Cleverly vs. Kovalev: Interview With Kovalev Manager Egil Klimas

kovalev22 KOVALEV MANAGER: ‘WHEN YOUR WELSH FANS START TO SING, SERGEY WILL JUST PRETEND THEY’RE SINGING FOR HIM!’

So what to we know about Sergey Kovalev, the formidable Russian destroyer who challenges Welshman Nathan Cleverly for the WBO World Light-Heavyweight strap at Cardiff’s Motorpoint Arena this Saturday?

Known as ‘Krusher’, the 30 year old was born in the city of Chelyabinsk, an ice hockey stronghold, in April 1983. He began boxing aged 11 after following a friend to the gym and knocked up a hugely impressive 193-22 amateur slate which included national titles and international singlets at both junior and senior level.

He was the Russian representative at the 1999 European Cadet championships and captured two gold medals at the World Military Games. Twice he was victorious in dual international meets between Russia and the USA.

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Team Stiverne calls for action Vitali Klitschko holding WBC belt hostage

801 OTTAWA, Canada (August 13, 2013) -The latest ruling by the World Boxing Council (WBC), allowing its heavyweight champion, Vitali “Dr. Ironfist” Klitschko (45-2, 41 KOs), to avoid fighting No. 1 mandatory challenger Bermane “B. Ware” Stiverne (23-1, 20 KOs), has drawn anger from an increasingly frustrated Team Stiverne.

Stiverne has already won not one, but two WBC title eliminators, the latest against Chris Arreola (35-3, 30 KOs) on HBO this past April 27, and three different mandated purse bids have been postponed. Now, the WBC has announced that the 42-year-old Klitschko has suffered an injury to his right hand and he won’t return to the ring until 2014. Plus, the WBC will not make a decision regarding his title situation until the first-quarter of 2014, leaving Stiverne waiting even longer for his much deserved world title shot.

“I would hate to think the WBC treats some fighters more highly than others,” a terribly disappointed Stiverne said. “I don’t understand. (Timothy) Bradley was stripped when he was injured but I’ve read that the WBC would never strip Vitali. Do they have favorites? All fighters should be treated the same. We haven’t heard anything directly from the WBC. The WBC isn’t respecting us or its own rules. I remember when (Oleg) Maskaev was hurt before his fight with (Sam) Peter and Peter was named the WBC Interim champion. This isn’t fair or respectful, and it’s bad for boxing.”

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Tua-Ustinov postponed until November 16th

DAVID Tua’s shot at redemption via the Hydr8 ZERO David vs Goliath blockbuster bout against Belarusian heavyweight Alexander Ustinov has been postponed until Saturday November 16.

It was thought that the fight – originally slated for Claudelands Arena on August 31 – would be put back to late September after the Tuamanator picked up a minor grade 1 calf muscle injury last week.

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Krzysztof Wlodarczyk Travelling to Chicago to Support Polish Countrymen This Friday

581 Two-time and current WBC Cruiserweight Champion Krzysztof “Diablo” Wlodarczyk, a native of Warsaw, Poland, is making his way to Chicago this week in support of his countrymen, Andrzej Fonfara and Artur Szpilka, in their “Big Fight 2” appearances this Friday, August 16, at U.S. Cellular Field.

In a show of true patriotism, Wlodarczyk will be in attendance Friday night when “Chicago’s Polish Prince”, and fellow Warsaw native, IBO Light Heavyweight World Champion Andrzej Fonfara, battles former world champion Gabriel “EL Chico Guapo” Campillo of Madrid, Spain in a scheduled twelve rounder and when Wieliczka, Poland’s Artur ‘The Pin” Szpilka fights his highly anticipated rematch with Chicago’s “Merciless” Mike Mollo over ten rounds.

The Fonfara and Szpilka bouts will serve as the featured attractions at “THE BIG FIGHT 2,” a historic outdoor boxing event being held at U.S. Cellular Field, home of the Chicago White Sox, and presented by “The Promoters”- Round 3 Productions, 8 Count Productions, Warriors Boxing and Ulrich KnockOut Promotions in association with the Illinois Sports Facilities Authority. Both Polish fighters will also appear live on ESPN Friday Night Fights.

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Kovalev faces Cleverly for light heavyweight title Saturday on HBO

CARDIFF, WALES – Russian light heavyweight knockout artist, Sergey “Krusher” Kovalev, 21-0-1, 19 KOs, takes on undefeated WBO champion Nathan Cleverly, 26-0, 12 KOs, for the world light heavyweight title at the Motorpoint Arena in Cardiff Wales, Saturday night. The fight will be shown on HBO in a broadcast scheduled to begin at 9:45 PM (Eastern Time).

Kovalev will not only have to overcome the unbeaten champion’s boxing style, he will have to do it in the hostile environment of Cleverly’s back yard. However the hard-punching challenger has been on quite a roll of late, five knockouts in his last five starts, and is completely confident that his abilities can carry him to the championship against Cleverly, regardless of the fight’s venue.

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Is Deontay “The Bronze Bomber” Wilder Really the Next Big Thing in American Heavyweight Boxing?

Deontay “The Bronze Bomber” Wilder: is he the next big thing for the American heavyweight division? Is a perfect record of 29 wins with 100% knockout rate an indication of a future sensation? Is he ready to move to the top and face a dominating world champion?

With Wilder’s knockout of Liakhovich, people are starting to give more thought to this promising young fighter, letting their imaginations run as to what he could potentially achieve in boxing in the future.

I have to say, Wilder is certainly earning more respect with his power and drive to make it to the top. His confidence must be though the roof, and his desire and need to become the world champion is unquestioned. Thus far, most of his opposition did not look competitive facing him in the right, as he simply plows through them in the most dominating fashion possible. But who was his opposition? Is his resume made up of formidable rivals? The answer is no.

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Alvarado vs Provodnikov Tickets Go On Sale Friday

Denver’s very own homegrown world champion “Mile High” MIKE ALVARADO will make the first defense of his World Boxing Organization (WBO) junior welterweight title a “home game,” when he battles No. 1 contender RUSLAN PROVODNIKOV of Russia, Saturday, October 19, at 1STBANK Center in nearby Broomfield, Colo. This marks the area’s first world championship fight featuring a local fighter since September 15, 2000 when former World Boxing Council (WBC) lightweight champion Stevie Johnston unsuccessfully challenged defending WBC lightweight champion Jose Luis Castillo, via majority draw, at Pepsi Center. Alvarado vs. Provodnikov will be televised live on HBO World Championship Boxing, beginning at 9:45 p.m. ET/PT. This will be the first time HBO has televised a live fight from Colorado.

Alvarado and Provodnikov enter this world title tilt fresh from Fight of the Year performances that took place in March, just two weeks apart from each other, and were televised on HBO®. They boast a combined record of 56-3 (38 KOs) — a winning percentage of 95% and a victory by knockout ratio of 68%.

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Sergey Kovalev: “This Fight Will Not Go Past Three Rounds”

KOVALEV: “I’VE TRAINED TO GO THREE ROUNDS, BUT NO ONE CAN GUARANTEE THAT THIS FIGHT WILL GO PAST THREE.”

At today’s media workout in Newport, Russian KO King Sergey Kovalev had some fierce words for the WBO Light Heavyweight Champion Nathan Cleverly, who he faces on Saturday night at Cardiff’s Motorpoint Arena, live and exclusive in the UK on BoxNation (Sky Ch. 437/Virgin Ch. 546).

Undefeated Kovalev, who has destroyed 19 of his 21 opponents with 18 coming inside the first three rounds, is predicting a similar outcome for the Welsh hero.

“Cleverly is my toughest test, he’s a good, fast fighter who throws a lot of punches, but I think it will be a similar outcome on Saturday night.” Said the “Krusher”.

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Nathan Cleverly: “I Expect To Stop Kovalev Midway To Late”

NATHAN CLEVERLY: ‘I WIN BECAUSE I BRING THE BETTER ALL ROUND PACKAGE. I EXPECT TO STOP KOVALEV MIDWAY TO LATE.’

For some time now, WBO World Light-Heavyweight king Nathan Cleverly has been putting himself on offer as the finest 175lb prizefighter on this planet.

On Saturday evening, at Cardiff’s Motorpoint Arena in his native Wales the 26-year-old from Cefn Fforest finally gets his chance to convince others of the veracity of his claim when he makes a sixth defence of his belt against formidable Russian Sergey Kovalev.

Remaining tickets are available from the Cardiff Motorpoint Arena Box Office on 02920 224 488 or Eventim on 0844 249 1000 or www.eventim.co.uk

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Rafael Mensah dares WBA champs Abril and Gamboa

Fresh from earning a career high number 9 ranking on the WBA Lightweight ratings, young Ghanaian pugilist, Rafael Mensah is knocking on the doors to the WBA Lightweight championship.

Rated number 9 in the latest rankings released on Monday, undefeated Mensah has vowed to work his way to the top for a possible shot at champion, Richar Abril or even interim champion, Yuriorkis Gamboa, both Cubans.

“For now, I have to thank my coach, Ofori Asare and my manager/promoter, Anthony Kermah of Landmark Promotions. I turned professional in 2010 and I’m happy with the way my career has been managed up to this time,” Rafael Mensah told East Side Boxing exclusively when we caught up with him training at the Wisdom Gym in Accra.

Mensah, 19-0, 14 KOs, has shot ahead in the world ratings on the back of annexing the WBA Pan-Africa Lightweight belt via a unanimous victory over Bilal Mohammed back on July 13 and he is still basking in the glory.

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