By Norm Fraiebheim–

Sergey Kovalev’s stoppage of Nadjib Mohammedi last Saturday in Las Vegas marked a six-year anniversary of his first fight in North America. It was a beginning then. In some ways, it still is.

As the Russian learns English, we begin to learn more about him. At times, he’s as blunt as the Russian hammer.

Ask him about Adonis Stevenson, and his response is profane. He looks as if he’s about to take off a shoe and bang it on a table the way Nikita Khrushchev did at the United Nations in 1960.

He looks at ex-trainer Abel Sanchez with a glare that reminds you of news photos of a Putin-Obama stare down. Then, he breaks into a smile that, so far, has been interpreted as either predatory, or goofy, or good-natured.

Who is this guy? Yakov Smirnoff, the Russian comedian? Ivan Drago, the arrogant character in Rocky IV? Or both?

Hard to say right now. But that’s the intriguing part of Kovalev’s ongoing introduction, a journey that started with a first-round stoppage on July 25, 2009 of somebody named Daniel Chavez in Greensboro, N.C, to a third-round knockout in a light-heavyweight title defense on July 25, 2015 at Mandalay Bay.

With apologies to Dos Equis, Kovalev has become the most interesting man in boxing.

It’s based on what we’ve seen. His unbeaten record is built around a swift right hand that is as long as it is lethal. Then, there’s what most of us didn’t see. His record includes Roman Simakov, who died three days after Kovalev stopped him within seven rounds of a December, 2011 bout in Russia.

There’s reason to fear him. There’s reason to like him.

There are reasons to watch him.

Putting together the evident pieces of stardom, however, is about finding the right business partners, all at the right time. Kovalev promoter Kathy Duva sees the potential for an era comparable to the 1980s when Sugar Ray Leonard, Marvin Hagler, Roberto Duran and Thomas Hearns staged a four-way middleweight rivalry as legendary as any in boxing’s star-crossed history.

George Kimball wrote about it in his terrific book, Four Kings: Leonard, Hagler, Hearns, Duran and the Last Great Era of Boxing.

Duva thinks she might already have three sides to a potential sequel. There’s super-middleweight Andre Ward. Duva believes Ward-Kovalev is likely, probably next year perhaps at 172-pound catch weight.

Then, there’s Gennady Golovkin. In ongoing talks with Ward’s management, Duva says she’s been told that it wants Ward to fight Golovkin before Kovalev.

There’s already been speculation about Golovkin-Kovalev, despite the weight difference. GGG is a middleweight (160 pounds), and a small one at that. Kovalev is a natural 175 pounder. If Ward and GGG can agree on a catch weight, however, it’s not a stretch to think that a deal on weight can be made for GGG-Kovalev.

But who completes the square circle? Who’s the fourth rival? Thus far, it looks as if Stevenson doesn’t want to risk his piece of light-heavyweight title. That’s why Kovalev has repeatedly calls him a piece of bleep. Earlier this week, Stevenson announced he would fight somebody named Tommy Karpency. I guess Andre Berto is busy.

The Stevenson possibility is further complicated by his professional relationship. He’s with Al Haymon’s PBC. Given their rocky history, a joint venture between Duva and Haymon is unlikely. She sued him. The case never got to court. It was dropped when Bernard Hopkins agreed to fight Kovalev, who went on to win a one-sided decision last November.

She has offered Artur Beterbiev a Nov. 28 fight against Kovalev in Moscow. It’s a natural. Beterbiev, an emerging light-heavyweight and former Olympian, beat Kovalev when they were Russian amateurs.

The problem is Haymon. He has a contract with Beterbiev. Duva sent the offer to Beterbiev promoter Yvon Michel of Montreal. Duva expects some kind of answer next week.
The search continues. A chance at boxing’s next great era depends on it.

LAS VEGAS – Sergey Kovalev is blunt and effective.

Mostly, he’s predictable.

If you want subtlety, pick another Russian game. Chess, maybe. It’s full of a lot of pawns, which is what every light-heavyweight has become when faced with Kovalev.

Nadjib Mohammedi was just the latest on a board that Kovalev continues to rule with impunity. Andre Ward looks like a challenger. Maybe, Adonis Stevenson. But those are only fights to imagine, talk about. For now, it’s Kovalev’s empire.

“I wanted to make him look like a clown,’’ Kovalev (28-0-1, 25 KOs) said. “I wanted to make him look like a fool.’’

At 2:38 of the third round Saturday night, that’s exactly what Mohammedi (37-4, 23 KOs) looked like. He was down, finished by a right-left combination that left the Frenchman with a damaged left eye.

“I wanted it to continue,’’ said Kovalev, who also put Mohammedi on all fours with a crushing right hand that is as long as it is lethal. “I wanted more rounds.’’

Kovalev didn’t say so. But he might have wanted more time to drive home a point to his ex-trainer, Abel Sanchez, who was in Mohammedi’s corner.

Sanchez and Kovalev split in 2010 for reasons that remain unclear. What is clear, however, is that Kovalev has not been happy with the circumstances. The Russian never forgets. But he did serve up some cold vengeance in taking down Mohammedi.

Sanchez, Gennady Golovkin’s trainer, tried to explain the one-sided loss.

“It was Mandalay Bay, the bright lights, the pressure,’’ Sanchez said in the middle of the ring during the bout’s immediate aftermath.

Noticed, he never mentioned Kovalev.

The bout, which took place in front of lot of empty seats at Mandalay Bay, will quickly be forgotten. Kovalev will move on, presumably to a show dwon with Ward sometime next year. His immediate plans are for a bout in Moscow on Nov. 28. His promoter, Kathy Duiva of Main Events, said she will offer the bout to Artur Beterbiev, another Russian. Trouble is, Beterbiev is advised by Al Haymon, a Duva rival.

Next pawn, please.

Maybe, Jean Pascal.
Pascal (30-3-1, 17 KOs) ducked repeated sledge-hammer rights and, in the end, ducked an upset in winning a narrow decision that had many in the crowd crying foul and Yunieski Gonzalez (24-3-2, 10 KOs) crying tears. It was unanimous, but only the scorecards..

ON THE UNDERCARD

The Best: Joel Diaz, a junior-welterweight from trainer Abel Sanchez’ Summit Gym in Big Bear, Calif., flashed a prospect’s credentials with double-edged power.
Diaz (19-0, 15 KOs, scored two knockdowns of Alejandro Rodriguez (24-18-1, 14 KOs, in the second round, the first with a right and the second with a left. He finished Rodriguez, of Guadalajara, with a beautiful right hand for a TKO at 39 seconds of the fourth.

The Rest: Unbeaten light-heavyweight Sullivan Barrera (16-0, 11 KOs) of Miami was bleeding, looked tired and appeared to be near defeat when he railed, fighting with urgency in the seventh and energy in the eighth for a TKO of France’s Hakim Zoulikha 21-8, 10 KOs), who was one the canvas early in the eighth and finished when he absorbed a succession of blows at 1:34 of the round.

The show opened with a KO, delivered by Connecticut heavyweight Cassius Chaney (3-0, 2 KOs), who knocked Eduardo Ramirez (1-3, 1 KO) of Yuma, Ariz., unconscious and onto the canvas with a left hand at 1:35 of the first round.

Rodney Hernandez (8-2-1, 1 KO), heavyweight from Modesto, Calif, got a six-round, split decision over Brice Ritani-Coe (4-4-1, 3 KOs). Ritani-Coe, of San Pedro, Calif., shook his head in disagreement. But it was hard to know if anybody agreed with him. The arena was empty when the scores were announced.

LONDON (24 July) – Knockout king Sergey Kovalev has labelled Adonis Stevenson as “not a real champion” and dreams of capturing his WBC belt.

The unified WBA, WBO and IBF light-heavyweight world champion has conquered all before him, including wins over the legendary Bernard Hopkins and Jean Pascal, but a showdown with 175-pound rival and current WBC champion Stevenson has eluded him.

A clash has been much talked about over the past year but 32-year-old Kovalev is now set to do battle this Saturday night, live and exclusive on BoxNation, against Frenchman Nadjib Mohammedi but his ambition is still to complete his title haul by adding the WBC belt.

“I don’t want to speak about him [Stevenson] at all because he’s not a real champion. He got lucky once against Chad Dawson when Dawson dropped his title against Andre Ward.

“Andre Ward destroyed him and he didn’t recover for the fight against Stevenson. He got lucky and right now is still “champion”. It’s smart for the business but it’s not good for boxing,” said Kovalev.

“I’m ready for any fight but I keep in my mind to win the WBC title first of all but I’m open for any fight. I think I’m a regular world champion but I have three world titles, the WBO, WBA and IBF, but my dream is to get a fourth.

“We’ll see what happens in the future. I hope somebody beats Stevenson and gets the WBC title and then we can make the fight. Even if it is a harder or tougher boxer, it’s no problem. I just need an agreement for a fight for the WBC and a unification,” he said.

The formidable Russian, who is undefeated in 28 bouts with 24 knockouts, is well aware however that a tough task lies ahead this weekend against Mohammedi.

The 30-year-old, a ten year professional, knows his way around the ring with 37 wins and only 3 losses, goes into the fight on a four-year winning streak with a chance of hitting the big-time should he upset the odds, something which Kovalev is well aware of.

“Mohammedi is not a puncher but he knows how to box. He’s smart, sets traps and improvises a lot in the ring. He doesn’t just come forward but has good movement and angles,” said Kovalev.

“He’s also ready for 12 rounds and has good stamina and conditioning. He’s a very good opponent and is dangerous because he’s very motivated.

“I know what motivation can do for a fighter and when a man is motivated he can do a lot of things and is very dangerous. I’m prepared for 12 rounds because you never know what is going to happen in boxing,” he said.

The man who Kovalev overcame in his last fight, Canadian ace Pascal, will also be on the card when he takes on unbeaten Cuban Yunieski Gonzalez in a ten-round contest at the Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas.

“There is no place like home. I have been fighting at home my whole career. I am glad to be in Vegas, it is my first time fighting here. Every fighter on my level wants to fight at least one time in Vegas,” said Pascal.

“This is my chance to make a statement on Saturday night. I know I am still among the best in the world and best in my division. I know Yunieski Gonzalez is hungry and he wants to make a statement. I want to give a great show on Saturday night,” he said.

Prior to Saturday’s big Las Vegas show, BoxNation will also have some thrilling live domestic action tonight from 7pm when super-middleweight star Frank Buglioni takes on Fernando Castaneda.

The Enfield boxer was set to face WBA world champion Fedor Chudinov but the Russian was forced to delay the fight due to a broken nose sustained in training.

26-year-old Buglioni, however, will be looking to stay busy and get a win under his belt against the tough Mexican before eyeing up his shot at world title glory in the Autumn.

Another top name will feature on the Wembley Arena show with Billy Joe Saunders, who will fight Andy Lee for the WBO middleweight world title on September 19 in a major showdown in Limerick, facing France’s Yoann Bloyer in a crucial must win fight.

Undefeated super-featherweight Mitchell Smith is also back in action this evening against Dennis Tubieron for the WBO Intercontinental title.

Kovalev v Mohammedi is live and exclusive on BoxNation (Sky 437/490HD, Virgin 525, TalkTalk 415 and online) this Saturday night. Visit boxnation.com to subscribe.

-Ends-
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Las Vegas, NV: On July 25, 2015 WBO, WBA and IBF Light Heavyweight World Champion Sergey “Krusher” Kovalev (27-0-1, 24 KOs) will face his first IBF mandatory challenger, Nadjib “Iron Djib” Mohammedi (37-3-0, 23 KOs) at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas, Nevada and live on HBO World Championship Boxing. Although Krusher has amazing one-punch knockout power, he has struggled at times in his career against fighters with awkward styles like Mohammedi. Will the 30-year old from Gardanne, Bouches-du-Rhône, France give the champion the fight of his life? Below is the scouting report for this intense match-up:

Category
Sergey “Krusher” Kovalev
Nadjib “The IronDjib” Mohammedi
Age
32
30
Record
27-0-1 (24 KOs)
37-3-0 (23 KOs)
Strength
Kovalev has knockout power in both hands; he has the ability to end a fight with any punch he throws. He also showed the world that he has a good chin after taking some big shots in his successful title defense against Jean Pascal in March.
Nadjib is an aggressive fighter with good hand speed and great endurance; he is always in tremendous shape and treats every fight like there is a title on the line.
He throws punches from all angles and can pose a threat to any top light heavyweight contender.
Weakness
Sergey has been knocked down before but not hurt, he tends to leave openings in his guard which could pose a problem in this bout as Nadjib has finished his last 11 of 13 opponents.
Mohammedi has a tendency to get sloppy at times, in previous fights he had a tendency to throw wide looping punches that could potentially get him into big trouble considering the power that Kovalev brings to the table.
Experience
Kovalev has fewer pro fights than Nadjib, but the past two years he’s faced and defeated three former titleholders in Bernard Hopkins, Jean Pascal and Nathan Cleverly.
Nadjib has more pro fights under his belt than Kovalev. He has fought for world titles before.
Power
Kovalev will have the clear advantage here as he is best known for his vicious knockout power in either hand. He throws nasty body shots.
Nadjib does not pack one-punch power in either hand. He is known more for the volume of punches he throws.
Speed
Kovalev has average speed that picks up once he sees he has his opponent on the ropes and he goes for the finish.
Mohammedi has quick hands and quick feet as well. He is a small light heavyweight; he moves around the ring well and is very agile.
Endurance
Sergey has shown the ability to maintain a steady pace that allows him to conserve energy while still looking sharp in the later rounds. However, he has only fought 12 rounds once in his career when he defeated the former titleholder Bernard Hopkins.
Mohammedi may have a slight edge here, as he has been 12 rounds on three separate occasions, and 10 rounds three times as well.
Accuracy
Kovalev shows great accuracy with his one-punch knockouts; he also throws very accurate and powerful shots to the body that have ended fights in the past.
Nadjib’s accuracy is evident when his opponents stand and trade shots with him; he has an accurate jab plus an overhand right that tends to follow.
Defense
Sergey’s best defense may just be his offense. His power has become a complete game-changer in the past, forcing opponents to rethink their game plan.
Mohammedi is light on his feet and moves around the ring well, making it difficult for anyone to hit him. However, he enjoys standing and trading with his opponents which could ultimately get him into trouble against The Krusher.
Chin
In his last fight Kovalev showed that his chin is more than durable, he took some big shots against a heavy hitter in Jean Pascal and managed to stay on his feet and earn the stoppage win.
Nadjib’s chin may be in question here; he has been stopped twice in his career and has never been in the ring with a puncher as devastating as Kovalev.
Style
Sergey is an offensive-minded fighter who likes to walk his opponents down then go for the finish.
Mohammedi is a boxer who shows signs of being a volume puncher while utilizing great counter-punching.
Crowd Support
Sergey’s popularity has greatly increased since major wins over Bernard Hopkins and Jean Pascal. He is now competing in the fight capital of the world, so Kovalev will likely have majority of the crowd support here.
Nadjib may be at a disadvantage here as he is not well known just yet. However, Nadjib is a gamer and treats every fight like it’s a title fight, which is a mentality and style that may win him some crowd support throughout this fight.
Intangibles
Kovalev’s previous two bouts were by far the toughest of his career. He defeated Bernard Hopkins in November of 2014, and just four months later he earned a stoppage win over former world champion Jean Pascal. Now, rather than take some extra time to recover and enjoy these wins, he returns to the ring after another quick four-month turnaround and takes on Mohammedi, who has not lost a fight in almost five years.
Nadjib has waited patiently for over a year to capitalize on his number one contender position. After earning his position in June of 2014, Nadjib decided to stay active and risk his number one ranking. He competed on Kovalev’s two previous undercards against durable opponents, against both of which he scored stoppage wins. Those risks have paid off and Nadjib will finally get his shot against the world’s best light heavyweight.
The Match-Up
Will Nadjib’s awkward style and boxing skills frustrate Kovalev?
Will Nadjib still be light on his feet in the ring once he feels Sergey’s power?
Will Sergey be able to keep focused like he did in his last two fights against Bernard Hopkins and Jean Pascal?
Will being an underdog and fighting on a big stage for this fight help or hurt Nadjib?
Nadjib is training with Kovalev’s former trainer, Abel Sanchez, will this give him some advantage? Will Abel have any secret insight into Kovalev’s game?

Jolene Mizzone, Main Events’ matchmaker and the current NABF Matchmaker of the Year, said about this fight, “Any fight in the light heavyweight division is an important right now. In this fight, you have Sergey Kovalev who will fight ANYONE in the division and you have Nadjib Mohammedi who has earned his spot and has been preparing for this fight for over a year. Both of these fighters are hungry; one wants to keep his belts and the other wants them from him. Also there is one guy who has that one punch knockout power and the other who has that awkward style so the question is what style will come out on top?”

About Kovalev vs. Mohammedi

WBO, WBA and IBF Light Heavyweight World Champion Sergey “Krusher” Kovalev (27-0-1, 24 KOs) will compete in his first mandatory title defense against Nadjib “Irondjib” Mohammedi (37-3, 23 KOs) on Saturday, July 25 at the Mandalay Bay Events Center, Las Vegas, Nevada. The co-feature will include a ten-round light heavyweight match-up between Jean Pascal (29-3-1, 17 KOs) and Yuniesky Gonzalez (16-0, 12 KOs). Tickets are on sale now and start at $25. Tickets can be purchased through TicketMaster and all MGM Resorts Properties Ticket Offices. The HBO World Championship Boxing® telecast begins at 10:00 p.m. ET/PT.

Sergey Kovalev’s Greatest Hits
Sergey Kovalev’s Greatest Hits

Hey Harold!: Kovalev vs. Mohammedi
Hey Harold!: Kovalev vs. Mohammedi

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Sergey “Krusher” Kovalev – WBO, WBA and IBF Light Heavyweight World Champion

“Thank you to WBO. This was my first belt and mean a lot to me. Thank you for this ring.”

“Thank you for everybody that came here today. Thank you Kathy Duva my promoter, Egis Klimas my manager and Nadjib Mohammedi. I want to show this Saturday who I am. I would like to still be champion as long time as possible. I did not get all my goals in my career yet. My amateur career I didn’t give me a lot of opportunities. I was hurt in amateur career and I had to try not to closed doors. Some of my dreams in the boxing and my goals not finished. For my dreams, my goals this Saturday is the next step in my career.”

“Welcome to Mandalay Bay and thanks HBO. I want to give you good show. We will know who is the best. Thank you HBO who built my career. I love boxing and boxing in America and HBO is the best.”

“I cannot say who is the best. I try to be better with everyday, fight and build my career as I would like.”

Nadjib Mohammedi
Photo Credits:
David Spagnolo/Main Events

Nadjib “IronDjib” Mohammedi – IBF Number One Contender

“I am very excited and happy. Thank you Sergey Kovalev, Main Events and HBO. I have hard work in my training camp for this fight. I am very happy. I promise Saturday a good fight. I am ready. Thank you very much.”

Kathy Duva
Photo Credits: David Spagnolo/Main Events

Kathy Duva – CEO of Main Events

“Welcome to the beautiful Mandalay Bay. This Saturday’s HBO World Championship Boxing event will feature the light heavyweight champion of the world against Nadjib Mohammedi, the IBF mandatory challenger.”

“There has been a lot of discussion lately about where the best fighters fight. The place that has developed every major fighter in the last 30 years is HBO and that is why Sergey Kovalev is an HBO Fighter.”

“This event is going to be promoted with a group of great promoters. Krusher Promotions, Sergey’s promotional company, will be our new partner going forward. Our sponsor is Myagkov Vodka. It is so nice to be back here at Mandalay Bay. We have had a long relationship with Mandalay Bay going back to Fernando Vargas. It is in my view my favorite place in Las Vegas to come. It is associated with the great people at MGM International and my good friend Richard Sturm.”

“Our first time in Nevada was in 1981 when Sugar Ray Leonard fought Thomas Hearns. This is my first time working with the current commission here in Nevada. We are forging a good relationship with them. I want to thank Cisco Aguilar and Bob Bennett.”

Kovalev and Mohammedi
Photo Credits: David Spagnolo/Main Events

“The first time Sergey Kovalev fought in Las Vegas it was on an undercard. Those fighters work just as hard as everyone else. We have a great undercard for this Saturday’s event and it is always fun to watch the undercard fighters because you never know if one of them could be the next Sergey Kovalev.”

“The opening bout on HBO World Championship Boxing telecast will feature Jean Pascal, the former light heavyweight champion of the world, against the undefeated Cuban Yuniesky Gonzalez. Pascal is truly a warrior in the best sense of the word. His promoter is InterBox and he also has his own promotional company, Jean Pascal Promotions.”

“Sergey Kovalev has quickly gone from unknown to superstar in a short period of time but you never forget your first. We have a little surprise for Sergey. Paco from the WBO is here and he has a little surprise for Sergey.”

“We got to know Nadjib Mohammedi a year ago when he fought Anatoliy Dudchenko on one of our shows. He came in as the under dog and came away as the mandatory challenger.”

“I thank God every day for the day I met Egis Klimas and he brought me Sergey Kovalev. He has a great team around him. Sergey Kovalev’s trainer is a former world champion. I have known John David Jackson for a long time and he is one of the best trainers in the world.”

“Bernard Hopkins said to me that Sergey is getting better with every fight. He is powerfully fast and shockingly dominating. He is the kind of guy that people want to see. Hopkins warned Sergey not to get complacent. I think a mark of a great fighter is no matter what you do you are never satisfied and that is the best way to describe Sergey.”

Peter Nelson
Photo Credits: David Spagnolo/Main Events

Peter Nelson – Vice President of Programming, HBO Sports

“Thank you. I want to thank all the media for coming out today this is a great turnout. I want to thank Main Events for putting together a tremendous event. They always make the best events. I want to thank Mandalay Bay and Richard Sturm for hosting us. Sergey Kovalev is one of the marquee fighters of our generation. He has a tough challenge ahead of him with Nadjib Mohammedi. I want to thank Joe DiGuardia for helping to make the fight with Jean Pascal and Yuniesky Gonzalez. We had a fight earlier this year with Jean Pascal and Sergey Kovalev and it was a big success. We are happy to have Pascal back on HBO. The telecast time is 10:00 PM ET/PT.”

Bob Bennett – Nevada Athletic Commission

“On behalf of the Nevada Athletic Commission, we are pleased and privileged to bring you this fight. We would like to thank Main Events, HBO, Richard Sturm and Mandalay Bay and last, but not least, we really want to thank the fighters because without them none of us would be here.”

Richard Sturm – President of Entertainment and Sports for MGM Resorts International

“Welcome everyone. I want to thank the media, the fighters and the fans for being here today. We are excited to partner with Kathy Duva and Main Events for a championship fight on HBO. Fighting for only the second time in Las Vegas Sergey Kovalev will make his Mandalay Bay debut against Nadjib Mohammedi, the IBF #1 contender. The event will be an international one and the world will get to see these two great fighters represent their home countries. Thank you Main Events, Bob Bennett, HBO and thank you all for being here. We look forward to seeing you all Saturday night.”

Kovalev Receives His Championship Ring from Valcarcel of the WBO
Photo Credits: David Spagnolo/Main Events

Paco Valcarcel – World Boxing Organization

“Sergey Kovalev was a sensation. Sergey, we have something for you. He is a great human being. He is a great fighter, outstanding. You going to have a lot of excitement in this fight. We have a real diamond ring for him. This is something we give to our champions.”

John David Jackson and Egis Klimas
Photo Credits: David Spagnolo/Main Events

Egis Klimas – Sergey Kovalev’s Manager

“Good afternoon. First I want to thank Don Turner who gave me my first steps in boxing. He is the man who introduced me to this sport. He noticed Sergey and told me I had to sign him. Coming back to Vegas brings back a lot of good memories because this is where Sergey won his first belt. He won the NABA Light Heavyweight Title. We were celebrating here and he grabbed his belt, put a shirt over it and brought it downstairs. He said he wanted to give it to me. He gave it to me and said it was our title together. I still have it at my house, he never took it back.”

“I want to thank HBO and Nadjib Mohammedi for taking this fight, Mandalay Bay and media for coming for this good event. We are looking for one of the best fights in the light heavyweight division. When Sergey came to United States in 2009 the light heavyweight division was dead and nobody was talking about it. I strongly believe the division is burning today and that is because of Sergey. There is not a match in this division that happens without mentioning his name.”

John David Jackson – Sergey Kovalev’s Trainer

“I am not going to talk too much. I am going to let Sergey do the talking in the ring Saturday night. But I was a WBO champion during my career and where is my ring, Paco? (laughing)”

“Enjoy the fight Saturday. It is will be a good fight.”

“I think Sergey Kovalev is in the top five fighters pound-for-pound and he can become #1.”

Vince Caruso
Photo Credits: David Spagnolo/Main Events

Vince Caruso – Nadjib Mohammedi’s Co-Manager

“I want to thank everyone here. I want to thank Mandalay Bay. It is a great place for a fight. I want to thank Peter Nelson from HBO; he is a good guy. I support everything he is doing at HBO. I want to thank Main Events and Krusher Promotions. I think you are the best. Sergey thank you for this opportunity.”

“Nadjib Mohammedi, a lot of people didn’t know who we were not too long ago. After Saturday he will be known everywhere. I can make two guarantees: He will weigh 175 pounds tomorrow on the scale and he will have the best game plan possible. That is because of Abel Sanchez, who I believe he is the best trainer in the business. When Nadjib’s trainer couldn’t make it into the country back in November, I had the chance to call Abel to step in. It is like putting sugar in the Duncan Hines.”

“I have been around a lot of fighters and I know heart when I see heart, and determination when I see determination. I know all the intangibles fall on Sergey Kovalev’s side of the table but I am going to ride this guy [Nadjib] all the way to the championship. We love the IBF and thank them for this opportunity. Nadjib Mohammedi is Saturday’s challenger but he will be Sunday’s champion.”

“I would also like to thank all the media here today. I didn’t hear one negative word spoken about Nadjib. Not one media person in this building did that and I thank you.”

Nadjib Mohammedi, Abel Sanchez and Jon Ali
Photo Credits: David Spagnolo/Main Events

Jon Ali – Nadjib Mohammedi’s Co-Manager

“I am glad to be here with my brother, Nadjib Mohammedi. I am very proud of him. Back in France he came a long way to get here. Saturday night will change his life forever.”

Abel Sanchez – Nadjib Mohammedi’s Trainer

“I want to thank Mandalay Bay, Peter with HBO, Sergey Kovalev and Egis Klimas for this opportunity. Nadjib earned this right by moving up the ladder to become the #1 contender. I believe we are fighting the best light heavyweight in the world. We know we are fighting a very tough guy. I hope everyone enjoys the fight.”

Jean Pascal
Photo Credits: David Spagnolo/Main Events

Jean Pascal – Former Light Heavyweight Champion

“Hi everybody. There is no place like home. I have been fighting at home my whole career. I am glad to be in Vegas, it is my first time fighting here. Every fighter on my level wants to fight at least one time in Vegas. This is my chance to make a statement on Saturday night. I know am still among the best in the world and best in my division. I know Yuniesky Gonzalez is hungry and he wants to make a statement. I want to give you guys a great show on Saturday night.”

“My philosophy is the best must fight the best. I believe I am still among the best in the world. I am the best light heavyweight in the world but I had a bad night on March 14.”

Yuniesky Gonzalez

“Good afternoon. Thank you to Jean Pascal team, HBO and Joe DiGuardia and Kathy Duva of Main Events for this opportunity. Gracias. We are going to see high quality boxing from Yuniesky Gonzalez Saturday night.”

Pascal and Gonzalez
Photo Credits: David Spagnolo/Main Events

Pierre Duc – InterBox Promotions

“Good afternoon. InterBox has been one of the lead promoters in Canada for a long time but this is our first time in Vegas, so this is a great thrill for us. Thank you to HBO, Kathy Duva and Main Events for having us here. Following Jean Pascal’s fight with Sergey Kovalev one of Pascal’s requests was to step back into the ring as soon as possible. We are so happy to make this happen for him. You are going to see a very exciting fight on HBO. Jean Pascal is a former light heavyweight champion. Kathy Duva described him as a warrior. This is going to be a long and very difficult fight for both fighters.”

Greg Leon – Jean Pascal Promotions

“Good afternoon I want to thank HBO, Peter Nelson, Main Events and Interbox for being such great people to work with. For Jean Pascal this fight is about him making a statement in his Las Vegas debut. He is going to let his fists doing the talking on Saturday night.”

Marc Ramsay – Jean Pascal’s Trainer

“Thank you for being with us today. After the fight with Sergey Kovalev, Jean Pascal requested a fight right away on HBO with the best opponent available. With the style of both fighters we are going to have a great fight. We had a great training camp and it should be a great fight Saturday night.”

Joe DiGuardia – Star Boxing, Gonzalez’s Promoter

“Thank you. It is great to be back here at Mandalay Bay where I have also had some great fights and my best success stories. I want to thank Kathy Duva and Main Events from having us, Peter Nelson and HBO for giving this opportunity to Yuniesky Gonzalez. Jean Pascal is a great champion. Sergey Kovalev is one of the greatest of our time. Yuniesky Gonzalez is pleased to have this opportunity. Yuniesky Gonzalez is an exciting fighter. I guarantee you will see an exciting fight with Yuniesky Gonzalez and Jean Pascal. Yuniesky Gonzalez has been clawing his way to get this opportunity and he will take advantage of it.”

About Kovalev vs. Mohammedi

WBO, WBA and IBF Light Heavyweight World Champion Sergey “Krusher” Kovalev (27-0-1, 24 KOs) will compete in his first mandatory title defense against Nadjib “Irondjib” Mohammedi (37-3, 23 KOs) on Saturday, July 25 at the Mandalay Bay Events Center, Las Vegas, Nevada. The co-feature will include a ten-round light heavyweight match-up between Jean Pascal (29-3-1, 17 KOs) and Yuniesky Gonzalez (16-0, 12 KOs). Tickets are on sale now and start at $25. Tickets can be purchased through TicketMaster and all MGM Resorts Properties Ticket Offices. The HBO World Championship Boxing® telecast begins at 10:00 p.m. ET/PT.

Sergey Kovalev’s Greatest Hits
Sergey Kovalev’s Greatest Hits

Hey Harold!: Kovalev vs. Mohammedi
Hey Harold!: Kovalev vs. Mohammedi

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Las Vegas, NV: Saturday’s fight between WBO, WBA and IBF Light Heavyweight World Champion Sergey “Krusher” Kovalev (27-0-1, 24 KOs) of Chelyabinsk, Russia and IBF Mandatory Challenger Nadjib “IronDjib” Mohammedi (38-3-0, 23 KOs) of Aix-en-Provence, France is just one of top-notch fights scheduled to take place at Mandalay Bay.

In addition to the Kovalev-Mohammedi fight, the HBO World Championship Boxing telecast will feature a light heavyweight battle between former light heavyweight world champion Jean Pascal (29-3-1, 17 KOs) of Laval, Quebec, Canada and undefeated Cuban sensation Yuniesky Gonzalez (16-0, 12 KOs). Pascal suffered his first career knockout at the hands of Kovalev in front of his home crowd in Montreal back in March and he is eager for a rematch. However, first he will have to get past Gonzalez and his dangerous 75% knockout-to-win percentage.

Barrera and Lacy
Photo Credits: David Spagnolo/Main Events

Highlighting the non-televised undercard will be another undefeated Cuban sensation, Sullivan Barrera (15-0, 10 KOs). Barrera was originally scheduled to face Vasily “The Professor” Lepikhin but Lepikhin suffered an injury during training camp so Hakim Zoulikha (21-7, 10 KOs) of Villeurbanne, France has stepped into his place at the last minute. Sullivan is slowly making a name for himself as a force in the division. His knockout-to-win ratio is 67% and he knocked out veteran Jeff Lacy in the fourth round in his last fight back in January. However, he will have no easy task with Zoulikha. The veteran from France has over 25 career professional fights.

Undefeated super featherweight Joel Diaz (18-0, 14 KOs) of Palmdale, California will face Alejandro Rodriguez (24-17-1, 14 KOs) of Guadalajara, Mexico for six rounds. Diaz has knocked out his last two opponents and has a stellar 78% (14 of 18) knockout-to-win ratio. Rodriguez has already fought in five bouts in 2015 (3-2, 2 KOs).

Cassius Chaney
Photo Credits:
Ed Diller/DiBella Entertainment

Heavyweights Cassius Chaney of (2-0, 1 KO) New London, Connecticut and Edward Ramirez (1-2, 1 KO) of Yuma, Arizona are scheduled for four rounds of action. This will be Chaney’s first professional appearance outside of his home state of Connecticut and his third professional fight in just four short months. Ramirez is looking to redeem himself after suffering two straight losses, both knockouts, in 2014. The California native will also make his Las Vegas debut on Saturday night.

Middleweights Daniel Henry (2-4-3) of Austin, Texas and Jas Phipps (5-5-2, 2 KOs) of Kileen, Texas will face each other for four rounds. Henry has suffered three straight losses and the Texas native is looking to make up for the first round TKO he suffered at the hands of Caleb Plant earlier this year in his last appearance in Las Vegas. Phipps won his first five fights of his professional career. In his last fight he battled Steed Woodall to a majority draw.

Finally, Rodney Hernandez (7-2-1, 1 KO) of Modesto, California will face Brice Ritani-Coe of San Pedro, California (4-3-1, 3 KOs) for six rounds of heavyweight action. Hernandez is making his first appearance in Las Vegas since 2012 and is currently riding a two fight win streak. Ritani-Coe snapped a three-fight losing streak in his last outing in June of 2014. This will be his second fight in Nevada but his first in boxing’s mecca.

About Kovalev vs. Mohammedi

WBO, WBA and IBF Light Heavyweight World Champion Sergey “Krusher” Kovalev (27-0-1, 24 KOs) will compete in his first mandatory title defense against Nadjib “Irondjib” Mohammedi (37-3, 23 KOs) on Saturday, July 25 at the Mandalay Bay Events Center, Las Vegas, Nevada. The co-feature will include a ten-round light heavyweight match-up between Jean Pascal (29-3-1, 17 KOs) and Yuniesky Gonzalez (16-0, 12 KOs). Tickets are on sale now and start at $25. Tickets can be purchased through TicketMaster and all MGM Resorts Properties Ticket Offices. The HBO World Championship Boxing® telecast begins at 10:00 p.m. ET/PT.

Sergey Kovalev’s Greatest Hits
Sergey Kovalev’s Greatest Hits

Hey Harold!: Kovalev vs. Mohammedi
Hey Harold!: Kovalev vs. Mohammedi

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Light heavyweight champ Sergey Kovalev, who has been on the fast track collecting title belts the past two years, makes his Las Vegas debut when WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING: SERGEY KOVALEV VS. NADJIB MOHAMMEDI AND JEAN PASCAL VS. YUNIESKY GONZALEZ is seen SATURDAY, JULY 25 at 10:00 p.m. (live ET/tape-delayed PT) from the Mandalay Bay Events Center, exclusively on HBO. The HBO Sports team of Jim Lampley, Max Kellerman, Bernard Hopkins and Harold Lederman will call the action, which will be available in HDTV, closed-captioned for the hearing-impaired and presented in Spanish on HBO Latino.

Other HBO playdates: July 26 (9:15 a.m.) and 27 (midnight)

HBO2 playdates: July 26 (4:30 p.m.) and 28 (11:30 p.m.)

In the main event, undefeated Sergey “Krusher” Kovalev (27-0-1, 24 KOs) of Kopeysk, Russia, now living and training in Los Angeles, defends his crown against intriguing mandatory challenger Nadjib Mohammedi (37-3, 23 KOs) from France in a 12-round bout. The fast-rising, hard-hitting Kovalev has taken the 175-pound division by storm with a sizzling knockout ratio and a willingness to battle top-tier fighters, even when his opponent has a decided home crowd advantage. In the past two years, he’s decisively beaten Nathan Cleverly, Cedric Agnew, ring legend Bernard Hopkins and Canadian superstar Jean Pascal. One of the sport’s top attractions, thanks to his fan-friendly style, Kovalev enjoyed a banner year in 2014, earning Fighter of the Year honors from a host of boxing news organizations. This bout marks his seventh HBO appearance.

In his U.S. debut last November, Mohammedi scored a stunning first-round knockout of Demetrius Walker on the undercard of Kovalev-Hopkins. He will train for his HBO debut against Kovalev at Big Bear Lake in California.

The opening bout features former light heavyweight champion Jean Pascal (29-3-1, 17 KOs) of Quebec, Canada, and undefeated Cuban-born Yuniesky Gonzalez (16-0, 12 KOs) from Miami, Florida in a 175-pound contest scheduled for ten rounds. Pascal, who previously lost by TKO to Kovalev, wants another shot at the light heavyweight title, and defeating Gonzalez should bring him that opportunity. This fight marks Pascal’s first bout outside his home country since 2008 and his fifth HBO appearance.

Gonzalez, who had a successful amateur career in Cuba, aims to disrupt Pascal’s plans with his knockout power, which has stopped his last three opponents before the end of the third round. He’ll be making his HBO debut.

Follow HBO boxing news at hbo.com/boxing, on Facebook at facebook.com/hboboxing and on Twitter at twitter.com/hboboxing.

All HBO boxing events are presented in HDTV. HBO viewers must have access to the HBO HDTV channel to watch HBO programming in high definition.

The executive producer of WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING is Rick Bernstein; producer, Jon Crystal; director, Johnathan Evans.

® WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING is a registered service mark of Home Box Office, Inc.

Las Vegas, NV: On July 25, 2015 former light heavyweight world champion, Jean Pascal (29-3-1, 17 KOs) will take on undefeated prospect Yuniesky Gonzalez (16-0, 12 KOs) as the co-feature to the HBO World Championship Boxing telecast of the Sergey Kovalev vs. Nadjib Mohammedi fight live from Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas, Nevada. Pascal is fresh off his first loss in almost four years and is looking to take on the undefeated Cuban prospect. Below is the scouting report for this exciting match-up:

Category
Jean Pascal
Yuniesky Gonzalez
Age
32
30
Record
29-3-1 (17 KOs)
16-0-0 (12 KOs)
Strength
Pascal possesses good speed and power in both hands; he also has a solid chin and a ton of experience. He has been competing against the division’s top fighters since 2008, which is a list that includes Bernard Hopkins twice and the division’s top light heavyweight, Sergey Kovalev.
Gonzalez has good power and has the ability to distribute punishment throughout his fights. He overwhelms his opponents before finishing them off. He is a very good inside fighter and fights with great confidence too.
Weakness
Pascal has a tendency to tire out late in fights if he does not conserve his energy properly in the earlier rounds. He also tends to get sloppy, which could cause his defense to open up a bit.
Gonzalez lacks adequate experience and has not fought top-level opposition yet. This fight against Pascal will be a major step up in competition and could be a game-changer in his young career.
Experience
Jean will have the advantage here. He has been a part of eight major title fights and holds victories over both Chad Dawson and Lucian Bute. He also currently has more than two-times as many professional bouts (32) as Gonzalez (16).
Gonzalez will be at a disadvantage. He has yet to face any top level opposition, nor has he had even half the amount of professional bouts as Pascal.

Power
Pascal has good power in both hands, especially when he puts his punches together. He has a right hand that can be a game-changer in any fight if he lands it flush.
Yuniesky possesses good power in both hands; he has a left hook that can change the direction of any fight if landed clean.
Speed
Pascal is quick, which becomes more evident in his flurries of punches, which are usually put together when he has his opponent against the ropes and he goes for the finish.
Yuniesky has good hand speed that is put on full display when he finds a weakness in his opponent. He fights very well on the inside, where his punches are fast, short, and crisp.
Endurance
Pascal will have an advantage here as he has gone 12 rounds on eight separate occasions.
Gonzalez’s endurance is still in question, he has yet to go a full 12 rounds and has only gone ten rounds once in his career (in 2012).
Accuracy
Pascal may be at a slight disadvantage in terms of accuracy, he tends to get sloppy at times when unloading flurries of punches.
Gonzalez may have a slight advantage as his accuracy becomes more evident when fighting on the inside. Then he uses his accurate body work in hopes of setting up his left hook upstairs.
Defense
Pascal likes to dictate the pace of the fight, which can mean standing in the center and trading blows. This is a tactic that allows him to take shots and leave openings in his defense that he should avoid.
Yuniesky’s offense might be his best defense. He likes to come forward and walk his opponents down, looking to break them down and finish the fight.
Chin
Pascal has a solid chin and has been in wars with some heavy-handed punchers. However, he was stopped for the first time in his career in his most recent outing against the division’s heaviest hitter, Sergey Kovalev.
Gonzalez’s chin is still yet to be seen; he has finished nine of his 16 fights by the third round. If this fight gets into the later rounds, then his chin may become an issue.
Style
Jean is an aggressive fighter who will not hesitate to stand and trade with anyone if given the opportunity.
Yuniesky is an offensive fighter who likes to move forward at all times; he tries to finish all of his opponents – and finish them early.
Crowd Support
Pascal is a popular name in the sport of boxing, so he will probably have most of the support from the fans in attendance.
Although Yuniesky is an undefeated power puncher, he is still a bit unknown to the boxing world. However, his in-your-face style could win over some of the crowd as he fights Pascal with a very similar and exciting style.
Intangibles
After coming off a tough and hard-fought defeat against the division’s best fighter, Sergey Kovalev, Pascal opted to make a quick turnaround and get right back in the ring. Instead of a tune-up bout, he will test his skills against a young, undefeated power puncher in Yunieski Gonzalez.
Gonzalez has taken a very quiet road to becoming the IBF’s #15 light heavyweight contender. Rather than test his skills against someone deeper in the ranks, he will face a former light heavyweight titleholder, and current top ten ranked light heavyweight, Jean Pascal.
The Match-Up
Is this too big of a stage for Gonzalez to handle in his toughest test to date?
Will Pascal be able to take Gonzalez’s power and speed?
This is the fight where Gonzalez can make a big statement in the light heavyweight division, will he?
Will Pascal be scared to get hit after his last fight with Kovalev?

According to Main Events’ matchmaker Jolene Mizzone who was recently named the NABF Matchmaker of the Year, “If Gonzalez pulls the upset with Pascal he would enter one of the top divisions in boxing as new blood, which would make it very interesting for the entire division. I think any light heavyweight fight that is made is very important in boxing right now because it is a hot division that needs some hungry up-and-coming guys.”

About Kovalev vs. Mohammedi

WBO, WBA and IBF Light Heavyweight World Champion Sergey “Krusher” Kovalev (27-0-1, 24 KOs) will compete in his first mandatory title defense against Nadjib “Irondjib” Mohammedi (37-3, 23 KOs) on Saturday, July 25 at the Mandalay Bay Events Center, Las Vegas, Nevada. The co-feature will include a ten-round light heavyweight match-up between Jean Pascal (29-3-1, 17 KOs) and Yuniesky Gonzalez (16-0, 12 KOs). Tickets are on sale now and start at $25. Tickets can be purchased through TicketMaster and all MGM Resorts Properties Ticket Offices. The HBO World Championship Boxing® telecast begins at 10:00 p.m. ET/PT.

Sergey Kovalev’s Greatest Hits
Sergey Kovalev’s Greatest Hits

Hey Harold!: Kovalev vs. Mohammedi
Hey Harold!: Kovalev vs. Mohammedi

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Ko
Oxnard, CA: Yesterday members of the media traveled to Oxnard, California to attend WBO, WBA and IBF Light Heavyweight World Champion Sergey “Krusher” Kovalev’s open media workout in preparation for his upcoming IBF Mandatory match-up with Nadjib “IronDjib” Mohammedi on HBO World Championship Boxing at the Mandalay Events Center in Las Vegas, Below are select quotes from Kovalev and his manager, Egis Klimas:

John David Jackson and Sergey Kovalev
Photo Credits: Bret Newton/Main Events

SERGEY KOVALEV

On Nadjib Mohammedi
“What do I know about him? Believe me, not much. But I do know he’s very dangerous. He’s fast. He has stamina. He’s not stupid; he’s an intelligent fighter.”

“I’m focused. I don’t care who my opponent is. I will show beautiful boxing (on July 25).”

Disappointed he hasn’t fought Adonis Stevenson yet
“Sure, I want to fight Stevenson. I do want that WBC title. My dream is to get the fourth title. I want to unify the titles. That’s my goal. It’ll be difficult to make (the bout with Stevenson), but I think it’ll happen because of Kathy (Duva).”

Krusher Kovalev
Photo Credits: Bret Newton/Main Events

On his fight against Pascal
“That fight I was terrible. I wasn’t ready. I was only 80 (eighty) percent. I started training late. I had some problems in my camp. There were a lot of things I did wrong.”

A bout against Andre Ward
“I’ll be happy to fight Andre Ward. He’s a dangerous fighter.”

“But I’m ready for anybody. I’m open for any fight.”

Regarding Bernard Hopkins bout
“My toughest fight was against Bernard Hopkins. It was the psychology of it (the bout). I had a pregnant wife and a future boy. I was fighting against a legend. It was a lot of pressure.

“I have a lot of respect for Bernard Hopkins. He’s special. I believe in myself much more (after beating Hopkins).”

Training in general
“When I was younger, I didn’t work as hard as I do now. I’m stronger and have more power now.

“I work harder now. I have more motivation. My family. Being undefeated. I have new goals, new dreams. That pushes me forward.”

His aspirations when he was in Russia before becoming a champion
“People ask if I had hope of becoming a champion. I had hope. Hope was the only thing I had. Hope pushed me.”

Sergey Kovalev
Photo Credits: Bret Newton/Main Events

EGIS KLIMAS

On Kovalev fighting Ward
“It would be a good fight for everyone. But I don’t know if Andre has decided what he wants to do.”

About Kovalev vs. Mohammedi

WBO, WBA and IBF Light Heavyweight World Champion Sergey “Krusher” Kovalev (27-0-1, 24 KOs) will compete in his first mandatory title defense against Nadjib “Irondjib” Mohammedi (37-3, 23 KOs) on Saturday, July 25 at the Mandalay Bay Events Center, Las Vegas, Nevada. The co-feature will include a ten-round light heavyweight match-up between Jean Pascal (29-3-1, 17 KOs) and Yunieski Gonzalez (16-0, 12 KOs). Tickets are on sale now and start at $25. Tickets can be purchased through TicketMaster and all MGM Resorts Properties Ticket Offices. The HBO World Championship Boxing® telecast begins at 10:00 p.m. ET/PT.

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Big Bear Lake, CA: Yesterday members of the media traveled to Big Bear Lake, California to The Summit for Nadjib “Irondjib” Mohammedi’s open media workout in preparation for his upcoming IBF Mandatory match-up with Sergey “Krusher” Kovalev, for the WBO, WBA and IBF Light Heavyweight World Championship live on HBO World Championship Boxing at the Mandalay Events Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. Also in attendance was Main Events’ stablemate Sullivan Barrera who is fighting on July 25. Below are select quotes from Mohammedi and his trainer, Abel Sanchez:

Nadjib Mohammedi
Photo Credits: Bret Newton/Main Events

NADJIB MOHAMMEDI
Abel Sanchez Having Trained Kovalev for eight bouts:
“It’s not an advantage (for me), because Kovalev is different now. He’s changed a little bit.”

About fighting in Las Vegas:
“It’s very exciting. It’s a very big stage. I’m happy.”

About being given little chance to win:
“I’m not stupid. I’m not naïve. I’m unknown. That’s no problem. I like quiet. It lets me train, train, train. Training’s not work; it’s my passion.”
“On July 25th I have a surprise. People will say, ‘Oh, my God.'”

On Kovalev:
“He’s a very good champion. But he has two arms and in this division everyone has power. All it takes is one shot.”

Prediction:
“The fight (result) will be a KO. Either him or me. It’s possible I lose because I’m just a man.”

Sullivan Barrera
Photo Credits: Bret Newton/Main Events

ABEL SANCHEZ
“He (Mohammedi) understands that Kovalev is at the top of his game now. He’s an established force.”

“He (Mohammedi) won’t be overlooked by Sergey because he’s (Kovalev) smart.”
“Win, lose or draw he’ll (Mohammedi) give a good account of himself.”

“He (Mohammedi) wants to bring the title back to France, but he knows the task in front of him. He’ll have to take it to Kovalev. He (Mohammedi) won’t beat him by staying back, waiting for something to happen.”

Mohammedi’s brother and mother operate a few pizza restaurants that Mohammedi owns in France. If he wins, will he give away free pizza? “He’ll probably open up some more restaurants,” said Sanchez.

About Kovalev vs. Mohammedi

WBO, WBA and IBF Light Heavyweight World Champion Sergey “Krusher” Kovalev (27-0-1, 24 KOs) will compete in his first mandatory title defense against Nadjib “Irondjib” Mohammedi (37-3, 23 KOs) on Saturday, July 25 at the Mandalay Bay Events Center, Las Vegas, Nevada. The co-feature will include a ten-round light heavyweight match-up between Jean Pascal (29-3-1, 17 KOs) and Yunieski Gonzalez (16-0, 12 KOs). Tickets are on sale now and start at $25. Tickets can be purchased through TicketMaster and all MGM Resorts Properties Ticket Offices. The HBO World Championship Boxing® telecast begins at 10:00 p.m. ET/PT.

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Big Bear Lake, CA:
On July 25, 2015, Nadjib “IronDjib” Mohammedi (37-3, 23 KOs) the current IBF #1 contender, will face WBO, WBA and IBF Light Heavyweight World Champion Sergey “Krusher” Kovalev (27-0-1, 24 KOs) at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas, Nevada and live on HBO World Championship Boxing. For the biggest fight of his career, Mohammedi will have world-renowned trainer Abel Sanchez in his corner. Abel is best known for his work with current WBA and WBC Middleweight Champion Gennady “GGG” Golovkin.

Nadjib Mohammedi
Photo Credits: David Spagnolo/Main Events

Sanchez trains fighters out of his own compound in Big Bear Lake, California called The Summit. According to Abel, “The Summit is a training camp where the guys live almost year-round. There is anywhere from 10-12 fighters there at any time. They cook for themselves. They fend for themselves. They live like a family. The fact that there are so many champions training there and so many high-end guys training there motivates everybody to try to excel to that higher level. They live like a family so it’s not a competition; it is more of a motivational thing. There is no off time.”

This will be the second training camp for Mohammedi, 30, at The Summit with Sanchez. He is from Gardanne, Bouches-du-Rhône, France so training with Abel has meant temporarily relocating to the United States for his extended training camps. Abel believes Nadjib has fully committed to life at The Summit and his system, “He has given me everything. He’s not questioning anything. He is allowing me to do what we do here but he is very strong-minded. He understands that we have a difficult fight in front of us, so I am happy that he has given himself to me as far as not questioning anything. That allows me to try to mold him like I want to mold him but change the things that I need to change.”

When asked about this upcoming fight with Kovalev, Sanchez replied, “Sergey has evolved into a very destructive force. Sergey has evolved because John David Jackson is a heck of a coach. Sergey has evolved into that kind of fighter that you are going to have to be at your best to beat. Because of that we have a tough task in front of us, but that is what these guys work for. That is why Nadjib is rated #1 and fought all those fights before to get a chance at the world title. On the 25th we have that.”

IronDJib Mohammedi
Photo Credits:
Rich Graessle/Main Events

With 40 professional career fights under his belt, Mohammedi is a veteran who saw some big fights in his home country, France. However, as Abel explained, veterans can sometimes come with bad habits. Abel elaborated, “His experience so far has been a benefit because, with those previous fights he had in France, he was a big name over there. Therefore, he’s not going to be so awed by the environment of a big fight. He has had some success with big crowds and bigger venues, so hopefully that will transcend over to this fight. We are going to have a lot fans in the stands and we are going to have a lot of people screaming for Sergey. As far as bad habits, you create bad habits just by being successful. I think that if you don’t have somebody pushing you and correcting those things, you tend to do things that are not conducive to being a better fighter. Those things we are addressing and those things we can’t completely change, but we are going to hopefully correct them in time and make him a better fighter.”

According to Nadjib, Abel has been an amazing mentor and father-figure to him over the last several months. He said, “Since I got to Big Bear Lake my life has changed. I already knew what spirit of a team was, but here I found a family. Abel is like a big brother, an uncle, he act almost like a dad with me. He can see every details and he always push me out of the limits. With him and Ben Lira I know that I am ready for this war!”

About Kovalev vs. Mohammedi

WBO, WBA and IBF Light Heavyweight World Champion Sergey “Krusher” Kovalev (27-0-1, 24 KOs) will compete in his first mandatory title defense against Nadjib “Irondjib” Mohammedi (37-3, 23 KOs) on Saturday, July 25 at the Mandalay Bay Events Center, Las Vegas, Nevada. The co-feature will include a ten-round light heavyweight match-up between Jean Pascal (29-3-1, 17 KOs) and Yunieski Gonzalez (16-0, 12 KOs). Tickets are on sale now and start at $25. Tickets can be purchased through TicketMaster and all MGM Resorts Properties Ticket Offices. The HBO World Championship Boxing® telecast begins at 10:00 p.m. ET/PT.

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Las Vegas, Nevada: On July 25, 2015 WBO, WBA and IBF Light Heavyweight World Champion Sergey “Krusher” Kovalev (27-0-1, 24 KOs) will defend his three world titles for the second time against IBF mandatory opponent Nadjib “Iron Djib” Mohammedi (37-3, 23 KOs) but the road to success was not an easy one for him and his manager, Egis Klimas, who reflects on the journey.

Kovalev was introduced to Klimas via a mutual friend, Anatoliy Rubinchikov, and the two met for the first time in Kazakhstan prior to Kovalev’s professional debut. Klimas was travelling to Kazakhstan with his long-time friend and trusted advisor Don Turner, so the two of them met with Sergey together. Turner said he knew instantly that Kovalev was a special fighter, “He was an interesting guy. He was shadow-boxing and he never changed the expression on his face and I thought this guy is for real. So I told Egis that this guy can’t miss.”

After their meeting it was decided that Sergey and his fellow countryman, former IBF Featherweight World Champion Evgeny Gradovich, would go to North Carolina to train at Don Turner’s gym. During that time Turner remembers a quiet Kovalev, “Sergey was quiet. He don’t talk much. He never talked that much. He just trained hard. He trained real hard.”

Don Turner Celebrates Ringside Kovalev’s Victory Over Pascal
Photo Credits: David Spagnolo/Main Events

Turner’s gym is located deep in North Carolina farm country, surrounded by corn and tobacco fields. According to Turner, “My gym is like old-time fighters. You isolate yourself and focus just on boxing. Fighters today don’t want to fight; they want to play. Fighters of 40 or 50 years ago they trained like nine or ten months a year. Today these guys train for six or seven weeks at a time. Sergey and Gradovich were one of only a handful of fighters that didn’t want to leave my camp. Sergey and Gradovich were serious.”

Klimas added, “Sergey and Gradovich were the only ones who lasted at Don’s gym. It is a huge hangar in a field surrounded by fields. The closest town is like ten miles away. Sergey never complained to me once. Now he tells me a lot of stories about that time, but when he was at camp he never complained.”

During this time Klimas paid for Sergey to fight on various cards trying to secure him a promotional deal, but he was unsuccessful. “I spoke with many promoters,” explained Klimas. “I went to Top Rank, Golden Boy, DiBella, Gary Shaw and Sergey was on all of their shows. Nobody could really see him because he was stepping in and knocking guys out in two rounds. Also, I couldn’t get the very good guys to fight him so everyone would just say that he beat another bum. They couldn’t really see what I saw. I saw his training; I saw his work ethic and his attitude. The promoters didn’t see much of him. He would usually fight on the first fight on the card so there was really nobody around to watch and they thought that I was just building a record for him.”

Finally, Klimas was ready to give up and leave the boxing business but the counsel of Don Turner changed his mind. Turner said, “I told him to keep doing and I said, ‘Why don’t you go to Main Events?’ I told him not to quit boxing because he put too much money into it. I said, ‘Man, you at the threshold of making money. Why you gonna quit?’ It is just like everybody that comes to the camp; they be two or three fights away from making money and they want to leave.”

Klimas and Kovalev Goofing Off at Kovalev’s Photo Shoot
Photo Credits:
Rich Graessle/Main Events

“When he was already 18 fights and I knew to go deeper I would have to have a promoter, Don Turner said I should talk to Kathy Duva from Main Events because he knew her very well,” said Klimas. “He said she is a good promoter and he had a good relationship with her back in the day. I went to New York and called her and we decided to meet. She came with Jolene [Mizzone, Main Events’ matchmaker] and we decided to make a deal.” That deal would prove to be the turning point. In his fourth fight with Main Events, he knocked out previously-undefeated champion Nathan Cleverly to secure the WBO Light Heavyweight World Championship. Now, three years later, he is the Unified WBO, WBA and IBF Light Heavyweight World Champion.

Main Events CEO Kathy Duva continued, “I didn’t know what to expect from Sergey when I met with Egis the first time, but I left that meeting convinced that Egis was a manager we wanted to work with. While Jolene and I were meeting with him, we lost an important fight. Egis went from selling us on Sergey to helping us find a replacement without missing a beat. A few months later, Sergey rematched Darnell Boone on one of our cards and I was sold on Sergey. I’ll be forever grateful that Egis and Sergey came into our lives.”

When asked about his relationship with Egis, a grateful Kovalev added, “I’m very happy I got to meet with Egis. Egis believed in me and I believed in him and our union worked to get high stage of boxing. I wish the best to Egis!”

About Kovalev vs. Mohammedi

WBO, WBA and IBF Light Heavyweight World Champion Sergey “Krusher” Kovalev (27-0-1, 24 KOs) will compete in his first mandatory title defense against Nadjib “Irondjib” Mohammedi (37-3, 23 KOs) on Saturday, July 25 at the Mandalay Bay Events Center, Las Vegas, Nevada. The co-feature will include a ten-round light heavyweight match-up between Jean Pascal (29-3-1, 17 KOs) and Yunieski Gonzalez (16-0, 12 KOs). Tickets are on sale now and start at $25. Tickets can be purchased through TicketMaster and all MGM Resorts Properties Ticket Offices. The HBO World Championship Boxing® telecast begins at 10:00 p.m. ET/PT.

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Las Vegas, NV: Brand new father, WBO, WBA and IBF Light Heavyweight World Champion Sergey “Krusher” Kovalev (27-0-1, 24 KOs) will experience his first Father’s Day this Sunday, June 21 with his wife Natalia and their seven-month old son, Aleksandr, and to celebrate this momentous occasion he is offering fans for a limited time buy one, get one half off any ticket price category for his upcoming mandatory title defense against Nadjib “Iron Djib” Mohammedi (37-3, 23 KOs) July 25 at Mandalay Bay.

Sergey & Aleksandr at Training Camp in Big Bear
Photo Courtesy of: The Kovalev Family

Get the best gift for Father’s Day! Fans interested in taking advantage of this great limited time offer for their father, grandfather, stepfather, godfather or father figure should purchase their tickets through TicketMaster.com and use discount code FATHER. This offer is good from now until 11:59 PM PT on Monday, June 20, 2015.

Tickets priced at $300, $200, $100, $50 and $25, not including applicable tax and service fees, are on sale now and are available at all Las Vegas Ticketmaster locations (select Smith’s Food and Drug Centers and Ritmo Latino). To charge by phone with a major credit card, call Ticketmaster at (800) 745-3000. Tickets also are available for purchase at www.mandalaybay.com or www.ticketmaster.com.

New Dad Sergey & Son
Photo Courtesy of: The Kovalev Family

Undercard information will be announced shortly.

*Offer not valid with any other offer or on previously purchased tickets. Also not valid on consignment tickets. Only available through TicketMaster.

About Kovalev vs. Mohammedi

WBO, WBA and IBF Light Heavyweight World Champion Sergey “Krusher” Kovalev (27-0-1, 24 KOs) will compete in his first mandatory title defense against Nadjib “Irondjib” Mohammedi (37-3, 23 KOs) on Saturday, July 25 at the Mandalay Bay Events Center, Las Vegas, Nevada. The co-feature will include a ten-round light heavyweight match-up between Jean Pascal (29-3-1, 17 KOs) and Yunieski Gonzalez (16-0, 12 KOs). Tickets are on sale now and start at $25. Tickets can be purchased through TicketMaster and all MGM Resorts Properties Ticket Offices. The HBO World Championship Boxing® telecast begins at 10:00 p.m. ET/PT.

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Las Vegas, NV: Main Events, InterBox and Jean Pascal Promotions are proud to announce Jean Pascal (29-3-1, 17 KOs) will face Yunieski Gonzalez (16-0, 12 KOs) in the ten-round co-feature of the Kovalev-Mohammedi Unified Light Heavyweight World Championship fight on July 25 at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas, Nevada. Both fights will be televised live on HBO World Championship Boxing® beginning at 10:00 p.m. ET/PT.

Pascal, the former WBC Light Heavyweight World Champion, looks to prove he is still a force to be reckoned with in the light heavyweight division by taking on a young undefeated prospect in Gonzalez. This will be his first fight outside his adopted home country of Canada since 2008 and his third fight in seven months. The 32-year old is originally from Port-au-Prince, Haiti and currently resides in Laval, Quebec, Canada.

“I’m eager to get back in the ring,” said Pascal. “The years where I have been very active are the ones that I’ve performed the best. Gonzalez is a good fighter and everybody knows I am not content with fighting just a regular fighter. I’m already back in the gym and focusing on July 25.”

Pascal will face a big challenge from his opponent, undefeated Cuban prospect Yunieski Gonzalez. Yunieski has a stellar 75% knockout-to-win ratio and has stopped his last seven opponents in a row dating all the way back to 2012. His previous three fights have not lasted past the third round and two of those were first-round stoppages. The 29-year old is originally from Cuba and now makes his home in Miami, Florida.

“This is the fight I have been waiting for,” said a confident Gonzalez. “I’m not punching at him, I’m punching through him and when I’m done with him he won’t be any good for anyone else.”

Main Events’ CEO, Kathy Duva, is excited to work with Pascal and InterBox again. She said, “Kovalev and Pascal are both true warriors in the sense that they are always willing to face the very best. So putting them on the same card made a lot of sense for us and for the fans who will get to see both of them bring their electricity to the same ring again. With Pascal there is never a dull moment in the ring and, as proof that he never backs away from a challenge, this time he steps up to face a talented, hungry undefeated contender who has the ability to knock out anyone he faces.”

“For his third fight in less than a year for Jean Pascal, this is a great opportunity and challenge for him,” said Jean Bédard, President of InterBox. “Gonzalez had a phenomenal amateur career and his professional career seems to follow the same direction. It’s always a pleasure to work with Kathy Duva and Main Events.”

Greg Leon, CEO of Jean Pascal Promotions, added, “Jean Pascal Promotions is thrilled to be back on HBO for the second time in four months. Yunieski Gonzalez is a talented fighter and a formidable challenge but I have no doubt Jean Pascal will be far too much for him.”

Joe DeGuardia of Star Boxing, Gonzalez’s promoter, said “I am thrilled to be on to such a sensational HBO card filled with light heavyweight bangers. We are very high on Yunieski Gonzalez and this is the kind of fight that he needs to propel him to the top of the light heavyweight division.”

Tickets priced at $300, $200, $100, $50 and $25, not including applicable tax and service fees, are on sale now and are available at all Las Vegas Ticketmaster locations (select Smith’s Food and Drug Centers and Ritmo Latino). To charge by phone with a major credit card, call Ticketmaster at (800) 745-3000. Tickets also are available for purchase at www.mandalaybay.com or www.ticketmaster.com.

Undercard information will be announced shortly.

About Kovalev vs. Mohammedi

WBO, WBA and IBF Light Heavyweight World Champion Sergey “Krusher” Kovalev (27-0-1, 24 KOs) will compete in his first mandatory title defense against Nadjib “Irondjib” Mohammedi (37-3, 23 KOs) on Saturday, July 25 at the Mandalay Bay Events Center, Las Vegas, Nevada. The co-feature will include a ten-round light heavyweight match-up between Jean Pascal (29-3-1, 17 KOs) and Yunieski Gonzalez (16-0, 12 KOs). Tickets are on sale now and start at $25. Tickets can be purchased through TicketMaster and all MGM Resorts Properties Ticket Offices. The HBO World Championship Boxing® telecast begins at 10:00 p.m. ET/PT.

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Las Vegas, NV:
Sergey “Krusher” Kovalev (27-0-1, 24 KOs) the undefeated unified WBO, WBA and IBF Light Heavyweight World Champion will take on his first IBF mandatory contender Nadjib “Irondjib” Mohammedi (37-3, 23 KOs) on Saturday, July 25 at Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, Nevada and televised live on HBO World Championship Boxing.

Tickets priced at $300, $200, $100, $50 and $25, not including applicable tax and service fees, go on sale tomorrow, Wednesday, May 27 at 10 AM PT and will be available at all Las Vegas Ticketmaster locations (select Smith’s Food and Drug Centers and Ritmo Latino). To charge by phone with a major credit card, call Ticketmaster at (800) 745-3000. Tickets also are available for purchase at mandalaybay.com or ticketmaster.com.

The Russian Wrecking Ball – Sergey “Krusher” Kovalev – is headlining in the storied fight town for the first time. The charismatic and unbeaten knockout artist boasts three current world title belts, 2014 Fighter of the Year honors from numerous publications and an astounding 89% knockout-to-win ratio. After capping off his impressive 2014 campaign with a unanimous decision win over the legendary Bernard Hopkins to unify the WBA and IBF belts with his WBO belt, he began 2015 with a thrilling eighth round knockout of former world champion Jean Pascal in Montreal. The Krusher is on his way to becoming one of boxing’s next big superstars.

Nadjib Mohammedi
Photo Credits: David Spagnolo/Main Events

Kovalev, the 32-year old from Chelyabinsk, Russia now residing in Fort Lauderdale, FL and Los Angeles, CA, said, “I am very excited to return to ring on July 25 and fight for Vegas fans. I love fighting on HBO and am happy for this next opportunity.”

Egis Klimas, Kovalev’s manager, added, “We are so happy to be back in the ring with HBO and Main Events’ help. This show will be televised live on HBO. Another good thing is Sergey will be able to fight in mega boxing city Las Vegas and start building as his home base fighting town. Thanks to people at Mandalay Bay for giving this opportunity to us.”

In the opposite corner, the IBF’s number one contender, Nadjib “Irondjib” Mohammedi will challenge Kovalev with his awkward and aggressive style. He earned this title shot with an exciting win over Anatoliy Dudchenko by TKO in an IBF elimination contest in June of last year. Mohammedi elected to wait as Kovalev unified the belts with Hopkins then took a voluntary defense against Pascal while he added some serious fire power to his corner – world renowned trainer Abel Sanchez. Sanchez, who trains middleweight champion Gennady “GGG” Golovkin and previously worked with Kovalev.

Nadjib, 30, is from Gardanne, Bouches-du-Rhone, France and trains in Big Bear Lake, California. He will be making his Las Vegas and HBO debuts. When asked about his mandatory fight with Kovalev, he said, “My turn has come to show the world who I am. I let this Kovalev beat some guys but now I will show you he ain’t no Krusher. I am smarter. I am faster. I am the next generation of light heavyweight real champions!”

Main Events CEO Kathy Duva, who promotes both pugilists, said, “This will be a great fight. Sergey had a little trouble with Jean Pascal’s awkward, aggressive style in March. Nadjib will bring a similar style to the ring on July 25th. He also has Abel Sanchez in his corner, who might have some inside knowledge about Kovalev. The Krusher will try to do what he does best – Krush him. We know for sure that this will be an all-action night at Mandalay Bay, where Main Events is very happy to return.”

“Fans who appreciate underdogs, respect Sergey Kovalev,” said Peter Nelson, Vice President, programming, HBO Sports. “As an amateur and professional, the unified light heavyweight champ has spent his entire life as an underdog, beating the odds as he does his ring opponents: with total domination. Now a new underdog, Nadjib Mohammedi, seeks to shock the boxing world and dethrone the light heavyweight king. July 25 in Las Vegas will be a great event.”

“This light heavyweight fight at Mandalay Bay will be a sensational matchup,” said Richard Sturm, President of Entertainment and Sports for MGM Resorts International. “We look forward to working with Kathy and her entire Main Events team as well as Peter Nelson and his HBO staff on this championship event.”

Undercard information will be announced shortly.

About Kovalev vs. Mohammedi

WBO, WBA and IBF Light Heavyweight World Champion Sergey “Krusher” Kovalev (27-0-1, 24 KOs) will compete in his first mandatory title defense against Nadjib “Irondjib” Mohammedi (37-3, 23 KOs) on Saturday, July 25 at the Mandalay Bay Events Center, Las Vegas, Nevada. Tickets go on sale May 27 at 10:00 AM PT and start at $25. Tickets can be purchased through TicketMaster and all MGM Resorts Properties Ticket Offices. The fight will be telecast live on HBO World Championship Boxing® and undercard information will be released shortly.

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LONDON (22 May) – Boxing has enjoyed an incredible year in 2015 with BoxNation at the forefront having screened the biggest and best fights around.

In the past few weeks alone ‘The Channel of Champions’ has shown some of the highest viewed fights in years live and exclusive including the thrilling toe-to-toe war between Lucas Matthysse and Ruslan Provodnikov, heavyweight legend Wladimir Klitschko’s defence of his world titles against Bryant Jennings, Mexican superstar Canelo Alvarez’s brutal knockout of James Kirkland and Kazakh ace Gennady Golovkin’s stunning win over Willie Monroe Jr.

Those eye-catching battles will undoubtedly go down among the top highlights of a remarkable year with BoxNation set to keep delivering with an unbelievable value-for-money lineup over the summer.

The non-stop live boxing action starts tonight when Russian kingpin Alexander Povetkin takes on the Cork based Cuban Mike Perez as both slug it out to see who will compete for the charismatic Deontay Wilder’s WBC heavyweight world title next up.

Then, next Friday night, live from the Barclays Centre in Brooklyn, one of boxing’s most exciting fighters is back when British welterweight star Amir Khan takes on Chris Algieri as he looks to get his name into the Floyd Mayweather sweepstakes for September.

28-year-old Khan is coming-off a dazzling display against the tricky Devon Alexander in his last matchup but will have to be at his best against former champion Algieri who is fighting in his hometown under respected new head trainer John David Jackson.

A host of top fights keep coming on BoxNation when Puerto Rican idol Miguel Cotto takes on former two-time world champion Daniel Geale in a bout that could lead to a superfight for the victor.

Four-weight world champion Cotto has enjoyed a revival under Hall of Fame coach Freddie Roach and is looking more dangerous than ever as he eyes a showdown with Canelo Alvarez should he prevail on June 6th.

Featherweight assassin and reigning WBA Super champion Nicholas Walters will be out a week later on June 13th as he puts his title on the line against knockout king Miguel Marriaga.

The Columbian holds a win over the unbeaten Walters in the amateurs, with the Jamaican hitter out for revenge and looking to continue his fine form that has seen him destroy 2012 Fighter of the Year Nonito Donaire last October.

Top welterweight Tim Bradley is hoping to cement his name at the pinnacle of the 147 pound division but will have his work cut out against rising American Jessie Vargas who goes up against the experienced 31-year-old in his breakout fight.

Vargas is mentored by fight legend Roy Jones Jr, having once trained under the Mayweather banner, and is well aware that a win over Bradley will catapult him to the top of the division.

Plus, on July 11th from the Manchester Velodrome, lightweight Terry Flanagan will have home advantage as he challenges for the vacant WBO world title against Jose Zepeda.

Both men are undefeated but Manchester born Flanagan, with a record of 27-0, will look to capitalise on fighting in front of his home crowd against 25-year-old big-hitting Zepeda, who has knocked out 20 opponents in his 23 wins.

There is even more big-hitting to come on BoxNation when one of the world’s most feared knockout artists Sergey Kovalev defends his prized WBA, WBO and IBF light-heavyweight titles against Frenchman Nadjib Mohammedi.

The 175-pound hitman has made light work of his previous 27 opponents, putting 24 of them to sleep along the way, and will be out to do much of the same against Mohammedi as he eyes a megafight with rival Adonis Stevenson in the near future.

Jim McMunn, Managing Director of BoxNation, said: “BoxNation is enjoying an amazing year with a host of record breaking fights having been screened live and exclusive on the channel. 2015 has already witnessed some unbelievable matchups and things just get better on BoxNation with a jam-packed summer schedule featuring the biggest and best names around. BoxNation continuously looks to deliver the best fights from around the world at a genuinely affordable and value-for-money price for our subscribers. The next few weeks on BoxNation is truly a fight fan’s dream.”

To subscribe to BoxNation (on Sky/Virgin/TalkTalk/ Livesport.tv/Apps) for just £12 a month please visit boxnation.com.

-Ends-
About BoxNation
BoxNation, the Channel of Champions and proud partner of Rainham Steel, is the UK’s first dedicated subscription boxing channel. For £12* a month and no minimum term customers can enjoy great value live and exclusive fights, classic fight footage, magazine shows and interviews with current and former fighters.

BoxNation is proud to support Fight for Peace, a charity that uses boxing and martial arts combined with education and personal development to realise the potential of young people in communities that suffer from crime and violence. Buy LUTA (www.luta.co.uk) clothing and support Fight for Peace.

Previous highlights have included Haye vs Chisora, Khan vs Collazo and Mayweather vs Maidana.

The channel is available on Sky (Ch.437), Virgin (Ch.546), TalkTalk (Ch.525), online at Livesport.tv and via apps (ios, Android). BoxNation is also available in high definition on Sky (Ch. 490), at no extra cost to Sky TV subscribers, providing they are already HD enabled.

BoxNation is also available to commercial premises (inc. pubs, clubs and casino’s) in the UK and Ireland, for more information on a commercial subscription please call 0844 842 7700.

For more information visit www.boxnation.com

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Sergey “Krusher” Kovalev – WBO, WBA and IBF Light Heavyweight World Champion
“Hello everybody. Thank you for comes here. What I can say? I already said enough for my side. I am sure it is going to be very interesting fight. Why? Because Nadjib has very good and big motivation to be champion and my desire is to get my four titles. I think that will happen this year, that I fight a unified fight. Fight against Nadjib is for me next step. I am not going to say that I will, I will and I will, is words of trash talkers. I am going to show what I can in the ring.

“Everyone welcome to Vegas July 25 to Mandalay Bay and have a nice time. Thank you very much for your attention, for my promoter, Kathy Duva, and manager [Egis Klimas] that they turn their attention to me, sign me and now my career is in their hands. I like it. Everything I have right now is good.

“Also I am very happy that my fight is on HBO. I am happy and I am going to be best in my division. I am not finished of my collection of all of my belts. I shoot and I must to get one more, WBC title. Just give me opportunity to fight against WBC Champion. I don’t care whether it be Adonis Stevenson or another guy. I don’t care.

“Right now I am not even thinking about this because my next fight will be big fight and not an easy fight against Nadjib Mohammedi. I think so enough to say. Thank you very much again.”

Mohammedi & Kovalev
Photo Credits: David Spagnolo/Main Events

Nadjib “Iron Djib” Mohammedi – IBF Mandatory Challenger
“For me is big opportunity. My first time in USA just one years now. I respect Sergey Kovalev now is champion of light heavyweight but I don’t come here for joke or for play or for game. I want be world champion. I work with Abel Sanchez in Big Bear for this. I am not stupid. I know what you think about me. I am not naïve. This fight is very, very difficult for me but I say it is very difficult for Sergey. It is not difficult just for me because I am very smarter, I am faster.

“On 25 of July I am ready with my team, I am ready for this fight. I am ready for Sergey. I am the new generation of light heavyweight because I don’t want the same fight of another opponent. Thank you very much to Kathy Duva, my promoter. Thank you very much my team. Thank you very much my co-managers, Vince Caruso and Jon Ali. Thank you, Abel Sanchez. I will see you 25 of July for the big fight. I promise you this is a big, big fight. Thank you very much.”

Duva & Kovalev
Photo Credits: David Spagnolo/Main Events

Kathy Duva – CEO of Main Events
“Less than two years ago Sergey Kovalev was a struggling fighter trying to make a name for himself. Since then he has fought on HBO six times. He is about to go into his seventh fight on HBO. He has become, not just the light heavyweight champion of the world, but he has unified three of the light heavyweight titles. Last year he was named the fighter of the year by Sports Illustrated, Bleacher Report, The New York Post, USA Today, SherDog and UCN Live. Some of you are here today and thank you so much. It I a hell of an accomplishment to be the Fighter of the Year, you can’t do that every year, no matter who you are. To go from being completely unknown to being the man in the light heavyweight division in less than two years is a remarkable accomplishment.

“I don’t think any of us would be here without the support of the fine people at HBO. Today I get to proudly announce that Sergey Kovalev gets to remain with HBO, the company that has taken him this far. It is his intention and our intention to remain with HBO for the rest of his career, if that is possible. This is the company that has led boxing for the last 30 odd years in this country. It is unquestionably the #1 boxing network in the world. It is the place to be if you want to have a high-profile career in this sport and maintain it for a long time.

“About a year ago Nadjib Mohammedi came to the United States for the first time. He earned his shot at a title by becoming the #1 contender. He has worked hard over the last year to maintain that position and prepare himself for the opportunity to fight for the world title. Now he gets the privilege of fighting for all three of those belts.

“Now that Sergey has moved to the west coast and has made a home for himself and his family here in Los Angeles we are moving his home base. I had a lovely meeting with Richard Sturm at MGM a few weeks ago and he confirmed to me that MGM Grand and Mandalay Bay want to be in the Sergey Kovalev business. As I see a vacuum opening up in Vegas for big names I think Sergey Kovalev is the kind of guy who can step in there and fill that vacuum. His fights are electrifying and exciting and thrilling. That is what boxing fans should expect when they put their money down to come and see a fight.

“Main Events has a great history with Mandalay Bay which is one of the best facilities in the country, in the world. On a personal note it is great to be going back there. We brought Fernando Vargas there years ago and had some great, great nights there and some great, great memories there. We are going to make some new ones now. It is a new beginning. It is a new beginning with HBO. It is a new beginning with Mandalay Bay. Yet it all feels very familiar because this was the same team that was making Fernando one of the biggest box office attractions in the country.

“Peter Nelson from HBO is not here because of your famous LA traffic but if he were here he would tell you that the event will start at 10:00 PM on July 25 on HBO. There will be a co-feature and we are still working on what that is going to be and we will announce that when we know. The tickets will be going on sale next week and will be priced very affordably for the fans from $25 up to $300. We want to fill up the room. We want to encourage the true boxing fans. Something that I noticed when I went to the big fight a few weeks ago at MGM that the crowd was missing the true fight fans but I want to see those people come out for this fight. Those fans will be very pleased. I have had the great pleasure to be ringside a number of times for Sergey’s fights and it is thrilling.

“This will be a 12-round fight for the WBO, WBA and IBF Light Heavyweight World Championships. It is an IBF mandatory bout. Sergey is 27-0-1 with 24 knockouts from Russia and Nadjib is 37-3, with 23 knockouts from France.

“To Vince’s point, that is one of the things that is great about boxing, everybody has a story. Everybody has been through adversity. If not for miracles I think everyone standing on this dais, myself included, would not be standing here right now. I think that is part of what keeps this sport alive and is what makes it so compelling is the stories behind everybody. The truth is Nadjib came here last June as an opponent basically. He came here and won a fight he wasn’t expected to win; he earned his place and has worked for a long time with Abel Sanchez. He has taken advantage of this time to work with a great trainer in Abel Sanchez and believe me we are very well aware of it. With an awkward style and a great trainer, his great heart and drive that this is not going to be an easy night for anybody.

“Having said that, Sergey Kovalev is something very special, we all know that. To me he is exactly what boxing is supposed to be, somebody who goes out there and gives their all gives 1,000% every time. He keeps the crowd entertained. He keeps the fight exciting. He makes it fun to be there. That is why we tend to focus on him and his future. We don’t mean it as an insult to anybody. That is what we have, it is called a star.”

Kovalev & Klimas
Photo Credits: David Spagnolo/Main Events

Egis Klimas – Manager of Sergey Kovalev
“Good afternoon everybody. Thanks for coming for this press conference in the beautiful city of Los Angeles. Thank you Kathy [Duva]. She is doing a very good job. When I brought Sergey to Kathy a couple of years ago at that point nobody knew him. Some people knew Kovalev in boxing but not much and not like he is known today.

“Vince [Caruso] was talking about how we have not seen bad days in Sergey’s career but I would say it is completely the opposite. I brought Sergey in 2009 from Russia I put him in Don Turner training camp in North Carolina which is in the middle of nowhere. The closest store is about five miles away. All around there are corn fields, bugs, bears, snakes and he stayed where Don had built his boxing gym. At that time I had many fighters going to that camp and besides Sergey and Gradovich I would say the longest somebody was there was like three months before they would call me and tell me they were done. They would go to New York or Chicago and today they are nobody and I have not even heard about them. Some are taxi drivers now but this gentleman stayed there and didn’t complain a single word for a year and a half.

“I used to go to Don’s camp, me and Don would jump in a van and drive around the country just to get the fights. I saw big talent and Don Turner saw big talent in him but I could not convince any of the promoters. I talked to Top Rank. I talked to Golden Boy. I talked to Lou DiBella. I talked to everybody about giving him a chance until one day Don Turner introduced me to Kathy see said she would try and see what is going to happen.

“The biggest fight that we had in our career was Darnell Boone. Sergey wasn’t ready for it so it went all eight rounds and was not a good fight. Main Events asked me how I felt about fighting Darnell Boone again. I thought Sergey was no going to like that. I called Sergey and I told him, he said he it was great and he wanted to do that. He said, ‘I want to see how I improved from almost two years past. That’s a fight I want.’ That was when I realized I really had a good fighter here with a good heart. Of course the second time he did a great job with Darnell Boone. It was two rounds. He was a completely different guy. He was on TV. He was on the big stage. He has had hard times.

“I want to thank HBO for giving us this very good opportunity for the rest of his career. I wanted to thank again Kathy and Mandalay Bay for having us there. Don’t miss fight on July 25.”

Caruso & Mohammedi
Photo Credits: David Spagnolo/Main Events

Vince Caruso – Co-Manager of Nadjib Mohammedi
“There is not much to say when you fight the #1 guy. Whether I like him or not Sergey Kovalev is the #1 guy in boxing today, especially after what we saw two weeks ago I would say he is undoubtedly #1. He is the top tier. He is a very bad dude and we are going in there with that in mind.

“I am not going to get up here and say that Nadjib is going to come in there and do this or we are guaranteeing a win. You can’t guarantee anything in this business. The only thing I can guarantee you is that on the 25th of July Nadjib Mohammedi is going to make the 175 pound contracted weight limit, that will be a guarantee. #2 he is going to come in there with a game plan that if he does execute and he does listen to Abel Sanchez, his trainer, he has a very good shot at winning this fight. Because even though Sergey might be stronger, and he might be bigger, and he might have been on the big stage a lot more than Nadjib has, there is one thing that I believe we have the edge in, and that is desire.

“When you have been held down your whole life, your whole career, a career that started in 2005, and you have to fight in rooms that are smaller than this, with no TV coverage, no press, that is hard times. I don’t think Sergey Kovalev goes through hard times. Nadjib Mohammedi has gone through hard times. He came to Big Bear before his fight on the Hopkins-Kovalev undercard back in November. His trainer that he has been with for 14 years got detained at the airport and could not get in for that fight. So me and his co-manager, Jon Ali, had to figure out who was going to work the corner. Sullivan Barrera, our friend who is also here today, was on that card already and he was working with Abel Sanchez. I have always said after I watched Nadjib on June 21st of last year, that he is the perfect style fighter for Abel Sanchez’s training methods. He fights that Mexican style. He is a straight-ahead blood and guts fighter. There is nothing really special about him. His strength is his heart. Show me a guy with heart who is sick and tired of being broke and sick and tired of getting the short end of the deal and I am going to show you a winner. Nothing ever lifts adrenaline more than the desire to change your life. That is what we need to look at going in against this guy because he is a killer. He is #1, the big cheese. That is what we want. We want high risk because we want high reward.

“With all due respect to Kathy, she talks about all these great future plans she has with Kovalev but I would have waited until this Mohammedi fight was in the books before you made any long term plans. I know nobody gives us a chance and he is probably a 15-1 underdog. We are the dog but everybody on this team has overcome something. This guy has overcome the temptations of the mafia-ridden streets of France. He went into the food business and took care of his mother and his brothers and his sister. He worked hard. He wanted to become a professional fighter. He is here. Jon Ali, my co-manager, is a professional singer. He is a great pop singer and that is why he is not here today. 11 years ago I was a junkie and I was in a Las Vegas rehab. I never thought I would be on the big stage again but I am. This team has a lot of desire. We are going to win this fight and we are going to win it with heart.”

About Kovalev-Mohammedi
WBO, WBA an:d IBF Light Heavyweight World Champion Sergey “Krusher” Kovalev (27-0-1, 24 KOs) will compete in his first mandatory title defense against Nadjib “Iron Djib” Mohammedi (37-3, 23 KOs) on July 25 at the Mandalay Bay Events Center, Las Vegas, Nevada. The fight will be telecast live on HBO World Championship Boxing® and ticket and undercard information will be released shortly.

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