By Edward Chaykovsky

WBO light heavyweight champion Sergey Kovalev (25-0-1, 23KOs) has been watching Bernard Hopkins for a very long time. Next Saturday night, Kovalev will attempt to grasp the 49-year-old boxer's IBF/WBA title belts at the Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City.

Kovalev is training hard in the gym and working up a strategy of attack, which includes some defensive tactics to avoid any of Hopkins' questionable tricks.

The Russian puncher explained why he believes Hopkins is a "dirty fighter."

"Because he is punching open hands. Punching from the head like a deer. He fighting like a street fighter. Because he is dangerous. He can cut you from the head, from the elbow, everything, from any part of his body. He is looking like a very dirty fighter. Sometimes he is making like a clown," Kovalev said.

"He is a good actor. If he is feeling like he can't do something legally, he start playing like an actor and complaining about pain or a low blow or something. Like in his first fight against Chad Dawson, he was not ready for this fight. I saw his first round and after first round he understood that he is not going to win this fight and he complained he hurt his shoulder and got TD [technical draw] but he still keep title."

"We will see everything on November 8. I am not a prediction man. I don't know. Watch HBO or welcome to Atlantic City, Boardwalk Hall and you will see everything November 8."