(translated from Russian) — Congratulations on your victory. How do you feel, do you realize you are a champion again? — I’m tired but satisfied and glad that all the hard work paid off. I didn’t fight a perfect fight but, in general, I’m glad that I implemented the plan quite well. Our goal wasn’t to knock him out, but to fool him, overbox him, just beat him. I think I did it. — Now, can you reveal some secrets, what exactly did you change in your training camp that helped you to be so well prepared? — After the Alvarez loss I had some serious munchies. For about two weeks, all because I had been preparing not in a very correct way. I had weight problems and it showed during the fight. I was eating a lot of sweets. ... My weight jumped to 91,5 kilos in those two weeks. ... I started to learn how to make weight losing just subcutaneous fat. Thanks to that I was able to make weight (for this fight) without any stresses, plus I have a new trainer now. It’s Buddy McGirt (as well as Teddy Cruz) who worked with Arturo Gatti and was able to prolong his career. I like how Buddy forced me to work predominantly with my left hand. Many times my left hand just felt numb after training. But, thanks to all this, I was prepared for the fight. I knew I could beat him (Alvarez). Buddy didn’t allow me to overtrain. That preserved my desire, my energy for the fight. — How different is McGirt compared to Don Turner, Abel Sanchez and Jackson? — Those are not trainers, in fact, but just... bags. But Buddy IS a trainer. He started from working on my amateur style. I showed him my fight vs. Matt Korobov, and he said that we would capitalize on that. ... He made me to bend my left leg a little bit more. In order to make it harder for my opponents to hit me. Added some nuances like that. Mostly for the left side. All through the left hand, and, the most important part — not to overtrain, because your body responds differently at 35 years of age. He was also an older fighter, so he knew it from the personal experience. In general, you can say that he revitalized my amateur style, adding some professional touches to it. — How did you part ways with Abror Tursunpulatov? — We are in a good relationship. Maybe I would have continued to work with him, but it was he who suggested that we should split. He lost his faith in me. Also, when I was signing with the Top Rank, they asked “Who will be your next trainer?”. So, they hinted that they were not satisfied with Tursunpulatov. They were ready to work with us, but only with a new trainer. So, Egis suggested Buddy McGirt. I had known him for some time already... After just a couple of training sessions together I realized that he knew what he was doing and talking about. And I liked it. So, we decided to work together. — Did Alvarez cause you some troubles or was he quite predictable? — There were two times when he hit me quite hard, but, in general, he didn’t show much. I tired a little bit (during the fight), I guess that was the result of losing weight. I came into the ring a little bit hungry, I gained only two kilos (after the weigh-ins). There is room for improvement there, for sure. — Do you have any (contractual) obligations to Alvarez? — No. No more rematches. Well, if the third fight is demanded (by fans) then maybe... It all will depend on the financial side. I’m not a boy anymore, I have a family now. I’m in this sport exclusively because of the money now. The belts are not my dream anymore. Well, I would be glad to unify and to become the best at my weight division but it’s not an end in itself. But it’s important for me to regain my champion status. I don’t know who will be my next opponent, but I’m ready to fight anyone for the right money. — Gvozdyk said a couple of times that he didn’t want to fight you, because you’re friends. So, will you not fight each other even for good money? — It’s sport, and, if we have to fight, we will fight, but I wouldn’t want to fight Alex, frankly speaking. I can’t say we are friends... We are good buddies. And he also has just become a champion. ... When you’re a champion, you are paid more. And we also have the same manager. What’s the point for us to fight each other, if we can fight the other champions or just (top) boxers and that fights will be of interest to boxing fans? — Have you thought about fighting at cruiserweight? — Oh, come on! I’m not big enough. I know this because I sparred Usyk once, haha. My weight is just not enough. Well, I could be competitive for 5 or 6 rounds, but then those guys would just destroy me.... I really think boxing needs additional weight category around 85 kg. — What are you going to do next? Will you keep yourself in shape? — Yes, for sure. I can’t afford to do otherwise at my age. ... I think I’m gonna rest for a couple of days and then will get back to training. Also because I now live in another area and have a gym really close to me. The more frequently I box, the better for me. ... I want three fights a year.
I doubt Gvozdyk would happen.. Sort of like K2 .. Hard to see it happening. Plus Sergey probably has 2/3 more fights left .. They can forge separate paths from hereon & still have a couple of good years, Gvozdyk can wait it out, he has years. Sort of like Ward & Dirrel for a period until Direll imploded lol Though I'd love to see it.
So Kovalev came in the lightest weight of career? He was under 180 if that's true about him only gaining 2kg after the weigh in. His lowest fight night weight prior to that was 181 and I was hoping he might come in heavier than he did last time for the rematch. Alvarez did look considerably bigger to me and he would've had a significant weight advantage. Kovalev 181 - Sillakh 185 Kovalev 183 - Agnew 187 Kovalev 185 - Caparello 185 Kovalev 188 - Hopkins 182 Kovalev 189 - Pascal 185 Kovalev 183.5 - Mohammedi 180.5 Kovalev 186 - Pascal 185 Kovalev 185 - Alvarez 187 (Alvarez's trainer said he actually weighed 192)
Welcome back champ! If these are really his answers, I like him even more. I don't know much about Turner and Sanchez's time with Kova, but Jackson definitely deserves to be called a bag. Krusher has his faults, but when he's honest he's honest, and when he's in the ring he's a straight beast.
It’s great to see what little tweaks and adjustments can do and to see them in action. It all makes sense when you watch the fight. What about Kovalev vs Beterbiev?
Because Sanchez is a bag with his focus on Mexican style. Golovkin can take notes from Kovalev. Bring back his amateur style modified for the pros, which would work a lot better than that stupid Mexican style. We saw Golovkin abandon the Mexican style in the second Canelo fight and he was able to win rounds and outbox Canelo at times.
He comes across as a real one and a likable guy... He better swerve Beterbiev if he's only trying to add to his retirement fund. "I can’t say we are friends... We are good buddies." <- what is the distinction here in Russian?