Curtis Stevens (right) lunges in with a right hand on Hassan N’Dam in Oct. of 2014. Photo credit: German Villasenor

Risk or reward?

How about both?

Curtis Stevens has not fought in over a year-and-a-half. He returns to the ring Saturday night against Patrick Teixeira in a 10-round bout at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

Would a tune-up fight have been better for Stevens, considering he is in a crossroads fight against a younger and unbeaten fighter?

Possibly. But there is a big reward if Stevens defeats Teixeira, who is taking a big step up in opposition on the undercard of the Canelo Alvarez-Amir Khan middleweight championship fight.

Both fights, along with two others, will air live on HBO Pay-Per-View, beginning at 9 p.m. ET/ 6 p.m. PT.

A win over Teixeira would put Stevens back in the mix of contenders in the middleweight division, despite losses to Hassan N’Dam, which took place in Oct. of 2014, and Gennady Golovkin, one year prior.

“I’m very focused and I’m very positive,” Stevens told RingTV.com in an interview over the phone last Friday. “I wish the fight was tomorrow. I can’t wait to get back in the ring.”

Stevens fought once in 2015 but it was not in a boxing ring. The Brooklyn, NY resident fought Gabriel Rosado to a draw over seven rounds in a Big Knockout Boxing (BKB) bout, in which boxers fight two-minute rounds in a pit with no ropes.

Stevens (27-5, 20 knockouts) has been waiting patiently to get back in the ring, even serving as a sparring partner for Canelo Alvarez last fall, while the popular Mexican fighter was preparing to face then-RING champion Miguel Cotto.

Teixiera has not fought anyone in the Top 10. The Brazilian-born fighter is the house fighter as he is promoted by Golden Boy Promotions. Stevens is promoted by Main Events.

Stevens respects Teixeira (26-0, 22 KOs) as an opponent but believes he has the tools and the intangibles to come out victorious.

“He has power in both hands,” said Stevens, who is now being trained by John David Jackson. “He can slug and box and he’s demonstrated that. But Teixeira hasn’t fought anyone. He fought Don Mouton? On a week’s notice?”

“The thing is, what can Teixeira bring to the fight? I know what I’m capable of. Can he handle what I can bring to the fight?”

Despite Stevens’ pedigree in the ring, he gained more knowledge for his work with Alvarez.

“Canelo may be a superstar and fight on television but when you get in there with him, you think he may overwork you in the ring. You have to hold your ground and not allow him to do what he wants to do. I learned more about myself. You always learn.”

Despite being one of Gennady Golovkin’s recent knockout victims (he was stopped after the eighth round in Nov. of 2013 in New York City), many in boxing credit Stevens with being one of the few to give the popular Kazakh fighter a challenge.

Stevens strongly believes a rematch with Golovkin could produce a different result. Whether that becomes a reality remains to be see but Stevens is adamant that nothing or no one will stand in the way of becoming a world titleholder.

“With the Golovkin fight, I didn’t let my hands go enough and I didn’t take it as seriously as I should have. I ate too much pasta a few hours before the fight.”

“I stopped bullsh**ting myself with regards to my career. I’ve done it for the last two years. I have to make a statement on Saturday night.”

Teixeira could be in for a long night, if Stevens makes due on his promise of being motivated to win.

“This is boxing’s oldest story. He’s the rookie and I’m the veteran. He has zero losses and may be a young lion. The thing is, who’s hungrier? Who’s going to win? Does he have plan A, B, C, and D? Does he know what to do in the jungle?

“I’ll be on attack mode in the jungle on Saturday.”

Francisco A. Salazar has written for RingTV since Oct. of 2013 and has covered boxing in Southern California and abroad since 2000. Francisco also covers boxing for the Ventura County (California) Star newspaper, BoxingScene.com and Knockout Nation. He can be reached by email at [email protected] or on Twitter at FSalazarBoxing.

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