King Artur Beterbiev, 2X Slayer of Kovalev in the AMs, Wants 2 Replicate in the PROs!

It's definitely true they fought twice? They definitely fought once in the Russian nationals, Beterbiev won 25-24 in the semis then fought Makerenko in the final


'AW: As an amateur you hold a win over current WBO light heavyweight champion Sergey Kovalev. You outpointed him. This looks particularly impressive today in light of his recent form. Can you tell us about that fight?

AB: When I fought Sergey Kovalev in semi-finals (of the Russian national championship), my heart was already set on the fight with the captain of the Russian team, Makarenko, in finals. My goal was set at that time. I had to beat Makarenko and to do that had to defeat Kovalev, which I did (smiles).'

 

These are the results from the 2007 Russian nationals.

http://amateur-boxing.strefa.pl/Nationalchamps/Russia2007.html

And this page contains links to results of many of the Russian national championships.

http://amateur-boxing.strefa.pl/Nationalchamps/Russia.html

 

No worries.

No, I knew they fought once we're just trying to establish if they did so more than that. It's possible that they did but trying to find any record of the other fight if they did so is proving to be very difficult indeed. I used to think they fought twice but I'm not so sure now. :good

 

Well, according to a recent interview with Beterbiev he fought Kovalev once officialy and once in sparring, which obviously isn't an official bout.


'No hand outs for up and coming light heavyweight contender Artur Beterbiev (7-0, 7KOs). He wants to earn his shot at a world title by becoming a mandatory challenger, hopefully facing former amateur rival Sergey Kovalev (26-0-1, 23KOs), who holds the WBO/WBA/IBF titles at the weight. Kovalev faces Beterbiev's training stablemate Jean Pascal on March 14. Beterbiev will return on April 4th in the co-feature to Adonis Stevenson's defense of the WBC championship.

"[Kovalev] has three belts - this is an obvious fact, and therefore he is really a strong fighter. I do not see this as a problem - to fight with him, or with any other world champion. But I would do it after becoming the official challenger for the world title - to ensure that there were no issues. And as an amateur and as a pro I have always had the same mindset - whoever is the strongest, he should be number one," Beterbiev said.

Beterbiev remembers trading punches with Kovalev in the amateurs.

"I boxed him twice - in Kislovodsk with sparring and fighting for the championship of Russia. And I won twice," Beterbiev said.'

Interviews with both regarding their fight in the amateurs

Sergey Kovalev

TMF: During the Russian national championship in 2007, you have been defeated by decision in the hands of Artur Beterbiev, a fellow now based in Montreal. What can you tell us about Beterbiev and this fight?

SK: We competed in the semi-final and I have not lost this fight in my opinion. Regarding Beterbiev, it has a large strike force and a strong chin. He has great talent, great experience for amateurs and it will go away.'

Artur Beterbiev

JEJ: Quebec boxing fans would like to know the details of the duel against your compatriot and current Mid-Heavyweight champion of the WBO, Sergey Kovalev. How was this battle?

AB: We were a member of the Russian national team. At that time, I was the amateur champion of Europe 2006. I faced Sergey in 2007. I had to measure up to Evgeny Makarenko, the amateur world champion in 2001 and 2003, but to make me, I had to beat Kovalev in the semifinals. It was not my best performance, I am nevertheless emerged victorious by decision.

Kovalev is strong and has great punching power and he did not become world champion by accident.'

 

Look what happened to BHop he came forward and got dropped, the forward momentum or Artur and Kovalev's counter punching skills could lead to another KTFO6.

 

Kovalev hits really hard which means if you charge its going to hurt twice as bad, I don't care how old you are. I did the Beast of Dagestan thread on Beterbiev I'm a big fan of his, but so far he hasn't had to face a huge puncher as a pro so let's not go crazy yet.