Kovalev: Only Strategy is To Kick Bernard Hopkins' Ass

By Edward Chaykovsky

WBO light heavyweight champion Sergey Kovalev (25-0-1, 23KOs) is not focused on a single strategy for the upcoming unification with WBA/IBF champion Bernard Hopkins (55-6-2, 32KOs). The fight is set for November 8th at the Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City.

There is heavy focus on whether or not Kovalev will become the first man to score a knockout of the near 50-year-old Hopkins. Kovalev has ended most of his opponents in the first six rounds and has never gone beyond eight.

Kovalev's sole motivation is to win with a street fight mentality being the only strategy in his mind.

"I don't know what I'm going to do.  I go into the ring and I get my victory at any cost.  If I need to fight, I will fight.  If I need to box, I'm going to box.  This is a fight.  You can keep in your mind one strategy but these fighters can change. I don't have any strategy for the fight, just to go into the ring and fight like a street fight. I'm going to kick his ass because he's my opponent.  Any of my opponents want to beat me.  If I'm not going to beat him he will beat me," Kovalev said.