By Yuri Tarantin
WBO light heavyweight champion Sergey Kovalev (22-0-1, 20KOs) brushed off the trash talk of IBF champion Bernard Hopkins. Kovalev is coming off the biggest win of his career, a fourth round TKO of previously undefeated Nathan Cleverly. Kovalev is likely going to make his first defense of the title in November. One possible opponent, althought it remains to be seen if it could be finalized before the end of the year - is WBC light heavyweight champion Adonis Stevenson, if he beats Tavoris Cloud next month.
Because Hopkins and Kovalev fight on rival cable networks, the Russian fighter doesn't see the two of them being able to fight for some time.
"[These kind of fighters] like to talk a lot. For guys like him, it's part of the show. Before the fight with Nathan, Cleverly's father also promised that he would bury me. Then we met, I [buried him]. [His father later told me] - 'do not misunderstand, we have no personal animosity towards you, we have to attract interest to the fight.' I'm not an actor, not a talker, I'm a fighter and I'm used to deciding everything in the ring. They all talk a lot, and then firmly go to sleep," Kovalev said.
"Hopkins is legend. I would like to face someone of his experience, but at the moment this is not possible. He's a fighter for the channel Showtime, and I am affiliated with HBO. These organizations compete with each other and do not work with [non-affiliated] boxers. The only option for me to fight with Hopkins - is to win a few more titles. Then everything is possible, including - the fight for a united title. In the meantime, my career is in the hands of HBO. Whoever they give me - I will have to box, otherwise there is a risk of being left on the bench. My next fight could take place before the end of the year, possibly with Canadian Adonis Stevenson, who owns the WBC light heavyweight belt and who knocked out Chad Dawson in the first round."
Yuri Tarantin covers boxing for Allboxing.ru
