Kovalev-Ward Winner Will Be P4P Best, Says Duva
Oct 18, 2015 • 2:28 AM ET
By Radio Rahim
Main Events CEO Kath Duva, who promotes IBF/WBO/WBA light heavyweight champion Sergey Kovalev (28-0-1, 25KOs), has a very good feeling that a showdown will come off with Andre Ward (28-0, 15KOs) in late 2016.
Duva says Ward and his team are in the process of finalizing an multi-fight agreement with HBO, and that deal includes a fight with Kovalev.
Kovalev would first return at the start of the year, likely on January 30th in a rematch with Jean Pascal. Ward's return is being positioned for the undercard of Miguel Cotto vs. Saul Alvarez on November 21 at the Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas.
Since last month's departure of Floyd Mayweather Jr., the hunt is on for the next pound-for-pound king.
Some are calling WBC flyweight champion Roman Gonzalez as the top man. Some are calling Ward the pound-for-pound best. Others like middleweight king Gennady Golovkin, believe the top spot is vacant.
Duva says the winner Kovalev-Ward will certainly establish the new pound-for-pound kingpin.
"This is [Kovalev's] goal, to be the best and fight the best. When they fight, if this works out, I do believe the winner is gonna be the best pound-for-pound boxer in the world. That is his goal and there it is. The table is set and if he can just do his job [in January], there it is," Duva told BoxingScene.com.
