For a fighter with an impressive record of 25-2 with 15 knockouts, Andrzej Fonfaro, who challenges Adonis “Superman” Stevenson for the light heavyweight championship of the world this Saturday at the Bell Centre in Montreal, Canada, is hardly known outside of his adopted hometown of Chicago, Illinois.
That could change quickly if Fonfara has the kryptonite to topple “Superman.”
But does he?
He’s won 16 bouts in a row since being stopped by tough Derrick Findley six years ago. Not surprisingly, Fonfara is a huge underdog, but at 6'2", he’ll have an advantage in height (Stevenson is 5'11") and reach.
"Everyone will see what I bring to the ring,” said Fonfara at a news conference in Montreal.”I can handle his power. That doesn't worry me.”
Confidence is one thing, but Fonfara, 26, had better be concerned with Stevenson’s ferocious power. The WBC champion has stopped 10 consecutive opponents since he himself was knocked out by Darnell Boone in 2010. Stevenson, 36, fought four times last year, stopping Boone, Chad Dawson, Tavoris Cloud and Tony Bellow.
"He has power, but I can knock him out, too,” Fonfara said. “A knockout would be the best offense for me. With our styles, it will be a good, exciting fight."
In Fonfara’s 16 straight wins, 12 were by knockout. The Polish native stopped Samuel Miller last December in two frames which followed the most important victory of his career, a ninth-round stoppage of former WBA light heavyweight champion Gabriel Campillo. In July 2012, he defeated Glen Johnson.
Fonfara wasn’t expected to beat either.
"This is not my first time as an underdog,” said Fonfara.”I've proved people wrong before and I'll do it again."
Stevenson (23-1, 20 KOs) sees nothing about his opponent's style that concerns him.
"I'm used to fighting taller guys with long range,” Stevenson said. “That won't be a problem for me. We'll use my speed and power to (negate that).”
Fonfara feels he has the tools to shock Stevenson.
"I've got a good punch with both hands," he said. "He's gotten knocked out before. It proves he goes down too. He's not Superman like he thinks he is. He went down and he lost the fight."
If Fonfara wins on Saturday night, his days of being an afterthought will end.
The ''Who Is'' will be replaced by ''What's Next.''
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