2014/2015 Reviews & Previews: Nicholas Walters, Guilliermo Rigondeaux, Leo Santa Cruz, Vasyl Lomachenko, Sergey Kovalev, Adonis Stevenson, & Jean Pascal

01/02/201501/01/2015 Vivek Wallace

(Note: In the fourth installment of a week long breakdown, boxing scribe Vivek “Vito” Wallace analyzes where today’s top fighters stand, and whether or not 2015 could be the year many of them fall. This week long analysis will cover over 30 top fighters from around the world)

GUILLERMO RIGONDEAUX

For the best boxer of this era to rise from the Cuban ranks, 2014 was far from eventful. After a stunning 2013 that saw him defeat both Donaire and Agbeko, 2014 saw him destroy an unknown fighter in China, and forcibly scrape himself off the canvas twice against an unknown fighter in Japan. Definitely not the level of competition you’d like to see from a fighter none as “boring”.

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Does Sergey Kovalev deserve Fighter of the Year for 2014?

12/27/2014 Kevin Chittenden

Recently, ESPN named Terence Crawford as their Fighter of the Year for 2014 due to his wins over Raymundo Beltran, Yuriorkis Gamboa and Ricky Burns. However, only the Gamboa fight was truly interesting to watch, and the Burns fight really proved nothing given how poor Burns has looked since then.

Gamboa is really a pumped up featherweight who had no business fighting in the lightweight division against a fighter the size of Crawford. The Crawford-Beltran fight was not an interesting fight to watch due to Crawford’s constantly clinching each time Beltran would get in position to throw a punch. It was not great television, believe me.

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Kovalev looking for exception with IBF to face Pascal

12/09/2014 Rob Smith

IBF/WBA/WBO light heavyweight champion Sergey Kovalev (26-0-1, 23 KOs) is looking to get an exception by the International Boxing Federation in order for him to bypass #1 IBF mandatory challenger Nadjib Mohammedi so that Kovalev can defend his titles against 32-year-old former WBC 175 pound champ Jean Pascal (29-2-1, 17 KOs) on March 14th next year at a still to be determined venue.

With WBC champion Adonis Stevenson taking his time in defending his title against Pascal, Kovalev is looking to move on in and take out Pascal before Stevenson has a chance. It will then give Kovalev an opportunity to beat Pascal before facing Stevenson at some point in the future if he can get him to agree to the fight.

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Sergey Kovalev vs. Jean Pascal on March 14

12/03/201412/02/2014 Main Events

Main Events and InterBox are proud to announce that an agreement has been reached to present a fight between the reigning unified WBO, IBF and WBA Light Heavyweight World Champion, Sergey “Krusher” Kovalev (26-0-1, 23 KOs) and former WBC and The Ring Light Heavyweight Champion, Jean Pascal (29-2-1, 17 KOs). The fight is to take place in Montréal or Québec City on Saturday, March 14, 2015, but it is contingent on Pascal prevailing over Bolonti on December 6 and on the IBF granting Kovalev a special exception to postpone his mandatory title defense against Nadjib Mohammedi.

This mega-bout will be televised live in the United States on HBO. Further details will be announced at a later date. Pascal’s fight at the Bell Centre December 6 was already a very important one for his career, but this possibility brings it to a whole new level. Kathy Duva, CEO of Main Events, will be watching the fight with Jean Bédard, as she has accepted the invitation extended by the InterBox president to join him ringside at the gala.

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Sergey Kovalev Interview Transcript

11/15/201411/14/2014 Main Events

Sergey “Krusher” Kovalev – WBO, WBA and IBF Light Heavyweight World Champion

“Hello everyone thank you so much for everything. I already changed diapers. I already lost track of how many diapers, maybe 15 or so. It is easy because I have experience with my nephews. My older sister has two babies so I have done this a lot. Beating Hopkins is a little bit more dangerous than changing diapers but he peed on my hand when I changed him. It is most important to be here with my family.

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Sergey Kovalev Does The Job And Gives Good Advice

11/10/201411/10/2014 Paul Strauss

Sergey “Krusher” Kovalev 25-0-1(23KO) managed to bundle up three light heavyweight titles (WBA, IBF, & WBO) with his one-sided win over Bernard Hopkins at the Boardwalk Center, Atlantic City, N.J. The main point of interest, prior to the opening belt, was an expectation that sooner or later the experienced oldster Bernard “Alien” Hopkins 55-7-2 (32KO) would manage to set a trap. When the bait was taken, Hopkins would nail the Russia hard enough to start the ball rolling in his favor. After all, the Krusher, according to Hopkins, was a crude brawler, whose defense was porous, someone ready to be exploited.

The main reason or interest in the fight was Hopkins’ advanced age, and that carried through, even thought the ring action was one-sided. But, unlike other one-sided affairs, there remained the faint hope in the wily old fox. Might he once again shock the boxing world? The odds were against it. The likelihood of an upset grew even fainter when Philly’s own went down from a glancing right hand in the first round. The question of whether Krusher could hurt the veteran was answered.

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The “Krusher” debunks “The Alien” – a dream match come true or a round by round chronicle of defeat foretold

11/09/2014 Ivan Ivanov

The pre-fight build up and the suspense had obviously gotten to both Sergey Kovalev and Bernard Hopkins as they showed uncharacteristic body language while waiting for the opening bell on Saturday night at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, New Jersey. Kovalev was unusually restless and had an urgent expression while Hopkins’s face was hidden behind his new mask but he looked artificial and stiff walking aimlessly around the ring. Hopkins tried too hard to appear nonchalant and refused to touch gloves with Kovalev who tried to show respect to the veteran but cared little for his mind games.

Round 1- timing is of the essence. Kovalev lost all respect after the bell, he took center ring and stalked Hopkins who openly refused to engage and started trying to buy time while conserving energy. “The Krusher” did not rush forward; he gave Hopkins the courtesy of “feeling him out”, adjusting the range and testing his reflexes. Midway through the round Kovalev’s demeanor changed, he raised his head from behind the guard, his expression softened and he started “walking in the park”, it was his fight already and he knew the reason.

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Kovalev Grounds “The Alien”

11/09/201411/09/2014 Paul Jones

All that Remains is a Win vs. Stevenson to Unify the Light Heavyweight Division

By Justin Jones and Paul “Paparazzi” Jones | Photo © Paul “Paparazzi” Jones – Atlantic City, NJ – Many questioned whether WBO champion Sergey “Krusher” Kovalev (26-0-1, 23 KOs) could defeat future Boxing Hall of Famer and former WBA/IBF champ Bernard “The Alien” Hopkins (55-7-2, 32 KOs) in a Light Heavyweight unification bout. People pointed to Kovalev’s limited competition, the lack of a signature win, and a sizeable gap in experience between the two.

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Hopkins vs Kovalev: Keys to Victory, Four to Explore, Official Prediction!

11/08/2014 Vivek Wallace

1-HopkinsKovalevWeighIn_Hoganphotos In only a few hours, fight fans around the world will get a chance to see potential history as the legendary Bernard Hopkins (55-6-2, 32KOs) takes on the very dangerous Sergey Kovalev (25-0, 23KOs). Few in the sport have stepped up to take such a challenge. Weeks away from age 50, one warrior took the bout without flinching. For Kovalev, a resume short on credibility has led to many questions. Most which will be answered by the final bell. As we prepare for this showdown, we’ll take a look at “Keys to Victory”, “Four to Explore”, and an “Official Prediction”:

BERNARD HOPKINS – KEYS TO VICTORY

For Hopkins, this is a very dangerous fight. Rarely has ever been hit flush, but it’s even more rare to see him hit often. Kovalev has been trained to attack without fear. Hopkins wasn’t able to get in his head with pre-fight antics, but fans can expect that to change in the ring. Hopkins is known for setting traps and frustrating an opponent early with clinches and a cunning defense. He will need to bait Kovalev and get him to open up, taking that opportunity to countershot with precision punches, mainly his patented lead right hand. This will make Kovalev hesitant to fire. If Hopkins can frustrate Kovalev early, the entire dynamics of the fight changes, and Hopkins can cruise to victory.

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Bernard Hopkins – pushing the limits and defying the odds in challenging Sergey Kovalev

11/08/2014 Ivan Ivanov

Hopkins has crammed himself into a tight spot and eve his most optimistic fans will hardly be at ease on Saturday night. This should be a simple fight from strategic point of view and a straightforward game plan for both boxers. The clash of styles is almost a stereotype and you can’t really surprise Hopkins with a move unless you put him down and you won’t make Kovalev hesitate unless you take his best shots and remain on your feet.

Hopkins prides himself in his mental game and “secret service” approach in studying his opponent’s intimate personal traits and sniffing out weaknesses. Knowing every dirty trick in the book and blindsiding referees could work when he is evenly matched and needs to unsettle an opponent. Antics and tricks aside, there is no gimmick against functional speed and ambidextrous power.

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