By Jeff Aronow: Sergey Kovalev looks to be as happy as a lark two weeks+ removed from his 11th round knockout loss to Saul Canelo Alvarez on November 2. The former IBF/WBA/WBO light heavyweight champion Kovalev (34-4-1, 29 KOs) posted on his Instagram site, and he looks to be enjoying his $12 million CASH OUT fight against Canelo (53-1-2, 36 KOs).
Kovalev, 36, got a big payday at the right time in his career with his once impressive physical skills largely gone, and wins hard to come by. The Russian fighter shocked boxing fans by saying they are “ignoramuses” if they thought he could win the Canelo fight. Kovalev claims he just took the fight against Canelo for “financial” reasons.
“Given the conditions, it was impossible to win. You are ignoramuses since you thought I could win. I climbed into this weight with torment & sleepless nights. Because it was a financially interesting offer,” said Kovalev to boxinggu.ru.
Kovalev could ask for rematch with NO rehydration clause
On the negative side, Kovalev started training camp just 3 weeks after his fight with Anthony Yarde on August 31. He also had to deal with a rehydration clause that forced him to keep his weight down to 185 lbs. The secondary weigh-in took place on the morning of the fight.
For a younger guy to withhold fluids overnight, it’s not as difficult, but still not easy. But for a 36-year-old, who arguably looks closer to 45, it had to have been the straw that broke the camel’s back. Obviously, the rehydration clause didn’t hurt Canelo, since he was coming up in weight 2 divisions. On the positive side, Kovalev made massive money in exchange for basically giving away his WBO 175-lb title to Canelo.
Kovalev can live like a KING with his CASH OUT plunder
With the $12 million+ Kovalev got for the Canelo fight, he can live well with his family, and not worry about ever fighting again or needing to get a job. Kovalev likely won’t fight again unless he’s given a million+ offer. He’s swimming in dough right now, and not in need of a payday.
Kovalev looks incredibly happy with the millions that he made from the Canelo fight. If Kovalev never fights again, he’ll be remembered for both the good and bad of his career. If he’s lucky, boxing fans will mostly think about his impressive wins over Nathan Cleverly, Anthony Yarde and Jean Pascal.
Eddie Hearn of Matchroom Boxing would obviously like to use Kovalev as a stepping stone-level guy for his fighters Callum Smith, Dmitry Bivol and Billy Joe Saunders. Hearn would need to dig deep to come up with the green to get Kovalev to agree. If Hearn put Kovalev vs. Smith or Bivol on Sky Box Office, he could come up with the seven-figures it would take to get him.
Canelo vs. Kovalev rematch NOT likely to happen
The way that the fight ended, it’s not possible to interest boxing fans in seeing Canelo and Kovalev do it again. You can’t blame Kovalev for floating the idea that he wasn’t 100% for the Canelo fight, but that’s another reason for fans not to want to see them fight again.
If Canelo is serious about wanting to stay at 175, he’ll face IBF/WBC light heavyweight champion Artur Beterbiev. That’s the guy that Canelo should have fought to begin with to capture his 4th division title at 175.
Given the problems Canelo had with Kovalev, he’s not going to want to fight Beterbiev. That’s a guy that wouldn’t lighten up on his punches. Beterbiev would be looking to punch holes through Canelo’s midsection the way he did Oleksandr Gvozdyk.