By Ben Jacobs

If championship belts were handed out based on patience, Eleider ‘Storm’ Alvarez would already be the light heavyweight world champion.  The Colombian, based in Canada, has been the number one contender for the World Boxing Council [WBC] belt for around two years but has found nailing down a fight with the champion Adonis Stevenson very challenging.

“My next fight is currently in negotiations, it looks like it will be in February or March,” Eleider revealed to krikya360.com. 

“I’m used to waiting for such a long time, so I’m calm about it because I know my chance for a world title is going to arrive.”

Adonis Stevenson won the belt with a stunning first round knockout of Chad Dawson back in 2013.  Following that he had impressive stoppage victories over Tavoris Cloud and Tony Bellew and overall has defended his title eight times.  Nevertheless, he only fought once in 2016 and will only have fought once in 2017, something that the 33-year-old Álvarez does not agree with.

“It’s not right that he has only fought twice in two years in such a competitive division,” he emphasised. 

“I’ve always said I feel very privileged to be among the top ten in such a great weight class.  If you look even at the top 20, it’s full of animals, I say animals in the sense that they are all very strong.”

Recently, talk has emerged of a potential match-up between Stevenson and light heavyweight newcomer Badou Jack who previously held the World Boxing Association [WBA] regular belt which he captured from Nathan Cleverly.  However, despite the appeal of that potential clash, a Stevenson-Álvarez mandated fight would be an intriguing battle between Adonis’ power and Eleider’s boxing ability.

“Some people say he will knock me out very quickly, some say I don’t have the power to knock him out but with my technical skills and my jab I can take him the distance and win on points.  I respect any point of view on it, but let’s hope the day comes quick where I fight Stevenson and win the world title.”