ATLANTIC CITY, NJ - Middleweight contender Curtis "Showtime" Stevens, 25-4, 18 KOs, may have lost his last bout, a middleweight title challenge against the top 160-pounder in the world, Pound-for-Pound contender, and undefeated champion, Gennady "GGG" Golovkin, but the Brooklyn-born knockout artist is ready to go right back to work Friday night in Atlantic City, NJ against tough Patrick "The Machine" Majewski, 21-2, 12 KOs.
Their ten-round middleweight fight at Resorts International Casino Hotel, is the feature bout on the season-opener of the popular nationally televised boxing series, Fight Night, on NBCSN. Also on the broadcast, which begins at 10:00 PM ET/7:00 PM PT, is a ten-round cruiserweight battle between Thabiso Mchunu, 13-1, 9 KOs, of Natal, South Africa, and Olanrewaju Durodola, 15-1, 14 KOs, of Lagos, Nigeria, in West Africa.
Stevens, with his reputation as a big puncher, has been a fan favorite over the past few years, when his showy displays of power toppled excellent opponents like Saul Roman, Elvin Ayala and Romaro Johnson. So devastating is his punch that finding an opponent who can last more than a single round has been an issue of late. Since 2010, only Derrick Findley managed to last the full distance with Stevens.
Atlantic City's Patrick Majewski, who is renowned for his chin and a high-pressure style that is not so different from Golovkin's, should provide Stevens with a serious test in the wake of that world title bout with GGG. If Stevens has lost so much as a step, Majewski is tough enough to dish the New Yorker his second straight defeat.
However, Stevens is eager to start another knockout streak and to prove he is still a force in the middleweight division. Majewski may be a tough customer, but Stevens believes that the Polish-born fighter is merely a road block to his next title fight.
Curtis had this to say about the upcoming fight against "The Machine", "I feel good, I am just ready to get in there and get back to where I was at." He added, "I have to go in there and destroy him. I just have to do what I do best."
This NBCSN boxing double header kicks off the third season of Fight Night, and promises more of the same thrilling action that has made the series the most popular boxing program for the past two years.
ABOUT FRIDAY, JANUARY 24TH
Friday, January 24th at Resorts International Casino and Hotel in Atlantic City, NJ features a ten-round middleweight battle between Curtis "Showtime" Stevens and Patrick "The Machine" Majewski in the main event.
The ten-round Cruiserweight co-feature between Thabiso "The Rock" Mchunu and Olanrewaju "God's Power" Durodola, will be for the vacant NABF Cruiserweight Title. Six additional fights are planned for the undercard, all fights subject to change.
Doors are scheduled to open at 6:45 PM ET, First Fight at 7:00 PM ET. The main event and co-feature will be broadcast 10:00 PM ET on NBC Fight Night on NBCSN. The card is presented by Main Events, Peltz Boxing, Dibella Entertainment and Showpony Promotions.
Tickets are priced at $75 and $50. They can be purchased at the Resorts International Casino and Hotel Box Office, 800-736-1420; at TicketMaster 800-745-3000 or online (key word: Main Events); and at Peltz Boxing 215-765-0922.