Sergey "Krusher" Kovalev lived up to his billing on Saturday, demolishing IBF mandatory challenger Nadjib Mohammedi in less than three rounds to retain his title. The fight was a "stay-busy" fight, and afterward Kovalev said he is willing to take on any and all challengers.
The fight that most fans still want to see is Kovalev vs. Adonis Stevenson, who has the WBC title. There is a long history of attempts to make this fight happen, with the narrative usually holding Stevenson at fault for dodging Kovalev. In the latest twist, Stevenson's camp forced a purse bid, which Kovalev's team wanted no part of. It was spun as Kovalev ducking the fight, but his promoter Kathy Duva said it had more to do with preserving Kovalev's relationship with HBO.
"If they want to fight Sergey, at the moment there's an offer on the table, 50-50, we'll go to Canada. But as Kovalev grows, becomes better and becomes more dominant, that offer is not going to be on the table forever," Duva said.
Stevenson is slated to fight next in September, while Kovalev is expected to return to action around Thanksgiving. That fight could be against fellow Russian Artur Beterbiev, a fast-rising fighter generating major excitement. He fights on Al Haymon's Premier Boxing Champions, but his camp says that will be no impediment to facing Kovalev.
"There is no problem with HBO," Yvon Michel, the promoter for both Beterbiev and Stevenson said. "Artur is in a different position than Stevenson. Stevenson is a champion, he has an association with a network in Showtime and wherever he is he demands a big purse.
"Artur is a challenger and he understands the position of being a challenger. And when a challenger has an opportunity to fight against the champion he takes it."
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