Sergey Kovalev (Getty)
One of today’s most exciting and hard-hitting boxers, Sergey “Krusher” Kovalev makes his second unified WBO, WBA and IBF Light Heavyweight world champion title defense when he takes on Nadjib Mohammedi on Saturday, July 25 at Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada.
The fight will be broadcast live by HBO World Championship Boxing at 10PM ET/7PM PT.
Kovalev, 32 years old, has been eager for an encounter with WBC Light Heavyweight world champion Adonis Stevenson. But first he must face IBF mandatory challenger Mohammedi (37-3, 23 KOs).
“Nadjib has very good and big motivation to be champion and my desire is to get my four titles,” Kovalev said at a recent presser for the upcoming fight. “I think that will happen this year, that I fight a unified fight. Fight against Nadjib is for me next step. I am not going to say that I will, I will and I will, is words of trash talkers. I am going to show what I can in the ring.”
Mohammedi and Kovalev Photo Credits: David Spagnolo/Main Events
Kovalev (27-0-1, 24 KOs) was last in action with an eighth-round knockout win over former world champion Jean Pascal in Montreal in March. Going into the Pascal fight, the unbeaten 2014 Fighter of the Year had out-boxed the legendary Bernard Hopkins and handed Blake Caparello his first defeat, by way of a second-round kayo.
“I am not finished of my collection of all of my belts,” Kovalev said. “I shoot and I must to get one more, WBC title. Just give me opportunity to fight against WBC Champion. I don’t care whether it be Adonis Stevenson or another guy. I don’t care.”
But after six years in the professional game, Krusher knows better than to look past the opponent ahead of him.
“Right now I am not even thinking about [a future Adonis match-up] because my next fight will be big fight and not an easy fight against Nadjib Mohammedi,” Kovalev said.
Co-featured on July 25, former WBC Light Heavyweight World Champion Jean Pascal (29-3-1, 17 KOs) fights Yunieski Gonzalez (16-0, 12 KOs) in a 10-rounder.