Tag: Sergey Kovalev

Top Rank’s four-man light heavyweight tournament reportedly set

Top Rank’s light heavyweight tournament will pit Eleider Alvarez against Joe Smith Jr. and Umar Salamov against Maksim Vlasov…

A new light heavyweight titleholder will be crowned in the coming months.

A de-facto four-man tournament will soon take place featuring Umar Salamov vs. Maksim Vlasov on one side and Eleider Alvarez vs. Joe Smith Jr. on the other. The winners of each bout will face off later this year for the WBO title, which was relinquished by Canelo Alvarez shortly after he seized it from Sergey Kovalev.

All participants are associated with Top Rank, which reportedly just signed Salamov and Vlasov to promotional deals, so all bouts will be televised and/or streamed on ESPN/ESPN+.

The Athletic was first to report the news.

Absent from the tournament is the WBO’s No.1 light heavyweight contender Gilberto Ramirez, who was originally slated to be involved. The Mexican hasn’t fought since his he stopped journeyman Tommy Karpency last April. He reportedly is at odds with Top Rank over his purse for that fight and is trying to buy out his contract. Ramirez’s retreat essentially opened up a spot for Smith.

Russians Salamov (25-1, 19 KOs) and Vlasov (45-3, 26 KOs) are relatively unknown stateside, but both Alvarez and Smith are known quantities.

Alvarez (25-1, 13 KOs) won the WBO title when he upset Kovalev in the summer of 2018 but lost it promptly in the rematch.The Colombian is coming off a one-punch knockout of Michael Seals last month, his first fight since returning from an Achilles injury.

The week prior, Smith (25-3, 20 KOs) picked up a solid points win over Jesse Hart. Smith, who works full-time as a day laborer in Long Island, is best known for ending the career of Bernard Hopkins in 2016.

Top Rank also promotes Russian bruiser Artur Beterbiev (15-0, 15 KOs), who defends two his light heavyweight belts against China’s Fanlong Meng (16-0, 10 KOs) on March 28 in Montreal. A potential unification bout between the winner of the WBO tournament and Beterbiev, should he remain undefeated, could conceivably be scheduled for the end of the year or the first quarter of 2021.

The lone light heavyweight titleholder that Top Rank does not control is WBA titlist Dmitry Bivol (17-0, 11 KOs), who is promoted by Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom Boxing and the Russian outfit World of Boxing.

Sergey Kovalev arrested on suspicion of DUI

Sergey Kovalev was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence early Monday in Los Angeles, according to TMZ.

Sergey Kovalev continues to get headlines for all the wrong reasons.

The former light heavyweight titleholder was arrested on suspicion of DUI, driving under the influence, early Monday in Los Angeles, according to TMZ.

Kovalev was pulled over by a California Highway Patrol officer at about 2 a.m. PT, TMZ reported. He was arrested and booked. He was released about 5½ hours later.

Kovalev, was charged with felony assault in 2018 in Big Bear, California. The case is unresolved. He allegedly attacked a woman, who claimed he hit and hurt her after she rejected a sexual advance. An out-of-court settlement was reached. However, the woman is suing Kovalev in civil court, alleging that he has failed to make payments.

Last year, he allegedly caused problems on a plane. A woman said he was intoxicated and tried to kiss her.

Kovalev (34-4-1, 29 KOs), a pound-for-pound contender before successive losses to Andre Ward in 2016 and 2017, hasn’t fought since Canelo Alvarez knocked him out  on Nov. 2 in Las Vegas.

Adrien Broner arrested at Deontay Wilder-Tyson Fury weigh-in

Adrien Broner was arrested after he refused to leave the MGM Grand property at the Deontay Wilder-Tyson Fury weigh-in Friday.

LAS VEGAS – It wouldn’t be a big fight without another reported incident involving Adrien Broner.

Broner was arrested Friday at the weigh-in for the Deontay Wilder-Tyson Fury heavyweight rematch at the MGM Grand on Saturday night

Broner, the former four-division titleholder, was detained after MGM security guards asked him to leave the property. He ignored them He then was handcuffed and taken into custody by the Las Vegas Police Department. According to TMZ, Broner will be given a citation for misdemeanor trespassing.

The MGM Grand banned Broner, 30, from being on the property after he reportedly got involved in a brawl before Canelo Alvarez’s 10th-round stoppage of Sergey Kovalev on Nov. 2.

Broner (33-4-1, 24 KOs, 1 NC), who was seen in the media workroom Friday afternoon, hasn’t fought since losing a unanimous decision to Manny Pacquiao for a welterweight title in January 2019, also at the MGM Grand.

Oscar De La Hoya: ‘Nobody wants to fight Canelo’

Oscar De La Hoya has offered deals to BJ Saunders and Callum Smith to fight Canelo Alvarez in May, but both camps said ‘no’…what gives?

Canelo Alvarez is a cash cow, meaning he generates a gaudy amount of money for everyone around him. That includes his opponents. So why then is he still without a dance partner for his annual May fight date?

Golden Boy Promotion’s CEO Oscar De La Hoya, Alvarez’s promoter, is stumped as well.

De La Hoya expressed his incredulity in an interview during the DAZN broadcast of the Ryan Garca-Francisco Fonseco card Friday night. Recently, reports have circulated that Billy Joe Saunders and Callum Smith, the presumed front-runners to fight Alvarez on May 2, rejected offers from De La Hoya.

“It’s funny because everybody talks a big game,” De La Hoya said. “I want Canelo. I can beat Canelo. Well that’s BS. Nobody wants to fight Canelo. They’re all afraid of him. He is the superstar in boxing. And if you fight him, you’ll make the most money. What’s the problem? Pull the trigger.” 

Saunders and Smith are still engaged in negotiations, according to The Athletic. Presumably, the initial offers fell short of what either fighter wanted to fight Alvarez. Recent Alvarez opponents Daniel Jacobs and Sergey Kovalev earned in the neighborhood of $12 million, a gargantuan purse compared to their typical paydays. It’s not a stretch to think that both Saunders and Smith are angling for a similar financial package.

“I’ve offered B.J. Saunders a fight, and he’s balking at it,” De La Hoya said. “I’ve offered Smith a fight, and he’s balking at it. I have four other guys that I can negotiate with and talk to. If you guys don’t take it, we’re moving on to  somebody else. But [Alvarez] will fight in May.” 

In the end, the bucks stops with De La Hoya. He knows he is fighting against the clock to consummate a deal for his most important client.

“Time is running out,” he told DAZN. “I have until Sunday … or Monday the latest or I’m moving on.”

Sergey Kovalev plans to fight at cruiserweight, says trainer

Sergey Kovalev will be moving up to the cruiserweight division, according to his trainer Buddy McGirt.

The next time Sergey Kovalev ducks through the ropes, expect him to be a bit heavier.

After 39 fights at light heavyweight in a career that spans more than a decade, the former titleholder is looking to start afresh in a new weight class.

“He’s going up to cruiserweight,” his trainer Buddy McGirt told Boxing Junkie. “We’ll start training in about a month.”

Kovalev (34-4-1, 29 KOs) recently loss his 175-pound title to Canelo Alvarez after suffering an 11th-round technical knockout in November. The bout, which generated a career purse for the Russian, came on the heels of what was a taxing fight for Kovalev against Anthony Yarde in late August. Kovalev was nearly out on his feet before storming back to stop the British contender in the 11th round.

McGirt said that he signed off on Kovalev’s decision to move up to cruiserweight under one condition: He can’t come in anywhere close to the 200-pound limit.

“As long as we go to 185 [pounds], we’re good. No more than 185,” McGirt said. “He can come in at 180 and beat those guys. He’ll be light, and that’s OK.”

McGirt said the decision had nothing to do with the loss to Alvarez per se. Rather, he based it off of how Kovalev looked in the past couple of training camps. Cutting weight to make the 175-pound limit was becoming harder and harder.

“I think he’ll be better at that weight (cruiserweight),” McGirt said.

It’s not clear when or whom Kovalev will fight next, but his promoter, Main Events, told Boxing Junkie last month that he will likely appear on a DAZN card. McGirt says he has not spoken to anybody from the promotional side about Kovalev’s move up in weight.

“I haven’t spoken to Kathy [Duva of Main Events], so I can’t put that lie out there,” he said.

Main Events did not respond to a request for comment.

Kovalev was recently sued by a woman he allegedly assaulted for non-payment of their agreed-upon settlement. The woman, Jamie Frontz, claims Kovalev punched her in the face and that she suffered a displaced disk in her back. The assault case is still pending.

Canelo Alvarez more and more likely to face Smith or Saunders

A fight between Canelo Alvarez and Ryota Murata now seems unlikely, which could open the door for either Callum Smith or Billy Joe Saunders.

It looks as if Canelo Alvarez is taking the first steps in finding an opponent other than Ryota Murata for a fight in early May.

Eddie Hearn, of Matchroom Boxing, says Alvarez’s management has had minor discussions about Callum Smith and Billy Joe Saunders. It’s a further sign that talks for an Alvarez-Murata fight in Japan on May 2, the Saturday before Cinco de Mayo, have fallen apart.

“It’s really going to come down to who Canelo Alvarez chooses,’’ Hearn told iFL TV. “There’s been minor conversations about both fighters, and they’re both aware of that.

“I think, there’s a long way to go to making a deal. But I do believe: Who else are they going to choose?’’

Both Smith and Saunders hold super middleweight titles. Alvarez, still the reigning middleweight champion, would defend his 160-pound belts against Murata. But there’s speculation that Canelo would struggle to get back down to 160 after fighting at 175 pounds in a 10th-round stoppage of Sergey Kovalev on Nov. 2 in Las Vegas. Canelo relinquished the light heavyweight belt he took from Kovalev.

Canelo presumably could get down to 168 than 160. From Hearns’ perspective, that means either Smith or Saunders. Also, a deal with either would be easy to do. Both Smith and Saunders are tied to DAZN, which signed Canelo to a $365-million contract in October 2018.  However, Canelo promoter Oscar De La Hoya has said there’s no interest in Saunders.

“Ultimately, as I’ve said, Canelo is the boss and Canelo will choose,’’ Hearn said. “But Billy and Callum are desperate for this fight.’’

Callum Smith still hoping to win Canelo Alvarez lottery

Callum Smith, a super middleweight champion, is trying keep himself in line for the big money that comes with a shot at Canelo Alvarez.

The campaign to be Canelo Alvarez’s next opponent continues.

Callum Smith, a super middleweight champion, is trying keep himself in line for the big money that comes with a shot at Alvarez in a fight projected to happen on Cinco De Mayo weekend in early May.

“I think everyone is just waiting to see who he picks,’’ Smith told Soccer AM, a Sky Sports’ talk show.

The waiting game continues amid uncertainty about talks for Alvarez to fight Ryota Murata in Japan. Negotiations are going nowhere, according to a report by ESPN, which cited an unnamed source.

Alvarez, still a reigning middleweight titleholder, is expected to go back down in weight after he relinquished the light heavyweight belt he took from Sergey Kovalev by a 10th-round stoppage in his last bout Nov. 2 in Las Vegas.

Murata fights at 160 pounds. Smith is at 168. Billy Joe Saunders, who holds another 168-pound belt, is also believed to be a possible Alvarez opponent.

“If it is me, I would be happy,’’ Smith said. “If not, I’m in a good division. There’s a lot of big fights out there for me, outside Canelo Alvarez, so I’m in a good position. It’s just sitting and waiting and hopefully we can get one of the big names sorted.

“Styles make fights. I think I’m a bit of a bad fight for him. I’m 6-foot-3. I’m a lot bigger than him. I can punch. Style-wise, I’m not ideal to fight, but I’m not taking anything away from Canelo Alvarez. He’s a special fighter and he’s one of the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world for a reason.

“I wouldn’t say he’s avoided me. I just think there’s a big list of opponents who want to fight him. So he’s got the choice of many, and he picks who he wants to fight. Whoever gets the job, takes it.”

Canelo Alvarez vs. Ryota Murata in Japan? They’re talking

Canelo Alvarez and Ryota Murata are negotiating to fight this spring, multiple outlets have reported.

Canelo Alvarez and Ryota Murata are negotiating to fight this spring, multiple outlets have reported.

Alvarez, who still holds two middleweight titles, told Sports Illustrated recently that he’s interested in fighting in Japan. Murata, a resident of Tokyo, is very popular in his home country.

“I’ve been thinking about fighting all over the world,” Alvarez told SI.com. “Tokyo, Japan, has been one of the primary places on my mind.”

SI reported that Alvarez has not committed to fighting Murata next. He reportedly is still considering 168-pound titleholders Callum Smith and Billy Joe Saunders.

Alvarez (53-1-2, 36 KOs) has not announced the weight at which his next fight will take place. He’s coming off a knockout victory over Sergey Kovalev in November but gave up the title, a clear indication that he doesn’t want to fight at 175 pounds.

The prevailing wisdom is that Alvarez will fight at super middleweight, meaning his matchup with Murata (16-2, 13 KOs) could take place at 168 pounds or perhaps at a catch weight between 160 and 168.

Murata is best known for winning a gold medal in the 2012 Olympics. The 34-year-old has won two in a row since he lost a wide decision to Rob Brant in October 2018.

Oscar De La Hoya: Billy Joe Saunders not Canelo Alvarez’s first choice

Oscar De La Hoya, the promoter of Canelo Alvarez, said that Billy Joe Saunders is not the front runner to face his fighter on May 2.

Billy Joe Saunders isn’t the leading candidate to fight Canelo Alvarez on May 2, according to Alvarez’s promoter Oscar De La Hoya.

Saunders, a 168-pound titleholder had been rumored to be Alvarez’s first choice for his next fight.

De La Hoya was talking about Alvarez’s immediate plans during a SecondsOut video interview when he squelched the rumor.

“I’ll tell you one thing,” he said. “Saunders is not the front runner, that’s for sure. I have no idea who threw that name out there. But once we nail down who it’s going to be, we’ll make an announcement shortly

“I have a trip to Mexico with Canelo and his team [scheduled}. We’ll sit down, I’ll stay there a few days, iron out a deal and take it from there.”

Saunders has been considered a leading candidate for several reasons. One, everyone seems to agree that 168 pounds would be the best weight for him. And Saunders is one of the four super middleweight titleholders.

A fight with Saunders and Callum Smith, another beltholder, would be the easiest fights to make. David Benavidez and Caleb Plant also hold 168-pound titles but they fight for rival Premier Boxing Champions, which would make negotiations complicated.

Another option would be a move back down to 160, although De La Hoya doesn’t seem to be keen on that idea.

“Just because of experience, going up to 160 and coming back to 147, maybe it would be a little difficult for him. But he has the option.”

Alvarez hasn’t fought at 160 since he defeated Gennadiy Golovkin by a majority decision in September 2018.

In his last fight, Alvarez stopped Sergey Kovalev to win a title at 175 pounds. He gave up the title shortly afterward, an indication that he has no plans to fight at light heavyweight.

Eleider Alvarez-Michael Seals winner could face Joe Smith Jr. for vacant title

The winner of the Eleider Alvarez and Michael Seals winner could face Joe Smith Jr. for vacant title.

The winner of the Eleider Alvarez-Michael Seals light heavyweight bout on Saturday could fight for title as early as his next fight.

Alvarez’s co-promoter, Yvon Michel of GYM, said in a recent interview that his charge could face Long Islander Joe Smith Jr., who is coming off a split decision win over Jesse Hart, for the vacant WBO 175-pound title. Of course, Alvarez must first beat hard hitting Michael Seals at Turning Stone Resort and Casino in Verona, New York. Alvarez is also promoted by Top Rank.

“With a convincing win over Seals, Eleider can reclaim his world title in his next bout,” Michel told Radio-Canada. “It’s understood that we can challenge the American Joe Smith for the vacant WBO light heavyweight title.”

Alvarez, a Columbian who lives and trains in Montreal, has a bit of history with the WBO strap.

The WBO belt was vacated by Canelo Alvarez after he wrested it from Sergey Kovalev in November by 11th-round knockout. It was the same belt that Alvarez (24-1, 12 KOs) had won in 2018, when he knocked out Kovalev in Atlantic City, New Jersey. Alvarez lost the belt several months later in the rematch, which Kovalev won by a relatively comfortable decision.

Michel has no illusions about Saturday’s bout. A loss to Seals (24-2, 18 KOs) would be a major step back for Alvarez.

“I’m very confident in Eleider’s skills and his team,” Michel said. “That doesn’t worry me at all. This fight is a turning point in his career. If he loses to Seals, he’ll join the rest of the contenders. Climbing back up to world-class status will be relatively difficult.”

Top Rank/ESPN will have showcased consequential light heavyweight bouts on back-to-back weekends. On Jan. 11, Smith defeated Jesse Hart by a split decision that all but one judge saw as a clear victory. Top Rank has a deep talent pool at 175. The company also handles light heavyweight titleholder Artur Beterbiev and former titleholder Oleksandr Gvozdyk, as well as former super middleweight titleholder Gilberto Ramirez.