Kovalev seeks opponents’ deference, win over Mohammedi
Sergey Kovalev isn't going to compare himself to Floyd Mayweather Jr. But as a fellow world champion, Kovalev believes he has earned a certain amount of respect.
To Kovalev, the world light heavyweight champ who holds three of the four sanctioning body belts — World Boxing Association, International Boxing Federation and World Boxing Organization — he should not have to cave into the demands of potential opponents.
Imagine if Mayweather were to allow his foes to dictate the terms of any deal. It's an absurd premise. Mayweather, boxing's pound-for-pound king, calls his own shots.
"I am the champion," Kovalev said. "But I am not getting the respect of a champion. If someone wants to fight me, it should be on my terms, not theirs."
Kovalev (27-0-1, 24 knockouts), who defends his IBF belt tonight at Mandalay Bay against veteran Nadjib Mohammedi on HBO, is starting to get tired of some demands allegedly being made.
Adonis Stevenson, the World Boxing Council champion, doesn't appear serious about wanting to make a fight, though it was Kovalev who pulled out of a purse bid in April. But according to his promoter, Main Events' Kathy Duva, it was only because of his ties to HBO.
Andre Ward, the world super middleweight champ, is willing to fight Kovalev, but only at a catch-weight of 170 or 172 pounds. Kovalev insists the fight be at 175.
"I don't believe they are serious about wanting to fight," Kovalev said. "Stevenson? He's a piece of (bleep). He doesn't really want to fight. I have three belts. He has one. He shouldn’t be in a position to tell me what to do for us to fight.
"Andre Ward? If he can fight at 170 or 172, he can fight at 175."
Then there's Jean Pascal. At Thursday's news conference to promote the fight, Pascal, whom Kovalev stopped in the eighth round March 14 in Montreal, was clamoring for a rematch and claimed he, not Kovalev, is the world's best 175-pounder.
Pascal (29-2-1, 17 KOs) fights in the co-feature tonight, facing Cuban Yuniesky Gonzalez (16-0, 12 KOs) in a 10-round bout.
If it sounds like Kovalev is distracted and looking past Mohammedi (37-3, 23 KOs), he insists he's not.
"I'm a professional, and I take every fight seriously," Kovalev said. "He is a good fighter, and I have prepared for a tough fight, like I always do."
John David Jackson, who trains Kovalev, said his fighter did not overlook Mohammedi in his preparation. But at the sports book, it's a far different story.
MGM Resorts didn't bother to post a line on the fight, instead offering only proposition wagers. Kovalev is minus-2,200 to knock out Mohammedi and 3-1 to get a decision.
Mohammedi is 33-1 to win by decision and 30-1 to win by knockout. The over-under that the fight doesn't go eight rounds is minus-125 to the under.
"He listens, and he takes his job very seriously," Jackson said. "We had a lot of different sparring partners in camp because Mohammedi is so awkward and unconventional. He throws punches from a lot of different angles. But Sergey did a good job preparing, and he’s very motivated."
How motivated? Jackson said when Mohammedi hired Abel Sanchez, Kovalev's former trainer, to work his corner, his fighter got excited. Sanchez, who worked with Kovalev from 2010 to 2012, is working his third fight with Mohammedi.
"Abel said some uncomplimentary things about Sergey after they split up," Jackson said. "I told Sergey to take it out on Mohammedi, make him pay for what Abel said.
"So if this fight goes a few rounds, you'll know why. Sergey will be punishing Mohammedi for using Abel in his corner."
The card begins at 4 p.m., with the HBO telecast at 7.
NOTES — Kovalev weighed in Friday at 174½ pounds and Mohammedi 173. ... Kovalev's purse is $750,000 and Mohammedi's $270,000. ... Kenny Bayless will be the referee, and Adalaide Byrd, Robert Hoyle and Steve Weisfeld will be the judges.
Contact reporter Steve Carp at scarp@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2913. Follow @stevecarprj on Twitter.
