Stevenson gears up for ninth WBC title defence

TORONTO Champion Adonis Stevenson wore a crown and grinned as he roamed the dais microphone in hand, promising a knockout.

Challenger Badou Jack somehow managed to exude menace politely, saying Saturday will mark the end of Stevenson’s almost five-year reign as WBC light-heavyweight boxing champion.

Big-time boxing is back in Toronto with organizers billing Saturday’s main event at the Air Canada Centre — Stevenson’s ninth title defence — as the city’s biggest bout in 30 years.

Thursday’s new conference to promote the show was boxing through and through. Originally scheduled for 11 a.m., it was pushed back in mid-morning to 2 p.m. It eventually started at 2:39, stoked by a DJ playing the likes of Slipknot, Cypress Hill, Mobb Deep and Fetty Wap.

There were eight people on the podium and all of them had something to say, including co-promoter and Jackbacker Floyd Mayweather.

Both fighters predicted victory.

“It’s 12 rounds and I just need one punch. Only one,” said Stevenson, a southpaw from Blainville, Que., whose left hand is his biggest weapon. “That’s it.”

Jack, a former super-middleweight and light-heavyweight title-holder in his own right, noted he was the one that asked for the fight.

“He’s got nothing that scares me,” said Jack, whose nickname is The Ripper. “I fear no man. He’s one of the toughest guys in boxing but I’m a tougher guy and I will prove that (Saturday). I will be the new champion.”