Sergey "Krusher" Kovalev stopped another opponent by way of knockout Saturday night in Atlantic City on HBO, and in the process earned him a shot at WBA light heavyweight champion Bernard Hopkins. In fact, Kovalev signed the contract to face Hopkins before his fight with Blake Caparello actually went down, meaning he fought under an immense amount of pressure.
It's impressive that Hopkins, at 49 years old, is willing to step in the ring with a beast like Kovalev, who has won his last eight fights via knockout. It's equally surprising that Kovalev, and not WBC champion Adonis Stevenson got the bout.
Back in May Stevenson bolted Top Rank and HBO to head with promoter Al Haymon and Showtime; in doing so, he ruined a matchup with Kovalev that was well in the works. The idea behind his decision was that after facing Andrzej Fonfara he'd get a higher-profile fight with Hopkins. Stevenson then went out and beat Fonfara, although he struggled more than expected.
In the meantime Kovalev has built up his reputation as a knockout artist and beat Stevenson to the punch. Top Rank promoter Bob Arum couldn't resist gloating a bit upon the inking of the Kovalev-Hopkins deal.
"Stevenson can now spend the fall pounding sand," Arum said. "It's clear what network will now be showing the best fights."
Showtime executive Stephen Espinoza commented on the surprising move by Hopkins as well, but his remarks lacked vitriol. "I'm puzzled that Bernard seems to have taken the less lucrative offer," Espinoza told The Los Angeles Times. "We've had a good relationship with Bernard and I wish him the best."
Since losing to Chad Dawson in 2012, Hopkins has reeled off three straight wins, all by decision. He could have taken an easier route and defended his title against mandatory challenger Nadjib Mohammedi, but following the Kovalev victory Hopkins expressed supreme confidence when talking to HBO's Max Kellerman.
"I've already convinced them [the boxing fans] that I'm not the norm. If I pull this off, as if this is the defining fight for everything I've been doing, that is reckless talking, Max. You should be more educated than that. Max, you lost this interview."
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