Don Smith 2/18/12

Bell Centre, Montreal, Quebec.

After a tumultuous and well publicized  press conference and weigh-in, boxing fans were hoping  the Adonis "Superman"  Stevenson vs Jesus "El Martillo" Gonzales fight at the Bell Centre on Saturday night would live up to the  promised drama...it didn't.  Stevenson tagged Gonzales with a straight left hand to the head ( at 1:39 of the  1st round)  that sent Gonzales sprawling to the canvas where he lay motionless until  he was taken out of the ring and into a waiting  ambulance . The 27 year old Phoenix, Arizona native was kept overnight at a nearby Montreal Hospital  as a precaution.  In victory, Stevenson (17-1-14 knockouts)  retained his IBF Inter-Continental Super Middleweight Title and earned a right to challenge Lucian Bute for his IBF Super Middleweight Crown.

For Gonzales (27-2), the loss could mean an end to a boxing career that began with great promise but never delivered a world championship.  If he does decide to retire, "El Martillo" can take great pride in his work in the Phoenix community  where he is well respected for donating time, money and energy to help the less fortunate. He is a champion in  the true sense of the word.