This Saturday night at the Ford Star Centre in Frisco, Texas, Eleider Alvarez will be looking to successfully retain the WBO World light heavyweight title against Sergey Kovalev, someone who he toppled in conclusive fashion to become champion last summer.
The undefeated Colombian-born Alvarez, a naturalised Canadian citizen, showcased defensive discipline coupled with strength and skills in their first encounter, boxing intelligently for six rounds before unleashing a thunderous overhand right in the seventh round that violently dropped the champion.
Alvarez was then merciless, pummelling the hurt Russian into submission to spring one of the biggest surprises of the year, but he will undoubtedly be looking to deliver a similarly destructive performance; one that would possibly send the self-styled Krusher into retirement following an illustrious campaign at light-heavyweight, where he reigned for two years as the unified champion before becoming a two-time titlist in 2017.
Kovalev, meanwhile, will be looking to exact revenge, something which he is marginally favoured to do, according to bookmakers, by dispatching of Alvarez in clinical fashion. As is always the case, Kovalev – now operating under the guidance of venerable Brooklyn-based trainer Buddy McGurt – is a predatory boxer-puncher with speed and devastating punching power. With this power, Krusher is someone who presents an early menace – as evidenced by their first meeting where he threw the proverbial kitchen sick at ‘Storm’ in the fourth round – but nevertheless has the propensity to tire somewhat as the fight progresses into the later rounds, something which Andre Ward capitalised on in their two fights.
Indeed, Alvarez demonstrated impressive toughness and resilience to withstand Kovalev’s onslaught in the fourth round, before returning fire with some sharp combinations. Once again, he will probably have to navigate through danger in the face of Kovalev’s lead lefts coupled with his spiteful straight right hands, but once he does, expect him to do the double over his Russian counterpart, potentially retiring him in the process.
The undercard features additional world title action as Ghanaian Richard Commey and Isa Chaniev fight for the IBF World lightweight championship vacated by Mikey Garcia, while returning WBO World featherweight champion Oscar Valdez – following a brutal bloodbath of a decision win against Scott Quigg in May – defends his title and unbeaten record against Carmine Tommasone, en route to a potential unification with IBF counterpart Josh Warrington.
Also, lightweight contender Teofimo Lopez, who most recently demolished Mason Menard in one round, faces former lightweight title challenger Diego Magdaleno as he continues his climb up the rankings.
Article by: Navi Singh
Follow Navi on Twitter at: @DarkMan_______