sergey kovalev
'Krusher'
Nation
Date of birth
April 2, 1983 (39 Years Old)
Height
6 ft 0 (183 cm)
Reach
72.5 in (184 cm)
Wins
35
Losses
4
draws
1
Ko's
29
sergey kovalev
'krusher'
Nation
DATE OF BIRTH
april 2, 1983 (39 Years Old)
Height
6 ft 0 (183 cm)
REACH
72.5 in (184 cm)
wins
35
Losses
4
draws
1
ko's
29
Titles Won
WBA (super) world light-heavyweight
WBO world light-heavyweight (3x)
Titles Won
WBA (super) world light-heavyweight
WBO world light-heavyweight (3x)
Background
Sergey Kovalev was a prominent Russian prospect in the amateur boxing scene. He won a multitude of bronze, silver and gold medals throughout this period, showing a good account of himself in various tournaments, especially the World Military Championships which he won twice, and the Russian Championships which he managed to win once. Kovalev turned professional in 2009.
Accomplishments
Starting as a Light-Heavyweight, Sergey Kovalev kicked off his career positively with a first-round stoppage victory. His lethality would become a trademark in the career over the course of the next decade as he continued to remain undefeated while moving up the ranks, winning several mid-tier titles.
In 2013, he faced Welsh Light-Heavyweight champion Nathan Cleverly and managed to beat him – through a stoppage finish – to win his first world title (WBO). After several fights, he added two more world titles to his collection after beating Bernard Hopkins by unanimous decision.
Sergey Kovalev spent two years defending his hardwon titles, but faced an obstacle in Andre Ward in 2016 and 2017 when he was beaten by the American champion twice in a row, losing his titles in the process. Kovalev picked up the pieces fairly quickly, fighting the same year he lost to Ward and immediately acquiring the WBO world – left vacant after Ward’s retirement – title and two other mid-tier titles.
After a small but successful streak of defending his world title, he lost it again in his first match against Eleider Álvarez, but managed to recoup his title with a stoppage victory in the rematch with Álvarez in 2019.
Kovalev defended his WBO world title (his third stint as a WBO champion and thus his third as a world champion) successfully against Anthony Yarde, also in 2019, but lost it later that year to Canelo Álvarez.
Despite his recent losses, Sergey Kovalev has made his mark as one of the best Light-Heavyweight champions to come out of Russia. After a three-year break following his loss to Canelo Álvarez, Kovalev returned as a Cruiserweight in 2022 against Tervel Pulev – the younger brother of renowned Heavyweight contender Kubrat Pulev, beating him soundly by unanimous decision.
Boxing Style
An orthodox-stanced fighter, Sergey Kovalev has displayed an elite affinity at boxing from the outside, most pronouncedly through his strong and accurate jab that has even managed to knock out the likes of Anthony Yarde. While he is less skilled fighting on the inside, Kovalev’s toughness has been one of the most highlighted qualities of his career when it came to surviving barrages of hooks. He is also known for his work ethic in the ring, and has proved to have a right hand as dangerous as his left.