Stevenson-Alvarez postponed until 2018

FightNights.com previously reported that Adonis Stevenson would face Eleider Alvarez for the WBC light heavyweight world title in December.

The World Boxing Council also tweeted that the bout was tentatively scheduled for Dec. 16, while Yvon Michel, Stevenson’s promoter of GYM, said in an Instagram post that the date would be confirmed when “we can coordinate the date of Showtime with the availability of an amphitheater in Quebec.”

Michel said on Monday via Boxing Scene that the fight has been officially pushed back to at least January of 2018. The decision was made after discussions with Showtime, who are going to televise the bout in the United States.

It was announced on Tuesday that WBO middleweight world champion Billy Joe Saunders will face former world champion David Lemieux on Dec. 16 at Place Bell in Laval, Canada, and Michel had no intention of doing battle with another major event.

“It would be ridiculous to put these two events against each other. It would not serve the boxing industry or the fans. We’re looking for a date in January 2018,” Michel said in a statement.

It’s been a long time coming for Alvarez (23-0, 11 KO’s), 33, a Columbian native fighting out of Montreal, who has been Stevenson’s mandatory challenger since his victory over Isaac Chilemba in November 2015.

“Eleider Alvarez has been waiting for his chance for two years. He worked hard,” said Bernard Barré of TVA Sports. “It’s going to be an electrifying battle.”

Alvarez, who currently holds the WBC Silver light heavyweight title, has picked up notable victories in his past two fights, including a KO of former world champion Lucian Bute, and a majority decision win over former titleholder Jean Pascal.

The 40-year-old Stevenson (29-1, 24 KO’s) quickly disposed of Poland’s Andrzej Fonfara inside two rounds last June and is seeking the ninth defense of his WBC title. He earned the belt with a first-round, one-punch knockout of former world champion Chad Dawson in 2013.