Sergey Kovalev has determined he could have yet another combat earlier than calling it a profession. “Krusher,” now aged 41, was final seen giving all of it he had in a combat with Robin Safar, this on a Riyadh present in Might of final yr. The previous gentle heavyweight champ confirmed coronary heart and uncooked braveness, however he was decked within the tenth and remaining spherical that evening, and he misplaced a call. That combat was Kovalev’s first combat since Might of 2022, and simply his second combat since being stopped late by Canelo Alvarez in November of 2019.
Now, as per a report from The Ring, Kovalev, 35-5-1(29) could have one remaining combat earlier than waving goodbye. Kovalev will face Artur Mann in his hometown of Chelyabinsk, Russia on April nineteenth. Mann, who’s 34 years of age, has a 22-4(13) file and he has been within the ring with the likes of Mairis Briedis and Kevin Lerena. Mann has received his final two and he boxed his most up-to-date combat in November of final yr.
Who is aware of what sort of a combat we are going to get on April nineteenth, and the way a lot Kovalev has obtained left to supply. Kovalev says he has realised it’s time to “hold up the gloves and transfer on to the following chapter of my life.”
Throughout his at instances very thrilling profession, Kovalev combined it with one of the best, together with: Canelo, Andre Ward, Bernard Hopkins (who was on the finish of his personal superb profession on the time of the combat, which passed off in 2014), Jean Pascal, and Anthony Yarde.
“I’m proud of what I’ve achieved in my profession, so I’m leaving boxing with a peaceable coronary heart,” Kovalev stated at a presser to advertise the April combat, as quoted by Ring. “Proper now, I’m centered on my combat in opposition to Artur Mann, who remains to be a really dwell opponent.”
Certainly, Kovalev has not picked a softy for his profession finale. Mann, a lot youthful and having been way more lively than Kovalev, may nicely get the win subsequent month. In fact, all Kovalev followers will probably be hoping the previous champ can flip the clock again simply sufficient to have the ability to exit the game with a victory. However on this, usually the cruellest of sports activities, there are not any ensures.
Kovalev was an excellent fighter, and puncher, in his prime. Now, after having boxed his professional debut means again in July of 2009, “Krusher” is able to stroll away. Is Kovalev a future Corridor of Famer? Perhaps. That’s truly fairly a troublesome one……
