Stevenson: Not Impressed By Kovalev, He Got Quiet When I Came!

By Luke Furman, translation by Mathieu Robillard

Sergey Kovalev (29-0-1, 26KOs) nearly had two fights on Saturday night at the Bell Centre in Montreal, Canada. He finished off Jean Pascal (30-4-1, 17KOs) in seven rounds to retain the WBO/WBA/IBF light heavyweight world titles.

Last March, he stopped Pascal in eight rounds. This time Pascal had Hall of Fame trainer Freddie Roach in his corner, but that made absolutely no difference when they stepped in the ring. 

After the fight was over, Kovalev took a few verbal digs at WBC champion Adonis Stevenson (27-1, 22KOs). Stevenson was sitting ringside and confronted Kovalev during the live HBO broadcast. The two fighters were pulled apart before the situation got too out of hand.   

The two fighters were negotiation the last few weeks for a potential summer showdown. As BoxingScene.com reported a few days ago, the fight fell apart over the TV rights. Kovalev is an HBO contracted fighter and Stevenson fights under the Premier Boxing Champions/Showtime umbrella.

Stevenson spoke with RDS to explain what happened and his position on the matter.

Interviewer: What happened in the ring?

Stevenson: Listen, Kovalev is talking a lot. When we negotiated for a fight between me and him, they totally refused. We proposed them (HBO & Kathy Duva) 50% - 50% on both HBO & Showtime and they refused. Now he talks like he want to fight me but this is only game that he's playing. Me, I'm ready tomorrow morning, 50% - 50% with both HBO & Showtime.

Interviewer: What did you tell him?

Stevenson: I've simply told him that I was ready. Then he talks about how I'm a chicken but how about he tells that in my face. It's funny how he said nothing when I was there.

Interviewer: Do you think this fight will happens one day?

Stevenson: I'm thirsty. I'm thirsty for Kovalev and I want this fight to happen. Believe me when I'm telling you I'm thirsty for him and I'll take his belts and you better believe me that with me it won't be the same thing because me I know how Kovalev is. I'm not impressed at all by Kovalev. For a guy that is supposed to hit hard, it took him a long time to knockout Pascal and even then he didn't even knock him out, it's Roach that stopped it so I'm not impress at all by Kovalev.

Interviewer: What is your prediction if you fight him? How do you think the fight will play out?

Stevenson: Easy, I'll knock him out. I'm excited and I want this fight to happens. 50% - 50%, Showtime & HBO.. that's it.

Interviewer: Are you going put pressure on your manager to make this fight happens?

Stevenson: It's not my manager, it's them that don't want it. They don't want...

Interviewer: Because Yvon Michel (manager of Stevenson) said that Showtime doesn't want to work with HBO

Stevenson: No, that's wrong. Showtime is ready to work with HBO but HBO doesn't want it. Al Haymon wants the fight 50 - 50, it's them that doesn't want it.

Interviewer: When are you gooing knock him out? what round?

Stevenson: It's gonna be very easy to knock him out. He's really vulnerable and rushes in like a bull and trust me I love the bull. It's simply not gonna work with me.

Luke Furman covers boxing for bokser.org