Sergey Kovalev: ‘It’s not in my character to stop my career by losing’

Sergey Kovalev

RUSSIAโ€™S Sergey Kovalev is not quite as fearsome as he once was. But after being stopped by Eleider Alvarez he attempts to win back his WBO light-heavyweight title in their rematch tonight (February 2) at Ford Center at the Star in Frisco, Texas.

โ€œThis is the most important [fight]ย for me because I couldn’t stop my boxing career as a loser. It’s not in my character. First of all, this is my goal, to get back my belt that I dropped on the way to my big goals. I made a mistake last time [against Alvarez], but this time I will fix it. This Saturday, I will fix this situation and be on top again. If not, I am not the Sergey ‘Krusher’ย Kovalev. Believe me, this Saturday will be the best version of me because I turned everything on to get in the best shape of my boxingย career,” he says

“My goal is to collect all four belts, but I dropped this belt on my way to my huge goal. After [the Alvarez loss], a lot of people thought I should stop my boxing career. No, that’s not in my character to stop my career by losing. When I win, I will think, stop or not to stop? But when I lose, it was 100 percent no.”

Alvarez insists history is due to repeat itself. โ€œWhen you lose, you have a lot of excuses. I had a great game plan withย my team. If he says that was an accident, then he needs to get ready for another accident,” the Colombian said.

“Things have changed a lot for me. This is my first time being a main event {defending my world title}. What has changed is my popularity, but I’m still the same guy.”

sergey kovalev

“Thanks to God, I’m a mentally strong person. I have come from the bottom, basically, and little by little, I’ve been getting my stuff. Now I have more, so that’s why I think I’ve been able to handle everything well. That’s why I am a mentally strong person.”

Full weights for the show:

Eleider Alvarezย 174.8ย lbs vs. Sergeyย Kovalevย 174ย lbs
(Alvarez’sย WBO Light Heavyweight world titleย – 12ย Rounds)

Teofimo Lopezย 134.8ย lbsย vs. Diego Magdalenoย 134.7ย lbs
(Lopez’s USBA, NABA, and NABFย Lightweight titles – 10ย Rounds)

Oscar Valdezย 125.8ย lbs vs. Carmine Tommasoneย ย 125.4ย lbs
(Valdez’s WBO Featherweight world titleย – 12ย Rounds)

Richard Commeyย 134.3ย lbsย vs. Isa Chanievย ย 134.6ย lbs
(Vacant IBF Lightweight world titleย – 12ย Rounds)

Janibek Alimkhanulyย 162ย lbs vs. Steven Martinezย 160.4ย lbs
(Super Middleweightย – 8 Rounds)

Pat Dayย 153.7ย lbs vs. ย Ismail Ilievย 154ย lbs
(Vacant IBF Intercontinental Junior Middleweightย titleย – 10ย Rounds)

Jason Sanchezย 125.4ย lbs vs. Daniel Oleaย 125.5ย lbs
(Featherweightย – 8ย Rounds)

Bakhram Murtazalievย 153.6ย lbs vs. Elvin Ayalaย 154ย lbs
(Murtazaliev’s WBC USNBC Super Welterweight title – 10 Rounds)

Enriko Gogokhiaย 142.5ย lbs vs. Vitor Freitasย 141ย lbs

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