[ad_1]
Photo credit: Sergey Kovalev via Twitter (@KrusherKovalev)
Former WBO light heavyweight champion Sergey ‘The Krusher’ Kovalev 34-4 (29) will make his cruiserweight debut against Tervel Pulev 16-0 (13) at The Kia Forum in Inglewood, California on May 14.
Kovalev is trained by Buddy McGirt and his strength and conditioning coach is Teddy Cruz the same team that reinvented Arturo Gatti.
“Buddy was a real smart boxer and a real smart trainer and coach,” Kovalev said. “Sometimes a good boxer can’t be a good coach and sometimes a coach wasn’t a good boxer. But Buddy has it both ways – good boxer and good coach.
“He does what he needs to do to get me prepared the best for the fight. Buddy gives me tactics and sound techniques and strategy. Together we are working towards getting another world title, this time in the cruiserweight division and become champion for the fourth time.”
Kovalev has spent eight weeks in camp to prepare for the fight in Van Nuys.
“The most difficult part of my career right now is being away from my family,” said Kovalev. “Ten years ago it was just me, now I have a wife and two kids. To be away from them for two months is tough.”
Kovalev will be having his first fight since November 2019 when he was knocked out in the 11th round by Mexican superstar Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez 57-1-2 (39).
The 39-year-old Russian says the layoff has been a double-edged sword.
“When you don’t fight for a long time you lose boxing skills. On the other hand the time off has helped me rest and get rid of all of my injuries – it’s like a renewal,” Kovalev said.
“My first two weeks of sparring I couldn’t touch my opponent, mostly because I was heavy, about 210-pounds. But then by week three, I had lost some weight and my boxing skills came back. By May 14, I will be at 187 pounds and there will be no rust.
“I don’t really study my opponents. I will watch one or two rounds from his last couple of fights so I can see what style he likes – does he like to fight inside or from a distance then I can prepare. I just can’t wait to get inside the ring and show the world who is the best cruiserweight on the planet.
Kovalev was initially preparing to face Chinese southpaw Fanlong Meng 17-0 (10) before manager Egis Klimas announced a change of opponent.
“Egis called me and said, ‘you have a new opponent – it is Pulev’,” Kovalev recalled. “I said ‘Pulev? He is a heavyweight’ and Egis said ‘no, he has a brother that is a cruiserweight’ so I said ‘okay, let’s go’.”
“The only difference in the opponent change to me is we were initially training for a southpaw, now we are training for a rightpaw.”
[ad_2]
Source link