Adonis Stevenson’s punching power to rein in Tavoris Cloud

The 76 seconds that it took Adonis Stevenson to knock out Chad Dawson in Montreal in June were amongst the most stunning in recent light-heavyweight history.

In just over a minute, Canadian ‘Superman’ Stevenson (21-1) went from a respected challenger to WBC champion, with Dawson left stunned at the sheer power of the 35-year-old southpaw.

Now, Stevenson is the 2/5 favourite to successfully negotiate the first defence of his title against American Tavoris Cloud back in his adopted hometown of Montreal on Saturday night, when the punching power of both men is expected to produce a fight that isn’t for the faint-hearted.

For Cloud (24-1), the bout represents a chance to get back on track having let standards slip.

The former IBF light-heavyweight champion was considered fortunate to beat Spain’s Gabriel Campillo on points to retain his belt for a fourth time in Texas early last year, but following over a year away from the ring, he was comprehensively beaten by Bernard Hopkins in a unanimous decision in March.

That represented a first professional loss for the 31-year-old Floridian, but also ensures that he has had the worst possible preparation for the biggest fight of his career.

Cloud can be backed at 2/1 to win the contest, but siding with the raw power of Stevenson could prove the better investment, not that power is all that he has in his armoury.

The Montreal resident’s bouts might average less than four rounds, but it is the manner in which he uses his feints and jabs which often set him up for those fearsome punches that Dawson was on the end of.

If he can rein in Cloud in a similar fashion, then it shouldn’t be long before he disposes of him for a successful first defence.

All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publication