After his November homecoming was cancelled, it’s looking increasingly likely that Russian WBA/WBO/IBF light heavyweight champion, Sergey Kovalev, will rematch Canada’s Jean Pascal on Jan. 30 instead.
The plan is for the Pascal rematch to be the first of a 3-fight schedule that will culminate in a clash with Oakland’s unbeaten P4P star Andre Ward later next year – himself set to embark on a similar deal on HBO, ostensibly beginning on next month’s Cotto/Canelo undercard.
WBO/WBA/IBF light heavyweight champion Sergey Kovalev, has had his scheduled November 28th homecoming in Moscow, Russia postponed as his team at Main Events reportedly chase down a huge showdown with WBA (sup) 168 lb boss Andre Ward, according to multiple sources.
Kovalev, last seen making short work of French challenger Nadjib Mohammedi in July, now has a likely January date on HBO, meaning that the turnaround time between the November Moscow date and that next outing is simply too short.
Andre Ward’s trainer Virgil Hunter says that if he is to become a fully fledged 175 lb fighter and sign to fight Russian banger Sergey Kovalev, it will happen when they are ready to do it and not the other way around.
Ward returned after 19 months out at a catch-weight of 172 lbs in June, beating up on overmatched British challenger Paul Smith and there is strong rumour that the Roc Nation star will next appear against a TBA opponent on the undercard of November’s Cotto/Canelo mega-fight, as he prepares for an eventual move to 175 good and proper.
After last Friday’s maligned Adonis Stevenson v Tommy Karency PBC on Spike fight from Toronto pulled in a series average of 581k viewers, Main Events boss Kathy Duva – promoter of WBA/WBO and IBF light heavyweight champion Sergey Kovalev, has again asked Stevenson to consider coming to Kovalev’s broadcaster HBO for their heavily demanded unification fight.
Kovalev is tied exclusively to the broadcasting giant, and that is proving – technically at least – the sticking point in putting together the fight, which Duva and Kovalev have stated they are willing to travel to Canada for, as well as give Adonis 50/50 in terms of the purse split.
Sergey “Krusher” Kovalev is rapidly becoming the most dominating force the 175 lb division has witnessed since Roy Jones Junior began hoovering up his collection of world title belts at the tail end of the 20th century.
Super middleweight king Andre Ward is being considered as a potential opponent for Krusher. Victory over Ward would be a significant scalp but it would not complete his supremacy at light heavyweight. If Ward were to lose he would presumably return to his natural weight division at 168 lb, explaining that the difference in size was too great, and some of the sheen would be wiped from Kovalev’s triumph.
It shouldn’t really come as much of a surprise but, Kathy Duva – promoter of WBA/WBO & IBF 175 lb champion Sergey Kovalev – is not going to get her sought-after Thanksgiving dust-up in Moscow between her man and fellow Russian puncher Artur Beterbiev.
Duva had stated after Kovalev battered mandatory challenger Nadjib Mohammedi that she was taking the “Krusher” to Moscow in November, and had approached Beterbiev’s promoter Yvon Michel about the fight.
In an email to Duva yesterday, Michel politely refused Main Events “honest offer” which would have guaranteed the (9-0, 9ko) Beterbiev a career high half million dollar payday, although he refused to rule out the fight possibly happening in the future.
The best compliments concerning Sergey “The Krusher” Kovalev come from a very knowledgeable source. A fighter could not ask for a more creditable person. It’s none other than Bernard “The Alien” Hopkins. The boxing hall of fame just wishes he would retire so they can induct him into a place of honor. He’s fought them all, done it all, and knows it all. When he speaks we listen, even if he sometimes rambles and gets off track. When it comes to The Krusher, Bernard doesn’t roam or traipse off target a bit. Without hesitation he described The Krusher in simple, but glowing terms.
Hopkins tells us that The Krusher is a destroyer. Bernard tells us he punches with tremendous power. HBO’s Jim Lampley asked if you feel his power? Bernard said yes, you feel one or two and then you don’t feel the rest!
Last night Sergey Kovalev was at his destructive best in Las Vegas, blowing away mandatory challenger Nadjib Mohammedi with consummate ease inside three one sided rounds.
After the fight, Kovalev’s promoter Kathy Duva stated her man will be out in November, in a big homecoming fight in Russia, possibly against countryman Artur Beterbiev, who they are eyeing as the potential opponent.
WBA/WBO & IBF light heavyweight champion Sergey Kovalev was at this destructive best last night in Las Vegas, effortlessly blowing away French mandatory challenger Nadjib Mohammedi inside 3 rounds, demonstrating exactly why most right-thinking boxing fans consider him the premier fighter at 175 lbs ahead of lineal WBC champion Adonis Stevenson.
Sergey “Krusher” Kovalev utilised his trademark, ruthless efficiency, to KO unranked (not rated within the Transnational Boxing Rankings top ten) opponent Nadjib Mohammedi in the third round last night at the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino, Las Vegas.
The Russian, who entered the ring looking like a good sized cruiserweight, started patiently, firing a few hard jabs and right crosses in the opening round. Nadjib’s brave attacks at the beginning of the second merely helped focus Kovalev’s work, as Sergey immediately retaliated with cranked up potency in his own punches. A hard right cross, followed by a jab, right cross, and a clubbing right hook, sent Mohammedi to the canvas mid-way through the round.
With thirty nine seconds remaining in round three, Sergey threw a right-lead, trailed by a left hand, the latter of which connected with his opponent’s left orbit. Neither appeared to be thrown with maximum force, but such is the exceptional power that Kovalev possesses, this was enough to end the contest – Mohammedi crumpled to the floor for the final time.