Sergey Kovalev – Artur Beterbiev: A Preview of a Big Fight Down the Road

By Doctor Ibrahim Hussain

It’s hard to imagine when you have been so successful as an up and coming fighter that a new kid on the block would rattle someone. Could this really be happening?

Why not ask Fernando Alonso, the great up coming F1 driver back in 2005, who beat Michael Schumacher. It looked like he was poised to be the next big thing. But to his bitter frustration, along came Lewis Hamilton.

Sergey Kovalev is widely considered right now to be the best in his division. He has demolished fighters with his thunderous punches (which are not necessarily visually fitting for his slender frame), he has out-boxed ring generals and he has even called out all the fighters that he believes will give him even more credit should he defeat them.

Understandably, he wouldn’t call out a fighter with just a few professional bouts behind them. Understandably he wouldn’t call out a fighter whom much of the world has not even heard of, and finally, surely he would not call out a fighter who would not give him a challenge?

One such talent in Russian boxing circles, Artur Beterbiev, is someone who beat Kovalev as an amateur. In fact Beterbiev was one of only two people to beat one of the Great Russian boxers, Evgeny Makarenko from 2001 to his retirement in 2007. Makarenko avenged the defeat against Beterbiev, but never got the opportunity against his other conqueror, Andre Ward.

Now we don’t hear much about Kovalev discussing moving weight classes or fighting Ward. Certainly there has been no mention of Beterbiev. He does however seem very vocal when it comes to Adonis Stevenson. This is understandable because Stevenson is not a technical boxer. He is an explosive fighter who can box, but is not a master technician. Kovalev is a technician (dare I say it a master technician). Stevenson should be easy fodder for Kovalev, unless of course he is iced by an early Marvel Super Hero shock wave.

Other than a punchers chance in the early rounds, Stevenson will not win Kovalev.

Indeed, time and time again in the amateurs, and as seen in large doses of the professional ranks, what beats the Eastern European and Russian fight style is a great boxer (A’La Andre Ward in the 2004 Olympics). But in the absence of the Virgil Hunter type train of thought and teaching method, then you have to meet fire with fire.

One of the few to beat Kovalev in the last 10 years is Artur Beterbiev.

Rumor has it he tried to speed up his career with the sole cause of chasing down Kovalev who is now set for the big time. Behind closed doors Beterbiev is openly saying he has Kovalev’s number and that Kovalev knows this. He also believes that Kovalev will avoid him for as long as possible with the excuse of PPV figures and the money generation capabilities. But Kovalev has already said he wants to fight the best, yet no mention of Beterbiev in a single interview.

If promotional issues can be dealt with, and the fights accelerated accordingly, I would see Beterbiev fit to fight Kovalev within the next 18 months. But the fight may not materialize for another 80 months if the Floyd Mayweather, JR. – Manny Pacquiao politics repetition shows their ugly face again.

Some may say that a fight with Kovalev at this stage is premature for Beterbiev with only 12 fights behind him.

What we have seen in the past with the like of Lomachenko (fighting for a title in his second pro bout) and the Cubans is that they are already leaps ahead of the Europeans when they enter the pro ranks, and having 10 fights against nobodies is not necessary.

In terms of being a big draw; a fight between Kovalev and Beterbiev would sell out a Moscow arena many times over if it were to happen tomorrow. Generating money is not an issue.

How about the crowd? Is it the American fan base that is the main issue? Would it not be a big enough draw in Vegas or Atlantic City if it were to happen soon? Who knows, but boxing purists would pile to see the fight, as would the Eastern Block tourists and ex-pats that know even a little about their boxing. If Kovalev wants to fight the best then he must fight Artur Beterbiev.

What can be said for sure is that Beterbiev is chasing down Kovalev. Beterbiev is ready for the best and that means Kovalev, a fight he would take tomorrow.

When it happens, even the mighty Kovalev will not be so confident, and for sure he cannot take the shots like he did against Pascal, as Beterbiev probably hits harder than Kovalev.

You may not be excited by the prospect of this fight now, but one day you will be on the edge of your seat wondering how someone came along so quickly who had the upper hand on Kovalev in the “monster in the closet” department.