Prior reports of Canelo Alvarez moving up to Light Heavyweight to face Sergey Kovalev have been making the rounds. Today Canelo’s promotion company Golden Boy Boxing made it as official with a formal announcement. Canelo v Kovalev is on! The two will face off on November 2nd in Las Vegas for Kovalev’s WBO Light Heavyweight title.
“We promised to make this fight happen, and now we are delivering it,” said Oscar De La Hoya, Chairman and CEO of Golden Boy. “Historic fights have been a hallmark of this company, and we are pleased to once again live up to the high expectations we’ve set for our fans. The best pound-for-pound fighter is also boxing’s biggest star. Few fighters in boxing’s history can claim to be both like Canelo Alvarez. Now, he’ll look to become a four-division world champion against one of the most dangerous fighters of recent years, and I’m certain that he will stop him.”
At 160 pounds, Canelo has defeated Gennady “GGG” Golovkin (albeit via a controversial decisions). Canelo also defeated Daniel “Miracle Man” Jacobs. Not content to stay at middleweight Canelo moved into the 168-pound division by stopping Rocky Fielding in three rounds to become the WBA Super Middleweight World Champion. Now he looks to make history once again. How? By becoming the second Mexican boxer to hold a world title in the light heavyweight division. A feat only accomplished by Julio Cesar Gonzalez in 2003.
Canelo on Kovalev
“The second phase of my career is continuing just as we had planned, and that’s why we are continuing to make great fights to enter into the history books of boxing,” said Canelo Alvarez. “That’s also why I’ve decided to jump two weight classes against one of the most feared champions of recent years. Kovalev is a dangerous puncher, and he’s naturally the bigger man, but that’s the kind of challenges and risks that I like to face.”
Krusher on Canelo
A Russian knockout artist and three-time light heavyweight world champion, “Krusher” is no stranger to fighting in hostile territory. He captured the WBO Light Heavyweight World Title in 2013. He traveled to Wales and scored a stunning knockout of Nathan Cleverly. Kovalev then traveled to Atlantic City to meet future Hall of Famer Bernard “The Alien” Hopkins. Unifying the WBO, WBA and IBF titles with a lopsided unanimous decision victory. As unified champion, “Krusher” successfully defended his titles twice against current WBA Interim Light Heavyweight titleholder Jean Pascal in Pascal’s hometown of Montreal, scoring a stoppage victory both times.
Kovalev suffered two controversial losses to former Olympic Gold medalist Andre Ward (in 2016 and 2017). When asked about this fight, Kovalev said, “In order to be the best you have to beat the best. I have always tried to fight the toughest opponents in my division, but many have ducked me throughout my career. Canelo wanted to fight me; to step up to higher weight and challenge for my belt. I will be ready on November 2nd.”
“Canelo is to be praised for asking to challenge Sergey Kovalev,” added Main Events’ CEO Kathy Duva. “Win or lose, he will make history and Sergey is extremely pleased to get the chance to test his mettle against another future Hall of Famer.” She continued, “Anyone who cares at all about the Sweet Science should circle November 2ndon their calendar. I have a feeling that this will be one for the ages.”
True, indeed.