CONVERGENCE
Kovalev and Bivol seem destined to meet, but Alvarez and Chilemba are blocking their paths, writes
HARD-HITTING Russian light heavy weights Sergey Kovalev
and Dmitry Bivol are on a collision course. They share a bill this Saturday (August 4) in separate world title defences on a show promoted by Main Events’ Kathy Duva, who intends to match the fearsome punchers in a unification clash sooner rather than later (see page 25). In order for this tantalising fight to happen, Kovalev and Bivol have to make it through their upcoming tests at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Atlantic City, live on HBO.
On paper at least, Kovalev’s assignment looks significantly more dangerous than Bivol’s, as the WBO champion is scheduled to take on an unbeaten and highly regarded contender in Colombia’s Eleider Alvarez. Undefeated WBA boss Bivol, meanwhile, is up against Malawian Isaac Chilemba – a seasoned former world title challenger, yet one who has lost three of his last four bouts.
Both Kovalev, 32-2-1 (28), and Alvarez, 23-0 (11), have been unable to secure longmooted fights with WBC king Adonis Stevenson, which has led them to each other. The pair each enjoyed fruitful, extensive amateur careers, especially Alvarez, who competed at the 2008 Olympics. Kovalev has so far achieved the greater success as a pro, unifying three world titles (WBA, IBF and WBO) in November 2014 by recording an utterly comprehensive unanimous points win over the legendary Bernard Hopkins. Alvarez is yet to contest world honours, although he has overcome some high-level opponents in Chilemba (md 12 – November 2015), Lucian Bute (ko 5 – February 2017) and Jean Pascal (md 12 – June 2017). Kovalev, 35, powered his way to prominence with “Krushing” stoppages of respected rivals in Gabriel Campillo (three rounds), Nathan Cleverly (four) and Pascal (twice – eight and seven) from January 2013 to January 2016. Next up in July 2016 came a conclusive – if unspectacular – unanimous verdict victory against the slippery Chilemba, before two much-anticipated meetings with then-fellow pound-for-pounder Andre Ward in November 2016 and June 2017. After finding himself on the wrong end of a disputed unanimous decision in the initial bout, Kovalev was halted in
eight in the return, though somewhat controversially (Ward was accused of landing low blows).
The pair of losses to Ward hit Kovalev hard, and saw him cede possession of his trio of world titles. However, he bounced back by registering inside-schedule successes over decent-but-outgunned opposition in Vyacheslav Shabranskyy (rsf 2 – November 2017) and Igor Mikhalkin (rsf 7 – March 2018). The Shabranskyy win brought Kovalev one of his old belts – the vacant WBO strap – which had been relinquished by Ward upon his retirement in September.
While Kovalev is known as one of the most destructive hitters in the sport – upstairs and down with either fist – Alvarez is not regarded as a banger, although the threat of his right hand should not be overlooked. The Montreal-based 34-year-old is not as tall as Kovalev, but he makes up for this by possessing a longer reach.
Boasting a shooting jab and effective movement, Alvarez unleashes accurate, spiteful flurries, including hooks and uppercuts from both gloves. Kovalev’s combinations are not as quick, but they have more weight behind them, particularly his left hooks and honeypunch overhand rights. Composed and patient when on the attack, the solidchinned Los Angeles resident pumps out a heavy, consistent jab to head and body, using clever feints and footwork to locate openings. His technical talents are often overshadowed by his brute force and impressive conditioning, but make no mistake, he is a smart and skilful boxer.
Kovalev is favoured to get the better of Alvarez, but this one is no foregone conclusion. The pick is for the champion to retain his title, but it will take a competitive and possibly contentious decision to get the job done.
When the menacing Bivol stopped Sullivan Barrera in the 12th round five months ago, it marked the Saint Petersburg man’s first truly significant scalp. Before this, the Kyrgyzstan-born 27-year-old had come up against a series of lesser-known adversaries who were nonetheless wholly competent and acceptable for that stage of his career. However, the 13-0 (11) Bivol made each one of them look completely out of their depth.
Although his 25-5-2 (10) record is not majorly eye-catching, Chilemba almost always gives a good account of himself. The 31-year-old, who fights out of Johannesburg, has shared a ring with various notable names. In addition to Kovalev and Alvarez, he has boxed Tony Bellew twice (d sd 12 – March 2013 & l ud 12 – May 2013) and Oleksandr Gvozdyk (l rtd 8 – November 2016). Following the Gvozdyk setback, Chilemba required surgery on his right arm, which kept him out for the entirety of 2017. He returned in March with a unanimous points triumph over former Kovalev victim Blake Caparello.
Trained by all-time great Roy Jones Jnr, the athletic and well-travelled Chilemba is as tough and awkward as they come. Comfortable and relaxed when operating at range with his lengthy levers, the challenger links his shots together with swiftness and fluidity, although they lack serious venom. The same cannot be said of Bivol’s shuddering combos, which are propelled with speed and precision.
An intelligent marksman who is light on his feet, Bivol thrusts out a quality jab, honed during his successful amateur days. With his sharp left hooks and long, piercing right crosses, he can become the first man to definitively stop Chilemba – not just on an injury – by clinically breaking him down in around 10 rounds.
THE VERDICT The neutrals will be hoping that Kovalev and Bivol do the business, so that a unification fight between the pair can be arranged.