Promoters scrambled to find a quick replacement at just four days’ notice to keep Stevenson on the bill, with the ultra-talented three-weight world champion having been scheduled to defend his belt against Wales’ two-time former super-featherweight champion Joe Cordina on the undercard of the first Artur Beterbiev-Dmitry Bivol undisputed fight card back in October, only for the bout – the first on his new Matchroom deal – to be cancelled after he suffered a hand injury in training that required surgery.
