Possible opponents for Sergey Kovalev's 1st defense of WBO title:

Kovalev vs Sugar Beterbiev is the fight to make and they both want it. Such a shame they robbed Kov of all 3 of his belts that he'd worked so hard for because then we could've seen a match up between them last year, both undefeated records intact, between 2 of the hardest punching and most destructive offensive forces in the entire sport, in a huge Russia vs Russia grudge match for all the marbles.

'Although Russia’s Artur Beterbiev didn’t want to see gym mate Eleider Alvarez lose his WBO world light-heavyweight title on Saturday (February 2), there was one upside to the Colombian’s loss and it was this: Beterbiev is now free to fight Sergey Kovalev, his countryman, with his mate’s old WBO belt on the line.

Beterbiev and Alvarez are both trained by Marc Ramsay, which previously put the kibosh on them ever getting together to unify the IBF and WBO belts. Now, though, with Alvarez temporarily out of the picture, the path has cleared for Beterbiev to fight, for a third time, a man with whom he has been linked for some time. [Beterbiev twice defeated Kovalev in the amateur ranks but Kovalev maintains he was robbed – a claim Beterbiev refutes.]

“Now he has a belt, and I also have a belt,” Beterbiev said to TVA Sports. “This is the right time to do a unification fight. Come on, let’s do it. Let’s do it, Kovalev. ”

Beterbiev is undefeated in 13 fights as a pro – all 13 achieved via knockout – and considered one of the most fearsome punchers on the planet. Kovalev, similarly, is known for his ability to end fights with one punch and, having avenged his defeat to Alvarez, the last man to beat him, seems rejuvenated in the twilight of his career.

Promoter Kathy Duva of Main Events, who handle Kovalev, 33-3-1 (28), is confident a Kovalev vs. Beterbiev unification will be made at some point in 2019.

“We have an agreement with Top Rank, and I am told that Beterbiev has signed a contract with them too, so it facilitates the organization of this unification fight,” she said. “This is a strong possibility and Sergey has wanted this fight for a long time.”

As have we all. Be warned, though: when it finally happens, it won’t be one for the squeamish.

 

I still love Kovalev.

 

What the ****! This may be one of your most delusional posts ever. Johnson cripples Yarde, and Barrera embarrasses him. Hell, I think Craig Richards and Hosea Burton give him absolute hell.