Friday 18 November 2016 11:21, UK
Tony Bellew expects WBC light-heavyweight world champion Adonis Stevenson to face the winner of Sergey Kovalev’s blockbuster clash with Andre Ward.
Ward will challenge Kovalev for the Russian's WBO, WBA Super and IBF world titles at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on Saturday night, live on Sky Sports.
While the winner of the bout will likely lay claim to being the best light-heavyweight on the planet, Canada-based Stevenson will want to argue his own case.
The WBC champion, nicknamed 'Superman', has had to take a temporary backseat as the division's focus centres around Kovalev and Ward, but Bellew believes that the hard-hitter will get a crack at the winner next year.
Speaking to Sky Sports, WBC cruiserweight title holder Bellew said: "I still think Adonis Stevenson is the most dangerous fighter in the division and definitely the biggest puncher - he can stop anyone with one punch.
"People say he may be picking opponents but he has beaten tough guys, he's beaten me. It is frustrating though as a fan because he isn't going up against the best.
Stevenson is the best that I have shared a ring with, he's a brilliant fighter with unbelievable power and his destruction of Chad Dawson shows exactly what he is capable of.
"The problem is that Stevenson is not in the sport to win over fans or win more belts, he's looking at it as a business and he enjoys getting paid.
"However, I do think that after his next fight he will cash out and face the winner of Kovalev against Ward.
"For him, it is all about business and money, but I think his hand will be forced soon enough and it will probably be the WBC who call for it."
Although Bellew rates Andre Ward as the No 1 in the division, he believes that Stevenson poses the biggest challenge to the Californian.
"I do think that Ward beats them all, but Stevenson is the most capable of causing an upset.
"He's the best that I have shared a ring with, he's a brilliant fighter with unbelievable power and his destruction of Chad Dawson shows exactly what he is capable of."
