Sergey “Krusher” Kovalev Media Workout Recap

Image: Sergey "Krusher" Kovalev Media Workout Recap

Yesterday at Boxing Laboratory in Oxnard, California, former WBO, WBA and IBF Light Heavyweight World Champion, Sergey “Krusher” Kovalev (30-1-1, 26 KOs) opened his training session to the media in advance of his upcoming showdown with Andre “S.O.G.” Ward (31-0, 15 KOs). Below are quotes from this event. Ward vs. Kovalev 2: “The Rematch” takes place Saturday, June 17 at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas. The championship event, presented by Corona Extra, will be produced and distributed live by HBO Pay-Per-View® beginning at 9:00 p.m. ET/6:00 p.m. PT.

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Kovalev says Andre Ward is a “paper champion”

Image: Kovalev says Andre Ward is a “paper champion”

By Allan Fox: Sergey “Krusher” Kovalev (30-1-1, 26 KOs) has confirmed that he’s still with his trainer John David Jackson, and his focus is on kicking Andre “SOG” Ward’s backside in their rematch on June 17 on HBO PPV at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. Kovalev say Ward isn’t a real champion. He’s a “fake champion” or “paper champion,” which means he’s a champion in name only but a legitimate one.

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Adonis Stevenson wants Ward-Kovalev winner

Image: Adonis Stevenson wants Ward-Kovalev winner

By Jim Dower: After being chased by Sergey “Kovalev (30-1-1, 26 KOs) for well over 2 years, WBC light heavyweight champion Adonis Stevenson (28-1, 23 KOs) could finally be ready to fight him or Andre “SOG” Ward if he can get past his opponent Andrzej Fonfara (29-4, 17 KOs) in their rematch this Saturday night on June 3 at the Bell Centre in Montreal, Canada.

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Kovalev: I’m going to punish Ward

Image: Kovalev: I’m going to punish Ward

By Allan Fox: Former IBF/WBA/WBO light heavyweight champion Sergey “Krusher” Kovalev (30-1-1, 26 KOs) says he’s going to punish unbeaten Andre “SOG” Ward (31-0, 15 KOs) on HBO PPV June 17, because he says that he doesn’t deserve to be the champion at being given a 12 round decision he didn’t do enough to earn in their previous fight on November 19 last year. Kovalev says Ward is walking around with his nose in the air, carrying himself like he’s a king rather than just a fighter that was given a gift decision by the 3 judges that worked the previous fight between them. Kovalev says he’s going to destroy War and end his boxing career.

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Kovalev ready to beat Ward in rematch

Image: Kovalev ready to beat Ward in rematch

By Allan Fox: Andre “SOG” Ward (31-0, 15 KOs) and Sergey “Krusher” Kovalev (30-1-1, 26 KOs) will be meeting up in less than 3 weeks on June 17 on HBO pay-per-view at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. The hype for the Ward-Kovalev II fight hasn’t been there unfortunately. You can argue that much of the interest in the boxing world has been on the Saul Canelo Alvarez vs. Gennady “GGG” Golovkin and Kell Brook vs. Errol Spence Jr. fights.

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Bringing Boxing into the 21st Century

Image: Bringing Boxing into the 21st Century

By Donavan Leonard: I know that I am not alone in my frustration of the sport of boxing. Terrible judging, “fights” that do not live up to the hype, and overpriced PPV’s can lead fans such as myself wondering why they persevere  keeping up with this antiquated sport. Then bouts such as Franviso Vargas – Orlando Salido and Anthony Joshua – Wladimir Klitschko remind us of the joy that can only be found in boxing.  However, there are some things that could be done to upgrade the sport as a whole.   Rules changes happen every year in the NFL, the most popular sport in the USA,  so if it is good enough for the NFL, it should be good enough for boxing.   Here are just a few of my ideas to help move boxing from the 1920’s to the 2000’s.

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Kovalev scolds Ward for skipping “Face Off” taping

Image: Kovalev scolds Ward for skipping “Face Off” taping

By Allan Fox: Former light heavyweight champion Sergey “Krusher” Kovalev is furious with Andre “SOG” Ward for what him supposedly skipping their “Face Off” with HBO’s Max Kellernan taping segment last Sunday for rematch on June 17 on HBO PPV at the Mandalay Bay Hotel & Casino Events Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. According to a source, RingTV was told that was Kovalev that failed to show for the “Face Off,” which was supposed to take place on Saturday instead of Sunday. It’s unclear what the disconnect was between the two fighters when it comes to the scheduling of the Face Off with Kellerman.

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Guillermo Rigondeaux vs. Moises Flores Added to Ward-Kovalev 2:

Image: Guillermo Rigondeaux vs. Moises Flores Added to Ward-Kovalev 2:

Reigning WBA World Super Bantamweight Champion Guillermo “El Chacal” Rigondeaux (17-0, 11 KOs) will face WBA interim titleholder Moises “Chucky” Flores (25-0, 17 KOs) in a long-awaited mandatory 12-round WBA title defense that will tarnish one fighter’s perfect record. Rigondeaux vs. Flores has officially been added to the Pay-Per-View undercard of Ward-Kovalev 2: “The Rematch” at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas on Saturday, June 17. The championship event, presented by Corona Extra, will be produced and distributed live by HBO Pay-Per-View® beginning at 9:00 p.m. ET/6:00 p.m. PT.

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Kathy Duva Q&A: Main Events’ CEO talks about Kovalev/Ward 2 mega-fight

Image: Kathy Duva Q&A: Main Events' CEO talks about Kovalev/Ward 2 mega-fight

By Ian Aldous: On Saturday June 17th, live on HBO PPV from the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, Andre Ward (31-0), will rematch Sergey Kovalev (30-1), and defend his IBF/WBA and WBO world light-heavyweight titles. The event entitled ‘No Excuses’ will hopefully put to bed any doubts that linger from the first fight in which Ward was victorious via a narrow and disputed unanimous decision. During this week’s three city U.S press tour, I spoke with the fight’s co-promoter, Kathy Duva, to discuss the first fight, the rematch, and the other champion at 175lbs.

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Ward says Kovalev’s promoter agreed to the judges

Image: Ward says Kovalev’s promoter agreed to the judges

By Allan Fox: When Andre Ward and Sergey Kovalev meet for their rematch on June 17th, it will be with all 3 judges being from the U.S rather than other parts of the world. Kovalev’s promoter Kathy Duva says she asked for one of the judges to be from outside of the U.S, but she was turned down by Ward’s side. Ward (31-0, 15 KOs) is saying that Duva signed off on the 3 judges being from the U.S during the negotiations for the fight at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Kovalev vs. Ward II fight will be televised on HBO PPV on June 17. The start time is at 9 pm. ET/6 pm. PT.

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