Ok apparently he has but that was a long time ago. Department of State changes rules all the time. He was not present in NY for Showtime announcement and hasn't fought in US in awhile.
Confidently picking Badou Jack to win this one, amazing that people continue to write him off, still so underrated.
Jack will grind Stevenson down with bodyshots and stop him late, maybe tasting the canvas in the process. Adonis gasses in the later rounds and Jacks a very strong finisher with excellent workrate over 12.
Stevenson is 40 years old so may show his age in his biggest test for a while. But I'd still favour Stevenson. Then again Jack keeps proving people wrong but I think this time it's a step too far.
I'm not excited. Stevenson keeps getting lined up with guys that are aaaaaaaaaaalmost good enough to make you think maybe his glass will get shattered all over the ring, but no cigar. In the eight years since Boone I, his entire comeback, encompassing his WBC title reign, has seen him face nothing but light-to-average hitters with the exception of Cloud, whom they very wisely selected on the heels of his demoralizing experience behind the woodshed at the hands of B-Hop. Very carefully manufactured, this "longevity" of his. It hasn't been a pile of tomato cans, no - but it has been a parade of "safe" B range guys that are stylistically favorable (susceptible to his offensive abilities, lacking the foot speed or agility to either cut off the ring and bang on him first or avoid his straight lefts; and lacking the single-blow pop to put him to sleep even if they do get through with a lucky connect with bad intentions here or there). He really is the mini southpaw version of Wilder.
I definitely think Jack has it in him. If he can last 5-6 rounds, that's generally when he comes on very strongly. Jack has power to hurt people, it's not on Stevensons level, but put that on top of a high accumulation of body punches he has enough to lay him on the canvas and TKO him. Problem is jack has semi slow starts where he does his work and puts in those body shot investments. But if it goes past 5 which I think there's a good 70-80% chance it would, the fight would swing drastically in Jacks favour. My main concern is that knowing Pimp's power and the knowledge in his mind that he has been stopped before, he might fight far more cautious and reserved, which fighting like that takes away his biggest strength, his gas tank and his quality body work. I think it's a very good fight. I'd lean 70-80% win for Jack if it goes past 5 rounds. Maybe 40-50% chance that Superman catches him before that. Then a nice cautionary 20-30% chance Pimp catches him with a solid shot later in the fight when Jack is doing his best work. But I have jack as one of my favourite current fighters (who can't like the guy, he's a working class man in this sport who is grinding his way to the top, doesn't talk much **** and definitely doesn't try to talk his way into fights, nor does he like to sit around for long stretches of inactivity) so I'm probably more excited about this than most.
I'd also note that even tho we've only seen Jack fight Cleverly at LHW, he looked a few shades more powerful there than at SMW, which IMO could be a factor if it's true.