It's been several years, but Eleider "Storm" Alvarez (23-0, 11 KOs) is finally getting his crack at a world title, when he takes on WBO light heavyweight world champion Sergey "Krusher" Kovalev (32-2-1, 28 KOs) at the Etess Arena in the brand new Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Atlantic City.
The HBO televised fight takes place on August 4, beginning at 10:00 p.m. ET/PT.
Alvarez has been the mandatory challenger to WBC world champion Adonis Stevenson since November of 2015, when he defeated Isaac Chilemba in a final eliminator.
For various reasons, Alvarez and Stevenson never collided in the ring.
The WBC placed Alvarez in two other sanctioned eliminators - which saw him defeat Jean Pascal and Lucian Bute.
Instead of waiting any further for a crack at Stevenson, Alvarez made a quick decision to accept an offer to fight Kovalev.
"I am extremely happy. I said yes as soon as I had the offer! I waited for a long time to get a shot at a world title. I don't want to hear about Adonis Stevenson anymore: I am focused on Sergey Kovalev! I am really motivated, it is a huge fight against a really high-class opponent. Kovalev is right now the best fighter of the division. I wanted to fight in a world championship bout to show my talent and now I finally have the opportunity," Alvarez said.
Alvarez expects the contest to be tough, but he's confident in his ability to hand Kovalev his third career defeat.
Kovalev has won two in a row, after suffering back to back defeats at the hands of Andre Ward.
"I know it is a really hard fight, but I will work hard to become world champion. This is my dream. I am a boxer who loves challenge and who performs at my best when I am challenged. I now have what I want. Kovalev is an all-around solid fighter, with a good jab, good technique and a hard puncher, but my trainer knows him well! I have no doubt, I will be the next WBO champion," Alvarez said.
