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Home » Exclusive: Kovalev talks Ward defense, says forget Stevenson

Exclusive: Kovalev talks Ward defense, says forget Stevenson

The light-heavyweight king puts his clutch of belts on the line against one of the best fighters around, in Ward and believes fans will witness a classic boxer versus puncher battle with himself on the front foot.

Both fighters recently came through routine warm-ups against Isaac Chilemba and Alexander Brand to progress to a huge event on pay-per-view that could see the winner take over as the best fighter on the planet.

“This is my dream since childhood to be involved in an event big as this. People are calling it the most important match of 2016 and I am happy,” Kovalev exclusively told World Boxing News.

“I hope this fight will raise me to the higher level we always hear about and Its my first pay per view so I hope the fans are happy that they spent the money.

“I’m expecting a busy fight with Ward as I’m the attacker and he is the defender but there are no doubts that he is a pound for pound star as The Ring rates him number four and I’m number two, which I think is fair.”

A long-running feud with Adonis Stevenson has finally been overshadowed by the agreement with Ward and Kovalev was asked whether the WBC title holder was still in his thoughts, as well as whether he would consider a future move up to cruiserweight.

“Adonis Stevenson has done everything possible to avoid me, so right now we can forget him. Maybe his promoters know something (about keeping him away from me) but I can only focus on Andre Ward now.

“Regarding cruiserweight, I can’t really say at the moment as I’m still very strong at 175,” he pointed out.