English isn’t Sergey Kovalev’s first language, but he understood the question Tuesday.
What the Russian-born WBO light heavyweight champion cannot comprehend is why people keep asking how he’ll deal with Canelo Alvarez’s aggressive body attack when they meet November 2 in Las Vegas. Kovalev contends that he doesn’t have any more trouble absorbing body shots than other fighters.
“Why everybody thinks that I have a problem with body shot[s]?,” Kovalev asked during a conference call to promote his fight against Alvarez. “Why? I never was stopped by a body shot. I don’t know from where these opinions [come].”
A reporter reminded Kovalev that he was stopped by Andre Ward with what were called legal body blows by referee Tony Weeks in June 2017. Kovalev quickly disputed that version of events in their immediate rematch.
“The second fight with Andre Ward was a low blow,” Kovalev said. “It wasn’t a punch to the body. It was a low blow. I say it already, after the fight. It was a low blow.”
Ward landed three questionable body blows in succession – each of which appeared to land below Kovalev’s belt – before Weeks stopped their second bout in the eighth round at Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas.
The undefeated Ward did hurt Kovalev with a straight right hand earlier in the eighth round. He also appeared to have begun wearing down Kovalev prior to throwing those three straight body shots, when Kovalev was slumped against the ropes.
Nevertheless, Kovalev was ahead of Ward on one scorecard, 68-65, and down on the other two cards by the same score, 67-66, at the time of that controversial conclusion.
Anthony Yarde, Kovalev’s most recent opponent, also seemed to affect Kovalev with two lefts to the body late in the seventh round of their bout. Kovalev came back to stop England’s Yarde (18-1, 17 KOs) with a jarring jab in the 11th round August 24 in Chelyabinsk, Russia, Kovalev’s hometown.
Kovalev’s next opponent is one of boxing’s most committed, effective body punchers. Kovalev declined to answer Tuesday when asked how he’ll defend Alvarez’s inevitable attack to the body two weeks from Saturday night at MGM Grand Garden Arena (DAZN).
“Listen, November 2nd will be the fight and everything we’ll see what will be,” Kovalev said. “I don’t know. … I cannot say about what it will be.”
Mexico’s Alvarez (52-1-2, 35 KOs) is regularly listed a 4-1 favorite over Kovalev (34-3-1, 29 KOs), even though Alvarez has moved up two weight class to challenge the three-time light heavyweight champion.
Keith Idec is a senior writer/columnist for BoxingScene.com. He can be reached on Twitter @Idecboxing.
