Via Dan Ambrose: Former light heavyweight champion Sergey Kovalev believes 175-lb WBA champion Dmitry Bivol can get a win over Canelo Alvarez on May 7 because he is “new” and he has plenty of time to “get ready”. ready” for their fight two months from now.
Kovalev, 38, contrasts Bivol’s time (19-0, 11 KOs) with the rush of work he had to deal with when he battled Canelo in November 2019 just three months after the intense fight with Anthony Yarde in August of that year.
Kovalev had to go back to training camp right after his tough fight with Yarde, and he looked exhausted for the battle with Canelo. Canelo took advantage of the weakened Kovalev and stopped him in round 11.
After two and a half years out of the ring, former IBF/WBA/WBO 175-lb champion Kovalev (34-4-1, 29 KOs) will face Tervel Pulev (16-0, 13 KOs) in a 10-fight round of divisional matches. cruiser on May 14 at the Forum in Inglewood, California.
Bivol’s undefeated record is something he will be motivated to defend, Kovalev said.
Kovalev: New Bivol and ready for Canelo
“I don’t like to make predictions but I’m happy for Dmitry [Bivol] because right now, he’s new, he hasn’t fought in a long time and is ready for the war,” said Sergey Kovalev to Fighthype in the preview of the fight between Canelo vs. Bivol on May 7.
“He has a lot of time to prepare, and he has great chance to get a win what i didn’t [against Canelo],” Kovalev said when discussing the time that Bivol had to prepare for Alvarez. “For now, I am happy for Dmitry, and good luck to him.
“It was a difference for me in both games,” Kovalev said, comparing the way he performed against Canelo to the way he performed against Andre Ward. “I fought Canelo with an empty energy pot.
“With Andre Ward, I appreciate him in coaching. I over-trained myself. Canelo is Canelo and Andre Ward is Andre Ward. Everyone is different. They are boxers like any boxer.
Dmitry can win
“I think Bivol has a great chance to win against Canelo, and that makes the fight very interesting for me and for all boxing fans,” Kovalev said.
“Bivol is undefeated and motivated because he has zero, and this will is a good motivation for him to save this zero. I can tell him good luck and I believe he can get a win against Canelo“Kovalev said.
