Fansided

Adonis Stevenson looked old in draw with Badou Jack

By Jeremy Herriges

Esther Lin/SHOWTIME
Esther Lin/SHOWTIME /
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Adonis Stevenson at 40 years old, kept his title due to a draw. However, Badou Jack almost took his belt, and Stevenson’s age was a major factor.

Adonis Stevenson is known for his powerful left hand. He has 24 knockouts to his credit, but he’s 40 years old. Unfortunately, his age looked like it caught up with him Saturday night against the younger Badou Jack.

Before the bell rang, Jack’s two-inch height advantage showed as the two glared at each other. Neither seemed scared, however.

Stevenson took the center of the ring in Round 1. Not much happened, but Jack didn’t want any part of Stevenson’s left. He circled Stevenson for the entire round. Stevenson won the round due to his aggressiveness.

Stevenson started to let his left hand go in the second. He landed several, but Jack saw them coming and took them well. Stevenson looked comfortable and Jack looked hesitant. Jack couldn’t get much going. Stevenson banked another round.

The third was a better round for Jack. He opened up with several combinations but didn’t land anything notable. Stevenson mounted a counter attack, but Jack responded with a solid right. Jack won but the fight plodded on quietly.

Jack’s punch output stagnated in the fourth. Stevenson landed some glancing blows, but their styles weren’t meshing. They fought at a slow pace and there was a lack of excitement. Stevenson landed two uppercuts towards the end which won him the round.

Stevenson and Jack started the fifth in close quarters and were holding each other. The holding turned to wrestling. Things were getting ugly and they were losing the crowd. It was a holding fest, but Stevenson was more active so he received 10 points.

Stevenson and Jack stopped messing around and let the leather fly at the start of Round 6. They sensed this fight was going nowhere and took the initiative to attack. Stevenson got the better of the exchanges. Jack had several punches land low but wasn’t warned.

Stevenson looked a little winded at the end of the sixth. His movements looked a bit clunky. He won the round, but his age showed in the clumsiness of his movements.

Jack put in work to Stevenson’s body in the seventh. Fatigue set in for Stevenson and the fight turned. Jack started to land combinations and Stevenson couldn’t catch him with counters. Stevenson looked 40 in this round. The younger man took this round decisively.

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Jack landed low on Stevenson early in the eighth. He was rebuked for this low blow and Stevenson took about 15 seconds to recover.  Stevenson tried to mount an attack, but Jack’s left hurt Stevenson. Stevenson was on his back foot and looked bad. Jack took control of this fight. His youth got the better of Stevenson.

Stevenson’s nose dripped blood as the ninth started. Jack continued his onslaught and outhustled Stevenson. Stevenson’s only answer was to hold. He was running out of options. Jack’s right hand found a home, and a right uppercut sent Stevenson’s head back violently. Stevenson lost all control of this fight.

Stevenson continued to hold Jack in the 10th. Jack was more active and landed more right hands. Jack appeared fresh compared to the lethargic Stevenson.

At the very end of the round, Stevenson landed a combination out of desperation, but It was still Jack’s round all the way.

Stevenson came out emphatically in the 11th. He attacked Jack’s body and Jack looked hurt. Stevenson was rejuvenated and punished Jack to the body. Jack was frozen, but Stevenson was exhausted. Jack mounted a counter-attack as Stevenson punched himself out. Stevenson did enough to win the round.

The 12th round was hard to score. Both men had their moments, though Jack let his hands go more than Stevenson. Stevenson was too tired and held for the second half of the round. Jack won the round because he had more energy. Stevenson’s age made the difference.

Overall, it was a hard fight to score. I had it 114-114, a draw. Apparently, my scoring was accurate because the judges had it the same way. Jesse Reese had it 115-113 for Jack, but Eric Marlinski and Guido Cavalleri each scored it 114-114.

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Stevenson held onto his title, but by the slimmest of margins. He has skills, but his abilities are diminished. His age caught up with him, and he’s no longer elite in the division. I think he would lose to any of the current light heavyweight titleholders. It looks like his championship days are numbered.

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