Arum: Sergey Kovalev Request For Neutral Judges is Ridiculous!

By TMZ Sports

Top Rank's CEO Bob Arum has a message for Sergey Kovalev (30-1, 26 KOs)... stop complaining about American judges, saying officials from the United States are just fine for Kovalev's rematch with Andre Ward (31-0, 15 KOs).

The Ward vs. Kovalev rematch is scheduled for June 17th at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas. The first fight took place at the T-Mobile Arena, and Ward on a twelve round unanimous decision with three identical scores of 114-113. The win gave Kovalev his first career defeat and gave Ward the Russian puncher's IBF, WBO, WBA light heavyweight world titles.

Sergey's team has asked for "neutral" judges in the June fight ... meaning neither from America nor Russia ... with the implication being Andre got some home cooking in their first fight.

Kovalev and his handlers were looking to have neutral judges in place - but they claim Ward would not even discuss the topic. The former champion is very angry over Ward's position and believes neutral judges are necessary to get a fair shake.

We got Arum out in Los Angeles and asked about the request ... and he thinks it's a bunch of hogwash, and actually seems a little miffed at the thought of judges from America weren't on the level.

Arum views the contest as being an even contest that could go either way - which is how the first bout was viewed.

"That's ridiculous. Kovalev has fought in the United States for his whole career. He's made a lot of money in the United States. Andre Ward is an American who won a gold medal for the United States. The Nevada Commission should pick the judges and they'll pick fair judges and this neutrality thing is nonsense. They are both good fighters. It's a very, very even fight. It really is a 50-50 fight and I think the odds will reflect it," Arum said.