The Liverpudlian had been tight at the 175 pound limit when the pair met in a WBC title bout in 2013, which showed on the night when Stevenson stopped Bellew in six at the Pepsi Coliseum in Quebec City.
Since that reverse, the only unavenged loss on Bellew’s record, ‘The Bomber’ has flourished at both cruiser and heavyweight through a nine-fight undefeated streak.
Asked his opinion on Stevenson ahead of the Haitian-Canadian’s return with Andrzej Fonfara this weekend, the Sky pundit had this to say:
“I actually think Adonis Stevenson has gone slightly backwards since I fought him in 2013,” Bellew told Sky Sports.
“Beating Chad Dawson to claim the WBC light-heavyweight belt a few months earlier was an amazing victory, but I’m probably the best name on his record since then.
“Stevenson was on a great roll, beating Dawson, Tavoris Cloud and me, but after that he’s faced nobody after nobody. He’s still a brilliant fighter, but you’re only as good as the opponents you are facing.
“He’s not wanted to take any kind of risk, but he knows he’s getting older now so probably wants to cash out. The winner of Andre Ward and Sergey Kovalev is the big-money fight.
“Adonis has a puncher’s chance against anybody in world boxing and is very hard to hit himself, he’s awkward. If he hits Andre Ward or Sergey Kovalev, he could knock them out.
“I think Stevenson wins by KO against Andrzej Fonfara this Saturday. There are too many miles on the clock for Fonfara and his best opportunity was last time when Stevenson underestimated him.
“Fonfara is a tough kid but Adonis hits very, very hard. I just think it will be all too much for Fonfara and can only see a knockout victory for Stevenson, probably in the first six rounds.
“I wish Stevenson would come to cruiserweight, I would love that fight. Would I go back down to that division for a revenge fight with Stevenson? Without a doubt,” he added.
Bellew halted David Haye last time out in a career-best scalp and could be on the verge of a world title challenge at the highest limit should Stevenson be unwilling to step-up.
