Notebook: What does returning Kovalev have left as he moves up to cruiserweight?

Pacquiao KO'd in Philippines presidential election; Mayweather hypes exhibition; Vergil Ortiz return in works; Kambosos-Haney undercard set; WBC orders eliminators; Quick hits; Show and tell

May 12, 2022

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Former three-time light heavyweight titlist Sergey Kovalev, once one of the best and most feared fighters in the world, is ready to see what he has left in the twilight of his career.

The 39-year-old Kovalev is moving up to cruiserweight and returning from a 2½-year layoff to face Tervel Pulev (16-0, 13 KOs), 39, of Bulgaria, in a 10-round fight that headlines a Triller card on Saturday (FITE, 9 p.m. ET, $29.95) at The Forum in Inglewood, California.

Kovalev (34-4-1, 29 KOs), a Russia native fighting out of Long Beach, California, has not boxed since Canelo Alvarez brutally knocked him out in the 11th round to take his WBO 175-pound title in November 2019. A January 2021 return fight against Bektemir Melikuziev was scrapped when Kovalev tested positive for synthetic testosterone, and there were also legal issues.

“My motivation to keep going? First is money,” Kovalev said with a laugh. “And money is energy. Second is my son. I want to become world champion once again so he can see that ‘don’t ever give up.’ Right now, it is all for my kids. I tell them and show them to follow your dreams and your dreams will come true. If I ended my boxing career right now, I would feel uncomfortable for the rest of my life.

“Since I lost my title to Canelo, I am not on the top. Since I changed to cruiserweight it has changed everything. Most importantly I don’t have to worry about losing the weight. Actually, the last two years fighting at light heavyweight, and making 175, was miserable for me.”

Kovalev recalled the craziness of the Alvarez fight night.

“The night of the Canelo fight, we are at the door to begin the ring walk and a fella with a headset came to us and said, ‘we are not ready, we have to wait for (the UFC card) to finish,’” Kovalev said of DAZN’s decision to delay the ring walks until the finish of the competing event. “We waited for another hour. An hour! I went to the corner after round seven and I said to (trainer) Buddy (McGirt), ‘Buddy, I am spent, totally.’ Now I feel fresh. Making 175 was killing me. I was at the point either quit or move up in weight. Now I can eat everything at any time.

“This is a new step in my boxing career. I plan to fight a couple more years. No more than three years. I am not sure how many fights it will take to get a title. But if I win a title next year, then I will stop. How long will it take to get a title shot? It could be a two- or three-year wait, but we will see. I can fight into my 40s no problem. I just had two years off. I am fresh.

“But on the other hand, after (Saturday), if Jake Paul wants to fight, I will be ready, and I will knock him out.”

The card also includes a fight between heavyweight contenders Kubrat Pulev (Tervel’s older brother) and Jerry Forrest, junior middleweight Evan Holyfield (the son of Evander Holyfield) and the three fighting sons of former world champion Fernando Vargas as well as music acts Cypress Hill and Onyx.

Pacquiao loses election

Manny Pacquiao’s presidential aspirations were dashed when the legendary eight-division champion and sitting senator in the Philippines conceded Tuesday following a distant third-place finish in the election.

Pacquiao gained only 3,629,547 votes (6.86 percent) with more than 98 percent of the votes counted. Ferdinand Marcos Jr., the son of former president Ferdinand Marcos Sr., is the projected winner with Leni Robredo finishing second.

“The people have spoken,” Pacquiao said in a brief concession speech. “The election is over so let’s give unity a chance for the peace and development of our country. My decision to run was driven by my utmost desire to serve the country and uplift the lives of the poor Filipinos. I will definitely continue my mission to help our people through the Manny Pacquiao foundation.

“As a boxer and an athlete, I know how to accept defeat. I just hope that even if I lost this fight, my fellow Filipinos who are suffering will win. Do not lose hope because our Lord will never forsake us.”

Pacquiao is in his second term as a senator. He announced his presidential bid last September, a few weeks after losing a decision challenging then-welterweight world titlist Yordenis Ugas and retiring.

Mayweather hypes exhibition

Floyd Mayweather, the former pound-for-pound king and five-division world champion, gets back into the ring for an eight-round exhibition against former sparring partner “Dangerous” Don Moore on Saturday (FITE and LIVENow, 2 p.m. ET, $29.99).

Of course, Mayweather is hyping the bout, which headlines a card outdoors atop the helipad of the Burj Al Arab Hotel in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

“I promise you’ve never seen a boxing event like this,” Mayweather said. “I’m going to continue to break barriers on May 14. This is a once-in-a-lifetime event and I’m a once-in-a-lifetime fighter. There’s no one else in the sport who could headline an event this over the top. I’m going to give the fans what they paid for.”

Before arriving in Dubai, Mayweather trained at his Mayweather Boxing Club in Las Vegas, where his 2-year-old grandson K.J. was among those on hand.

“It was business as usual,” Mayweather said. “It always feels good to be in the ring and around familiar faces in the boxing gym. I’ve spent so much of my life in the gym, so I always feel comfortable getting back into it. Training for any fight, and even this exhibition, is something I am always going to do. No one ever saw me take a day off during my career. Why would I start now?"

The bout will be the third exhibition for Mayweather (50-0, 27 KOs), 45, of Las Vegas, since he retired following a 10th-round knockout of UFC star Conor McGregor in August 2017 in the second-biggest pay-per-view event in history behind Mayweather’s welterweight unification fight with Manny Pacquiao in 2015. In 2018, scored a first-round knockout of much smaller Japanese kickboxing star Tenshin Nasukawa in Saitama, Japan, and last June, he faced YouTube personality Logan Paul and they went the eight-round distance with no winner announced in a Showtime PPV event at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida.

Now Mayweather is back again for another lucrative exhibition against Gary, Indiana’s Moore (18-0-1, 12 KOs), who is unbeaten but has not fought since 2016 and has faced woeful opposition.

“I love displaying my talents for the whole world and doing something new that interests me,” he said. “Boxing is entertainment, and that’s what I’m all about. I worked hard to accomplish more than anyone during my career, and now I’m going to enjoy the fruits of my labor, while still giving fans something exciting to watch.”

The card also includes UFC legend Anderson Silva in a boxing exhibition against Brazilian countryman Bruno Machado and former two-division titlist Badou Jack (25-3-3, 15 KOs) facing Dubai-based Egyptian Hany Atiyo (16-4, 12 KOs) in an official cruiserweight fight.

Vergil Ortiz has date

Welterweight contender Vergil Ortiz Jr. will be back in action on Aug. 6, Golden Boy Promotions CEO Oscar De La Hoya told Fight Freaks Unite on Wednesday.

Ortiz does not yet have an opponent and there is no set site, but De La Hoya said he will headline a card on DAZN.

Ortiz (18-0, 18 KOs), 24, of Grand Prairie, Texas, has not fought since last August, when he knocked out former world title challenger “Mean Machine” Egidijus Kavaliauskas in the eighth round in Frisco, Texas.

Ortiz was due to face England’s Michael McKinson on March 19 in Los Angeles, but withdrew from the bout due to illness. Five days before the fight Ortiz was hospitalized in Los Angeles and diagnosed with rhabdomyolysis, which occurs when damaged muscle tissue releases proteins and electrolytes into the blood. It can damage the heart and kidneys and in the most severe cases cause death.

“It was very unfortunate what happened to him in his last outing that he was supposed to have,” De La Hoya said. “It was personal issues with his diet, with his health. He’s doing great. He’s doing fine. He’s training. He’s running. He’s motivated. This is one of the best welterweight prospects, contenders, that anyone can have in their stable. Vergil Ortiz is a very dangerous, dangerous fighter who can beat anybody in the welterweight division, so we’re very, very excited about Vergil. Aug. 6 is his date. We’re working on all the details.”

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Kambosos-Haney undercard

Promoters Lou DiBella and Top Rank have finalized the undercard for the undisputed lightweight title fight between three-belt champion George Kambosos Jr. and WBC titlist Devin Haney, which will take place at Marvel Stadium in Melbourne, Australia on June 5 (June 4 in the U.S. at 9 p.m. ET on ESPN, ESPN Deportes and ESPN+).

In addition to the main event there will be three other televised bouts.

Formers world title challengers Jason Moloney (23-2, 18 KOs), 31, of Australia, and Aston Palicte (28-4-1, 23 KOs), 31, of the Philippines, will meet in the 10-round bantamweight co-feature.

“I’m expecting a tough fight against a former world title challenger in Aston Palicte, as he has shown that he can perform at the top level,” Moloney said. “I will be coming with everything I have to deliver the impressive performance of my career.”

Heavyweight Junior Fa (19-1, 10 KOs), 32, of New Zealand, will face former contender Lucas Browne (30-3, 26 KOs), 43, of Australia, in a 10-rounder.

“He has his power, and we saw him use it to KO his last opponent,” Fa said. “I'll be getting the best Lucas Browne for this fight as I'm in the way of him being a contender again. It’s a huge opportunity for him and it’s going to be a tough fight.”

Said Browne: “I would love nothing more than to fight for another world title, and Junior Fa is standing in my way,” Browne said. “If I can put him away early, that will send a message to the boxing world that I am far from finished. He has only lost once in his career, to Joseph Parker. I plan to hand him his second defeat.”

Heavyweight Hemi Ahio (18-0, 13 KOs), 31, of New Zealand, and Joe Jones (13-4, 10 KOs), 27, of Jersey City, New Jersey will meet in an eight-rounder.

New Zealand cruiserweight David Nyika (2-0, 2 KOs), 26, who was a bronze medalist at last summer’s Tokyo Olympics, will meet an opponent to be determined in a four- or six-rounder. Nyika has been a sparring partner for heavyweight champion Tyson Fury.

After the main event, ESPN+ will stream two more bouts, Australian junior bantamweight contender Andrew Moloney (23-2, 15 KOs), Jason’s twin brother, against Nicaragua’s Alexander Espinoza (21-3-2, 8 KOs), 29, in an eight-rounder, and the Haney-promoted junior middleweight prospect Amari Jones (5-0, 5 KOs), 20, of Las Vegas, against Australia’s Ankush Hooda (3-0-1, 1 KO) in a six-rounder.

WBC eliminators ordered

In addition to the Ryan Garcia-Isaac Cruz lightweight title eliminator the WBC ordered on Tuesday, three other men’s title eliminators were also odered:

Cruiserweight Noel Gevor Mikaelian (26-2, 11 KOs), 31, of Germany, against South Africa’s Thabiso Mchunu (23-6, 13 KOs) for the right to challenge Congo native Ilunga Makabu (29-2, 25 KOs), 34, who already has beaten Mchunu twice, including in a January title defense by split decision.
Junior lightweight O’Shaquie Foster (19-2, 11 KOs), 28, of Houston, versus Eduardo Ramirez (26-2-3, 12 KOs), 29, of Mexico. The winner would become a mandatory challenger for unified titlist Shakur Stevenson (18-0, 9 KOs), 24, of Newark, New Jersey.
Former two-time title bantamweight challenger Jason Moloney (23-2, 18 KOs), 31, of Australia, versus Nawapon Sor Rungvisai (53-1-1, 43 KOs), 30, of Thailand, as long they win already-scheduled June bouts. They would meet for the right to become a mandatory challenger for the winner of the Naoya Inoue-Nonito Donaire fight that is scheduled for June 7. Moloney got knocked out by Inoue in the seventh round of a title shot in October 2020.

Quick hits

French heavyweight Tony Yoka (11-0, 9 KOs), 30, the 2016 Olympic super heavyweight gold medalist, steps up in class to face England’s Martin Bakole (17-1, 13 KOs), 28, in a 10-rounder Saturday (ESPN+ at 3 p.m. ET) at Accor Arena in Paris. In one of the undercard bouts on the stream, Victor Yoka, Tony’s younger brother, will make his professional debut in a six-round lightweight bout against Gurami Kurtanidze (4-14-5, 1 KO).

Weights from Indio, California, for the “Golden Boy Fight Night” card Thursday (DAZN, 9 p.m. ET): Angel Acosta 112.8 pounds, Janiel Rivera 112.8; Victor Morales 125.6, Alberto Torres 125.4 pounds; Rudy Garcia 125, Diuhl Olguin 124.8; Jimmy Brenes 146.2, Hector Perez 145.8; Eric Tudor 154, Donte Stubbs 157.6.

Light heavyweight Ben Whittaker, 24, of England, who claimed a silver medal at last summer’s delayed Tokyo Olympics, is going pro and has signed with Boxxer, the company announced. He will be trained by SugarHill Steward, who is best known for his work as heavyweight champion Tyson Fury’s trainer, and managed by former unified heavyweight titlist Anthony Joshua’s 258 MGT. “I’m very excited to turn this new chapter in my career,” Whittaker said. “It’s an exciting time for me to showcase my skills. I’m now looking forward to getting into camp, where I can add and develop to my game. I hope you enjoy the journey because it’s gonna be a crazy one.”

Mexican featherweight Diego De La Hoya (22-1, 10 KOs), 27, the first cousin of Hall of Famer and Golden Boy promoter Oscar De La Hoya, has withdrawn from a 10-rounder against Jose Gonzalez slated for the undercard of the light heavyweight fight between Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramirez and Dominic Boesel on Saturday (DAZN) at Toyota Arena in Ontario, California. Diego De La Hoya has not fought since December 2019 and was supposed to move up from junior featherweight after past problems making weight. “I was informed that he will not be on the card for personal reasons,” Oscar De La Hoya told Fight Freaks Unite on Wednesday. “This is a kid who has had some bad luck. It’s very unfortunate. He’s a great talent. He has the name, he has the skill. It’s not a weight issue. It’s a very personal issue, which, obviously, we have to respect.”

Show and tell

After the legendary Felix Trinidad unified junior middleweight titles by 12th-round knockout in his all-time epic battle with Fernando Vargas, he moved up in weight as the star attraction of promoter Don King’s Middleweight World Championship Series, a four-man tournament that would produce the undisputed champion. Bernard Hopkins outpointed Keith Holmes in the first semifinal to unify two belts and then Trinidad challenged titleholder William Joppy in the other semifinal.

I am often asked about the best atmospheres I have ever been in for a fight. There have been few fights I have covered at ringside where there was more crackling electricity than that of Trinidad-Joppy at a wild Madison Square Garden in New York. It was absolutely nuts. The Puerto Rican fans were out in force and I can still hear the air horns, drums and thunderous cheers in my head. It was so crazy that police allowed fans to tailgate on 7th Avenue in front of the Garden hours before the show began. I saw it with my own eyes. In the end, Trinidad delivered a massive beating to Joppy in a fifth-round knockout that sent the fans into ecstasy as he won a title in a second weight class and would move on to meet his Waterloo against Hopkins in the final. But Trinidad-Joppy was unforgettable and as good as it gets for a big-fight atmosphere. The fight was on May 12, 2001 — 21 years ago on Thursday. Here is my ringside credential in my collection.

Kovalev photo: Triller; Pacquiao photo: Ryan Hafey/PBC; Ortiz photo: Kevin Estrada/Golden Boy; Moloney photo: Mikey Williams/Top Rank

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