Kovalev aims to come out swingin’
The date was Nov. 19, 2016, a good day for the sport of boxing. Good because it had two undefeated boxers in their primes competing against one another in what was a “pick-em” fight.
The last American boxer to win an Olympic Gold medal, Andre Ward, moved up from the Super-middleweight division, and in his second bout at light heavyweight he faced World Champion Sergey “The Krusher” Kovalev, a matchup that had both boxers extremely motivated to win.
Kovalev would drop Ward early on in the bout but would fade late, only to lose a highly contested and disputed decision. An immediate rematch was signed, and in June of this year the result would not only shock the boxing world but Kovalev himself. Ward would win via eighth-round KO, and shortly thereafter he would announce his retirement from the sport of boxing with a professional record of 32-0. Kovalev would leave the ring that night confused but determined to get his career back on course.
“Something happened to me, two or three minutes before I got into the ring, I felt strange,” he said. “I have no memory from the second round until the punch in the eighth round when I lost my balance.”
Kovalev does confess that Ward was able to shake him up with a right hand to the face but insists the referee’s instructions were not clear after he got hit with the first low blow. As a true classy professional, Kovalev is focused on his future.
“All the problems, I created for myself,” he said. “What happened is in the past, it was a big lesson for me and I don’t want to look backward. I wish to start over again from zero.”
He understands that he can’t sit still and complain about what should or should not have happened.
The new start includes a new trainer. After having former World Champion John David PHOTO BY AP Jackson in his corner, he will now have Abror Tursunpulatov. Kovalev wishes Jackson well but believes Tursunpulatov not only understands him but strongly believes the right things are being done in preparations for a fight now.
A solid game plan is the primary focal point. The language barrier also played a major role in Kovalev’s decision to switch trainers.
“We understand each other, we speak the same language and it is the most important thing,” he said. “If he says something about an exercise and I don’t agree, we discuss it and find a compromise, some sort of solution. I feel very comfortable to work with him.”
Being comfortable is the key to any athlete’s success no matter what changes are made over the course of his or her career. Training was different under Jackson, and Kovalev felt that he was not applying himself fully both mentally and physically.
The next chapter in Kovalev’s career will begin Saturday evening when he steps into the ring at the Theater at Madison Square Garden against Ukrainian Slava Shabranskyy. It should be an exciting bout since Kovalev is attempting to prove he is back stronger than ever, while Shabranskyy is a young, confident guy hoping that he is catching his opponent at the right time.
With the departure of Ward, Kovalev understands that the division is wide open and more interesting matches could be made for the fans. If it’s good for the fans, then it’s good for the sport, although he would welcome a third fight with Ward. For now, “The Krusher” is once again motivated to get back to the top of the division in thrilling style.
NOTE: Two former Golden Gloves champions will be fighting for the first time at Madison Square Garden. Ismael Villarreal from the Bronx will be making his pro debut and will fight at 7 p.m. LeShawn Rodriguez, the quiet, skillful boxer from Shirley, Long Island, will have his eighth professional bout with the bell at 7:40 p.m. Tickets are still available.