Kovalev: Always Disliked Beterbiev, Want To Crush Him!
Posted by: Alexey Sukachev on 7/28/2015 .
By Konstantin Ustyantsev (Championat.com) and Alexey Sukachev
Fresh off the third-round destruction of his IBF mandatory challenger Nadjib Mohammedi (37-4, 23 KOs), Super WBA, IBF and WBO champion Sergey Kovalev (28-0-1, 25 KOs) talked to Konstantin Ustyantsev about his rivalry with Artur Beterbiev (9-0, 9 KOs), who is his most probable opponent for a proposed Moscow homecoming on November 28.
IBF #2, WBO #3, WBA/WBC #4 ranked Beterbiev, 30, who is also rated #6 by the TBRB, owns an official win over Kovalev in the finals of 2007 Russian nationals.
Tensions between two of the best Russian light heavyweight were in the spotlight of several vocal interviews by both parties in the past.
- What is your next goal? Am I right that you’re coming back to Russia and looking for Artur Beterbiev as your possible opponent?
- We shall see. We have to think about it. I was offered (Nathan) Cleverly, one African guy with a record of 27-0, 24 KOs, but I’m not interested (in these fights). In Russia, fans want me to see against someone of note, because I’m fighting for them. Beterbiev meets the requirements. Another possibility is a rematch with Jean Pascal, which I was offered after the Mohammedi fight. We shall consider those options and choose the best from the sportive, showbiz and financial points of view. Also, we need an agreement between both parties. For example, a fight versus (Adonis) Stevenson is unrealistic (for those reasons). We need to meet with some people in Moscow, who are interested in staging my next fight, and we shall see what comes out.
- You have said before that Beterbiev should go through elimination fight to be granted his shot at your title. Now you want to fight him ahead of the queue. Are you that confident in your victory?
- I’m always confident in my abilities. There are certain goals to be achieved, and I’m doing my best to achieve them, to live my life and to improve. I’m getting more experienced and wiser with each passing day. A natural idea came to my mind – to fight in my homeland. Why not? From one point of view, I don’t wish to give Arturchik [a diminutive form of Artur in Russian, which can also be considered pejorative in the certain context] a ground to get fame all over the world (by fighting me). He is known well in Russia, but by getting a shot at my title he will have a chance to get fame worldwide. On the other hand, it’s an exciting chance to crush his career instantly. I have never avoided any challenges. My principle is to give fans what they want – a thriller.
- Do you really dislike Beterbiev as a man or is it just a sportive rivalry?
- I certainly do (dislike him). I have always disliked him but it has nothing to do with his ethnicity [Beterbiev is of Chechen origin]. I’m not a nationalist and always vow for friendship between people. I just didn’t like him as a person.
http://www.boxingscene.com/kovalev-always-disliked-beterbiev-want-crush-him--94015
We need this fight in our lives......and it HAS to be in Moscow
*crosses fingers that this fight is made*
Posted by: Alexey Sukachev on 7/28/2015 .
By Konstantin Ustyantsev (Championat.com) and Alexey Sukachev
Fresh off the third-round destruction of his IBF mandatory challenger Nadjib Mohammedi (37-4, 23 KOs), Super WBA, IBF and WBO champion Sergey Kovalev (28-0-1, 25 KOs) talked to Konstantin Ustyantsev about his rivalry with Artur Beterbiev (9-0, 9 KOs), who is his most probable opponent for a proposed Moscow homecoming on November 28.
IBF #2, WBO #3, WBA/WBC #4 ranked Beterbiev, 30, who is also rated #6 by the TBRB, owns an official win over Kovalev in the finals of 2007 Russian nationals.
Tensions between two of the best Russian light heavyweight were in the spotlight of several vocal interviews by both parties in the past.
- What is your next goal? Am I right that you’re coming back to Russia and looking for Artur Beterbiev as your possible opponent?
- We shall see. We have to think about it. I was offered (Nathan) Cleverly, one African guy with a record of 27-0, 24 KOs, but I’m not interested (in these fights). In Russia, fans want me to see against someone of note, because I’m fighting for them. Beterbiev meets the requirements. Another possibility is a rematch with Jean Pascal, which I was offered after the Mohammedi fight. We shall consider those options and choose the best from the sportive, showbiz and financial points of view. Also, we need an agreement between both parties. For example, a fight versus (Adonis) Stevenson is unrealistic (for those reasons). We need to meet with some people in Moscow, who are interested in staging my next fight, and we shall see what comes out.
- You have said before that Beterbiev should go through elimination fight to be granted his shot at your title. Now you want to fight him ahead of the queue. Are you that confident in your victory?
- I’m always confident in my abilities. There are certain goals to be achieved, and I’m doing my best to achieve them, to live my life and to improve. I’m getting more experienced and wiser with each passing day. A natural idea came to my mind – to fight in my homeland. Why not? From one point of view, I don’t wish to give Arturchik [a diminutive form of Artur in Russian, which can also be considered pejorative in the certain context] a ground to get fame all over the world (by fighting me). He is known well in Russia, but by getting a shot at my title he will have a chance to get fame worldwide. On the other hand, it’s an exciting chance to crush his career instantly. I have never avoided any challenges. My principle is to give fans what they want – a thriller.
- Do you really dislike Beterbiev as a man or is it just a sportive rivalry?
- I certainly do (dislike him). I have always disliked him but it has nothing to do with his ethnicity [Beterbiev is of Chechen origin]. I’m not a nationalist and always vow for friendship between people. I just didn’t like him as a person.
http://www.boxingscene.com/kovalev-always-disliked-beterbiev-want-crush-him--94015
We need this fight in our lives......and it HAS to be in Moscow
*crosses fingers that this fight is made*
Boxing beef 
