Kovalev vs. Yarde Purse Bid Hearing Pushed Back To April 15

By Jake Donovan

Just days after requesting an expedited process in their negotiation period, Sergey Kovalev and Main Events have landed right back on their original deadline.

An ordered title fight between the World Boxing Organization (WBO) light heavyweight beltholder and mandatory challenger Anthony Yarde appears to still head to a purse bid hearing, but have been granted another week to extend talks.

A new date of April 15—which was the original date—has been assigned for the bout, one week past the April 8 date originally requested by Main Events CEO Kathy Duva.

“As per Kathy Duva’s request, the purse was transferred to (the following) Monday, April 15,” Francisco ‘Paco’ Valcárcel informed BoxingScene.com.

Kovaelv (33-3-1, 28KOs)-a Russia-born boxer now based in Los Angeles—will attempt the first defense of his third tour as a light heavyweight titlist, having reclaimed the strap following a dominant 12-round win over Eleider Alvarez this past February. The bout was a rematch to their first meet less than six months prior, where the previously unbeaten Alvarez rallied from trailing on all three scorecards to win the title in a stunning 7th round knockout last August.

The defeat ended Kovalev’s second title reign which began in Nov. ’17, having recollected the WBO title five months after his knockout loss to Andre Ward in their June ’17 rematch. Their first fight saw Ward score a controversial 12-round decision to end Kovalev’s run of more than three years with at least one major title around his waist.

Overall, Kovalev is 12-3 in major title fights—and was already two years into his first reign by the time his next potential opponent even turned pro.

Yarde (18-0, 17KOs) has been perfect in nearly four years in the paid ranks, but will be taking a considerable leap in competition for his first career title fight. The unbeaten 27-year old from Essex, England became the mandatory challenger to Kovalev’s title shortly after a 5th round knockout of Travis Reeves this past March.

As both boxers currently fight within the ESPN platform, it was assumed that making such a fight would be relatively easy. It has proven to be anything but, as talks stalled long enough for Duva to request an immediate purse bid hearing with the WBO earlier in the week.

That said, the request came with the hope that deal could still be reached. Kovalev’s side is angling for a June 1 fight in his hometown of Chelyabinsk, Russia. Yarde’s team—though not the boxer himself—has taken to social media to downplay the need of traveling abroad for such a fight, although the extra week of talks will hopefully resolve such issues.

Should the two sides fail to come to terms, the WBO will then move forward with its originally intended April 15 purse bid hearing at its headquarters in San Juan, Puerto Rico. The hearing will be open to all promoters registered with the sanctioning body, but must submit a minimum $300,000 offer in order for their bid to be accepted.

Jake Donovan is a senior writer for BoxingScene.com. Twitter: @JakeNDaBox