By Yuri Tarantin
Manager Egis Klimas says his fighter, WBO light heavyweight champion Sergey Kovalev (25-0-1, 23KOs), is not going to spend the entire fight chasing after Bernard Hopkins, the IBF's champion, in order to score a knockout victory. They will clash on Saturday night in a three belt unification at the Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City.
The 49-year-old veteran is very crafty and often outthinks opponents who are perceived to be powerful punchers - like Jean Pascal, Felix Trinidad, Kelly Pavlik, Tavoris Cloud, Beibut Shumenov and Antonio Tarver.
Kovalev, who often stalks down his opponents and knocks them out, has a few tricks in the bag. He won't be trying to hunt Hopkins down, as the veteran likely anticipates. Instead the Russian puncher will stay active and outbox the aging champion. And of course, if the knockout presents itself, Kovalev will gladly jump on the opportunity.
"Sergey feels great and he is in very good shape - both physical and psychologically. Of Course, not only Sergey, but we are all aware of the type of fighter that we are facing in Hopkins - and we realize his strength, his cunning and the fact that he's a dirty fighter. Sergey has prepared very well and he is ready to box, rather than just chase [Hopkins around] to get a knockout," Klimas said.
Yuri Tarantin covers boxing for Allboxing.ru
