Kovalev's Manager: Stevenson Fight Likely To NEVER Happen

By Vadim Pushkin

Egis Klimas, manager of IBF/WBO/WBA light heavyweight champion Sergey 'Krusher' Kovalev (29-0-1, 26KOs), doubts that we'll ever see a unification fight with WBC world champion Adonis Stevenson (27-1, 22KOs).

The fight has been discussed for several years with no deal in sight.

HBO first began building up the contest in 2013, but then Stevenson left the network in 2014 and signed on with Showtime - where he's been ever since.  

The World Boxing Council even got involved, making an unorthodox move of having Kovalev - a rival champion in three other organizations - become the mandatory challenger to Stevenson. A purse bid was ordered, but Kovalev's side withdrew from their mandatory position.

Because of their exclusive contract with HBO, Main Events was worried about the possibility of Stevenson's promoter, Yvon Michel, winning the purse bid and taking the fight to Showtime or a network affiliated with the Premier Boxing Champions banner. Michel claimed Main Events never wanted the fight and used the purse bid as a negotiating tool to secure Kovalev a new multi-fight deal with HBO.

Now both fighters are lined up for other contests for the rest of the year. Kovalev is set to face Isaac Chilemba tomorrow in Russia. If he wins, he would go on to fight Andre Ward on November 19th at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. If he gets past Ward, likely there will be at least one or two mandatory fights to take care of.

Stevenson will fight Thomas Williams Jr. on July 30th. If he wins, then a fall return will take place and potentially against mandatory challenger Eleider Alvarez or even Joe Smith Jr.

Because of the constant politics and the schedules of both fighters, Kliamas does not see that fight taking place.

"The question of the fight with Stevenson is already so tired. I don't think we'll ever see this fight," said Klimas.