round majority draw between WBC light heavyweight titlist Adonis Stevenson and former two-division beltholder Badou Jack from this past weekend in Toronto, both sides have talked of a possible rematch.
But before that can take place, Oleksandr Gvozdyk - the WBC's interim champion - is in line to face Stevenson in his next title defense.
The World Boxing Council had ordered the Stevenson-Jack winner to face him next.
"That's completely true, 100-percent," said Egis Klimas, the manager of Gvozdyk, who captured the interim title on March 17th by defeating Mehdi Amar to secure his position.
"I have a letter from the WBC that Oleskander Gvozdyk is going to be fighting the winner of Badou Jack and Stevenson and it's signed by the president(Mauricio Sulaiman) and we're not going to let that position go. We're not going to be taking any purses to step-aside or whatever."
Gvozdyk is promoted by Top Rank and has a record of 15-0 (12 KO's).
"We're all over to get into our position to fight for the title," said Klimas.
The WBC has ruled that Gvozdyk is to fight for the WBC 175-pound belt 90 days after Stevenson-Jack - but Klimas notes that provision can be amended by the two sides as they come to an agreement.
"I spoke yesterday and today with our promoter, with the attorney who represents Gvozdyk, nothing stops us from ** that fight. We are open for negotiations, we are open for any territory knowing if Stevenson can come to the United States to fight - we're willing to go wherever," stated Klimas. "Toronto, Montreal, Canada, if they're going to make a good offer.
"They want us to go to Showtime, nobody is stopping us. We can go to Showtime. So basically from our side there is no negative negotiations."
2023-10-21 02:39:36
