By Canadian Press

Long wait nearly over as Montreal-based Alvarez set to face Kovalev for title

Jul 18, 2018 | 2:30 PM

After more than three years of waiting in vain for Adonis Stevenson, Montreal-based Eleider Alvarez will finally get a shot at a world title — against Sergey (Krusher) Kovalev.

The Colombian-born Alvarez (23-0) will try to wrest the World Boxing Association light heavyweight title from Kovalev (32-2-1) on Aug. 4 in Atlantic City.

On the same card, a rising star in the 175-pound division, World Boxing Association champion Dmitry Bivol (13-0) of Russia, will face Isaac Chilemba (25-5-2) of Malawi, a gritty contender who both Alvarez and Kovalev have beaten.

When a boxer wins a title, he is supposed to fight a mandatory bout against the top-ranked contender within a year. But for a variety of reasons Stevenson (29-1-1), also of Montreal, has repeatedly avoided defending his World Boxing Council belt against a mandatory, leaving Alvarez to bide his time facing uncrowned opponents.

Now, the 34-year-old Alvarez is getting his chance against one of the hardest-hitting champions in the division.

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“This is my biggest opportunity,” Alvarez said Wednesday on a conference call. “I waited three and half years for my chance, so I’ll be ready.”

It was not just because Alvarez and Stevenson have the same promoter, Yvon Michel, that they never fought. Stevenson’s decision to sign with manager Al Haymon took decisions on who he will face out of his hands.

It’s what scuttled plans for a showdown with Kovalev three years ago, although Stevenson insists he’s always been willing to face any opponent.

Alvarez will have his hands full against Kovalev, a highly skilled and physical opponent who brings a crushing right hand to the ring. Kovalev held titles from 2013 until 2016 until he lost a pair of bouts to now-retired Andre Ward, the only opponent so far with the defensive savvy to nullify his power.

Kovalev has come back with a vengeance, winning his last two bouts and regaining the WBO belt. He hopes to have all four by the time he’s through.

Alvarez spent the last year beating two past-their-prime former champions from Montreal, Jean Pascal and Lucian Bute. The lanky six-footer is known for keeping opponents off balance with a stiff jab.

Unlike the bitter and fruitless negotiations for a Kovalev-Stevenson bout between Michel and Main Events boss Kathy Duva, the Kovalev-Alvarez talks were short and sweet. The two companies should have more business to discuss in coming months.

While hopes for clash with 40-year-old Stevenson have faded, Michel also-co-promotes Artur Beterbiev (12-0), who holds the International Boxing Federation light heavyweight title. If he gets past Alvarez, Kovalev will be looking for that belt too. Beterbiev is scheduled to defend against Callum Johnson (17-0) on Oct. 6 in Chicago. 

Bivol took the WBA interim belt in only his seventh pro fight and won the title outright in November. The 27-year-old is coming off a March 3 stoppage of Sullivan Barrera.

Some consider him the most gifted fighter in the division.

“I don’t think that now I’m the best, but now I’m one of the best,” said Bivol. “But I hope than in the not-far future we will know who is the best.”

Kovalev visited Montreal in 2015 and 2016 to inflict damaging defeats on Pascal, the former WBC champion. The 35-year-old Pascal had his “retirement” bout in December, a victory over Ahmed Elbiali in Miami, but he changed his mind and wanted one last fight at home.

That bout is set for Friday night in Laval, Que. against a surprising opponent — former hockey fighter and mixed martial arts brawler Steve Bosse.

The much heavier Bosse had a 12-2 MMA record that included three fights in UFC. He is 1-0 as a boxer. The St. Jean Sur Richelieu, Que., native played six seasons in the Quebec-based LNAH, a pro league that encourages one-ice fights, where he had three goals, 12 points and 1,211 penalty minutes.

Bill Beacon, The Canadian Press

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