Duva opens window to unheralded Kovalev

Kathy Duva agreed to take a look at the Russian fighter nobody wanted because that’s where her company has discovered much of its success, along the margin of boxing’s collection of talent.

She met him the previous day, and he was quiet and polite and wore a nice sports coat, so never in a lifetime could she have imagined what would come next.

"His eyes reminded me of Ray Leonard when he got into the ring against Thomas Hearns," Duva said. "I saw daggers coming out of them. It was just like Ray Leonard — this nice, affable, sweet guy who got into the ring and turned into someone else. That was Sergey. All I could think about was Ray Leonard’s eyes.

"We knew right then …"

You have to understand that before he arrived in Las Vegas for a title defense Saturday at Mandalay Bay, before Duva and Main Events took the chance Top Rank and Golden Boy and others wouldn't, before an opponent he beat by technical knockout slipped into a coma and died three days later in 2011, before he rose up the rankings despite several top contenders refusing to fight him, before he became the unbeaten light heavyweight champion, before he out-boxed Bernard Hopkins to win by unanimous decision, Sergey Kovalev kept knocking on the door.

It is an objective soaked in gold, the lone dream upon which all young Russian fighters are nurtured. Boxing in Kovalev’s homeland is first and foremost about one’s amateur path to Olympic glory, about promoting national health and prestige as a flag is raised and anthem played, about becoming a hero in the eyes of millions.

He never reached such a podium, despite having 213 amateur fights and collecting countless medals at national events over 11 years.

He was always left out in the bitter cold.

"Growing up, my (amateur) career was terrible because I had nobody behind me," Kovalev said. "No support. I was alone. I had no help to get to a world championship or Olympics. Knock, knock, knock. Nobody opened the door. So I used the window to get my goal of being a professional."

Nobody wanted him even then, except the man who always did.

Egis Klimas is Kovalev’s manager and the one who supported the fighter financially for the first three years of his pro career, as more and more promoters balked at signing a Russian light heavyweight they didn’t believe could engage fans enough to purchase tickets.

But then Klimas made Duva a deal in 2012: Watch his fighter oppose Darnell Boone, whom he had beaten via split decision nearly two years earlier, and if she didn’t choose to sign Kovalev, he would never bother her again.

"I figured if he’s going to struggle against Darnell Boone, he’s not going anywhere, anyway," Duva said.

Kovalev won via technical knockout in the second round.

He hasn’t been alone since.

It is time he fought in Las Vegas, the next sensible step on his journey. Kovalev (27-0-1) is the World Boxing Organization, World Boxing Association and International Boxing Federation titleholder and opposes Nadjib Mohammedi in a mandatory defense Saturday on HBO. This is Kovalev's first trip to Nevada, and he has been welcomed in celebratory style, receiving a proclamation from Clark County on Monday and greeting many from the local Russian community at a restaurant the following day.

There was Russian food and hookah pipes and arm wrestling equipment and a karaoke machine. The only thing that would have made it more authentic would have been video of Vladimir Putin singing "Madam Broshkina."

While downing a quart of Beluga vodka.

Wladimir Klitschko is the heavyweight champion and by far the most recognized Russian fighter. Middleweight champ Gennady Golovkin is from Kazakhstan and another popular name. But in the 32-year-old Kovalev, Duva thinks she has an athlete whose ultra-aggressive style is more than fitting to cross into a mainstream fan base not exactly enamored with boxing today.

She is certain that once a famous but aging crop of welterweights — led by a guy named Floyd — finally retire, her guy will be The Guy.

"If you want to be at the top of the food chain, you have to fight in Las Vegas," Duva said. "This is where Sergey needs to be. He’s plenty good enough. He can’t have a boring fight. We can put him in with the biggest stinkers out there, which we have done more than once, and he never gives them a chance to stink it up. He blows them away.

"Down the road, I’m looking at a fight against Andre Ward. I see a gaping void coming. I really believe once those (welterweights) move out, Sergey and Ward and a few others from the light heavyweights and super middleweights could become the new four kings. Like we had with (Marvelous Marvin) Hagler, Leonard, (Roberto) Duran and Hearns. Like we had with (Evander) Holyfield, (Lennos) Lewis, (Mike) Tyson and (Riddick) Bowe years ago. You get those clusters.

"Sergey should be in one of those. I tell him that I will get him the fights, but he has to win them. And he does. The amateur system didn’t work for him in Russia. Our system has."

Herein lies the lesson: When the door doesn't open, find a window.

Las Vegas Review-Journal sports columnist Ed Graney can be reached at egraney@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-4618. He can be a heard on "Seat and Ed" on Fox Sports 1340 from 2 to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. Follow him on Twitter: @edgraney.

WBA, WBO and IBF light heavyweight champion Sergey Kovalev of Russia poses before receiving a proclamation from the Clark County Commission at McCarran International Airport on Monday. Kovalev will face No. 1-ranked contender Nadjib Mohammedi at the Mandalay Bay Events Center on Saturday. COURTESY PHOTO

WBA, WBO and IBF light heavyweight champion Sergey Kovalev discusses his fight with No. 1-ranked contender Nadjib Mohammedi at the Mandalay Bay Events Center on Saturday during an interview Thursday at Green Dacha Grill. (James Tensuan/Las Vegas Review-Journal) Follow James Tensuan on Twitter

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A ticket for WBA, WBO and IBF light heavyweight champion Sergey Kovalev's fight Saturday against No. 1-ranked contender Nadjib Mohammedi at the Mandalay Bay Events Center is seen at Green Dacha Grill on Tuesday. (James Tensuan/Las Vegas Review-Journal) Follow James Tensuan on Twitter

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Kirill Yakovlev of the World Armwrestling Championship poses with WBA, WBO and IBF light heavyweight champion Sergey Kovalev at Green Dacha Grill on Tuesday. Kovalev will fight No. 1-ranked contender Nadjib Mohammedi at the Mandalay Bay Events Center on Saturday. (James Tensuan/Las Vegas Review-Journal) Follow James Tensuan on Twitter

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World Boxing Organization light heavyweight champion Sergey “KrusherÓ Kovalev (27-0-1, 24 KOs) of Russia receives a proclamation from Clark County Commissioner Mary Beth Scow at McCarran Airport in Las Vegas on Monday, July 20, 2015. Proclaiming Monday as “Sergey Kovalev Day on the Las Vegas Strip and throughout Clark County," Kovalev, the undefeated Light Heavyweight Champion WBO/IBF makes his long-awaited debut in Southern Nevada on the HBO-televised card promoted by Main Events Saturday, July 25, at Mandalay Bay. Kovalev faces No. 1-ranked contender Nadjib Mohammedi in the 12-round championship bout. Photo by Jim Laurie/for Main Event Productions

World Boxing Organization light heavyweight champion Sergey “KrusherÓ Kovalev (27-0-1, 24 KOs) of Russia poses before receiving a proclamation from Clark County Commissioner Mary Beth Scow at McCarran Airport in Las Vegas on Monday, July 20, 2015. Proclaiming Monday as “Sergey Kovalev Day on the Las Vegas Strip and throughout Clark County," Kovalev, the undefeated Light Heavyweight Champion WBO/IBF makes his long-awaited debut in Southern Nevada on the HBO-televised card promoted by Main Events Saturday, July 25, at Mandalay Bay. Kovalev faces No. 1-ranked contender Nadjib Mohammedi in the 12-round championship bout. Photo by Jim Laurie/for Main Event Productions

Boxer Sergey Kovalev signs boxing gloves for a friend at Green Dacha Grill on Tuesday, July 21, 2015. Kovalev will be fighting Nadjib Mohammedi this Saturday at Mandalay Bay. (James Tensuan/Las Vegas Review-Journal) Follow James Tensuan on Twitter

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Boxer Sergey Kovalev speaks with the press at Green Dacha Grill on Tuesday, July 21, 2015. Kovalev will be fighting Nadjib Mohammedi this Saturday at Mandalay Bay. (James Tensuan/Las Vegas Review-Journal) Follow James Tensuan on Twitter

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Sergey Kovalev poses for a photo with Kirill Yakovlev of the World Armwrestling Championship at Green Dacha Grill on Tuesday, July 21, 2015. Kovalev will be fighting Nadjib Mohammedi this Saturday at Mandalay Bay. (James Tensuan/Las Vegas Review-Journal) Follow James Tensuan on Twitter

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