This Saturday on Aug. 4, WBO light heavyweight Sergey Kovalev defends his title against unbeaten contender Eleider Alvarez (23-0, 11 KOs) live on HBO. Kovalev is currently a 4-1 favorite against Alvarez in this weekend’s bout but the Russian champion isn’t overlooking the Colombian Alvarez.
“He’s undefeated, he’s number one WBC rank I don’t want speak about anybody except Alvarez. Right now, I have a fight with him and I respect this guy.”
Kovalev has bounced back and won two straight fights since suffering back-to-back losses to Andre Ward and the Russian fighter they call “the krusher” credits his current training regimen for breathing new life into his boxing career.
“Before the Ward fights, I was like an amateur, I train by myself. Now I have trainer, I’ve learned to take care of myself more,” I take care of my body. It’s more professional. I have become more tactical.
We spoke to Kovalev and asked him if he’s still interested in another fight with Ward, who is currently retired, and Kovalev told us he would only do it if Ward agreed to fight in Russia because he doesn’t feel like he would get a fair shake in America after losing a controversial decision in their first fight.
Fuck Andre Ward, he can fight me in Russia if he wants. I went to California with all the dirty stuff they did there. He can come fight me in Russia. I don’t think he’ll do that, It don’t matter to me but I’m always open to fighting him.
If Kovalev beats Alvarez on Saturday he gets one step closer to his goal of becoming undisputed light heavyweight champion.
I’m ready to face any champion.” “My goal is to get all four titles,” he said, “to be undisputed champion.”