Kovalev to defend against Najib Mohammedei next

He's forced to fight this no-hoper.

 

Yeah I know that, it also makes sense from a just wanting to stay busy while waiting for another big to land perspective as well. The haters of course are too blind to see either though. The EE haters will be spamming the place with all of their alts in the weeks leading up to the fight, just like they always do.

 

No problem with it. Kovalev was pretty unknown himself until he got the chance to face Cleverly. How can an unknown guy become the man, if the established guys only fight in their small circlejerk? He won the mandatory spot and the champ should give him a chance.

You could argue that he shouldn't be in the mandatory position in the first place but that is another matter.

 

Everyone who followed the 175 lb division knew Kovalev would smoke Cleverly, I think only the Bri****s were the one's saying Cleverly would Lacy Kovalev

 

Mohammedi has already faced Cleverly and lost, he also lost to that guy Sukhotsky who KO'd him in 2 rounds.

 

I wouldn't say there's nothing wrong with this.. but it's certainly not the fighter who's to blame. It's not like Kovalev mandated himself to fight this guy. But while i love to see the guy fight, and it's good to see him stay active, and of course he can't fight a top-5 guy every time he fights... you still gotta call a ****-poor matchup what it is. This is about as interesting as Roy Jones-Ricky Frazier

 

After travelling to england to whoop cleverly, us to spank hopkins and canada to beat pascal into submission, he can relax and take an easy fight, especially since it's his mandatory. Kovalev did more for 175 lb division legitimacy than any other fighter in recent history.

 

I agree 100%. Still not staying home to watch this fight though

 

Muhammedei is much improved since his last defeat and is better than Agnew or Caparello so this is not the worst thing in the world. Especially if it happens before July. Though I heard he is based in Canada so it would be interesting if they send Kovalev back up their again. I would like to see this fight on the West coast or even Nevada. Get kovalev some exposure out here, after all he lives and trains in California now.

 

Mohammedi looked good against Dudchenko and has a crowd pleasing style. Those losses you guys are talking about were three and four years ago. The guy is much improved and will be a live dog in this fight.

Mohammedi was Hopkins' mando until the Kovalev fight, and I don't think Hopkins would have beat him.

 

Mohammedi is rated high by all organizations, this is a good mando. Question is where will they fight? NJ is a ****hole.