Eleider Alvarez vs. Sergey Kovalev II - February 2, 2019

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Richard Commey-Isa Chaniev in the works for February 2nd

The IBF lightweight title, vacated by Mikey Garcia in his pursuit of Errol Spence Jr., will be up for grabs early next year. According to ESPN, top contenders Richard Commey and Isa Chaniev have agreed to fight for the vacant title, potentially as the co-feature for Eleider Alvarez-Sergey Kovalev II on February 2nd.

Tantalizingly, the article also mentions the possibility of the winner facing the victor of Vasyl Lomachenko-Jose Pedraza in a three-belt unification match.

Commey (27-2, 24 KO) has come painfully close to lightweight gold twice, losing close matches to Robert Easter Jr. and Denis Shafikov. The Ghanaian went 2-0 in 2018, knocking out unbeaten Alejandro Luna and designated victim Yardley Armenta Cruz.

Chaniev (13-1, 6 KO) scored his third consecutive victory in May when he traded knockdowns with former interim champion Ismael Barroso en route to a decision victory. He’d previously lost to countryman Fedor Papazov in 2017.

Commey always puts on a show, so this seems like solid accompaniment for Alvarez-Kovalev II on ESPN.

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Eleider Alvarez Reviewing Offers From ESPN, PBC and DAZN

With Alvarez's next contest taking place on ESPN, the network - through their exclusive content partner Top Rank - is attempting to secure a multi-fight deal with the boxer.

They are not alone. Streaming service DAZN is moving on Alvarez, and so is Premier Boxing Champions - which has content deals with Showtime and FOX.

"ESPN is interested in putting Eleider under a long-term contract and negotiations are under way," said Alvarez's promoter, Yvon Michel, to The Montreal Journal.

"But we must also analyze offers from DAZN and PBC. On the other hand, Alvarez will fight in Quebec for his next fight if he beats Kovalev in February, regardless of the network."

In terms of future opponents - PBC, which is run by Alvarez's adviser Al Haymon, has potential opponents such as Badou Jack, Marcus Browne and WBC champion Adonis Stevenson - should he beat Oleksandr Gvodyk.

As far as DAZN, IBF champion Artur Beterbiev is Alvarez's stablemate and the share the same trainer. ESPN has Gvozdyk, should he beat Stevenson.

But all of these offers won't mean much if Alvarez loses the rematch - and he really wants to do a job on Kovalev for his post-fight comments.

"When he discussed the fight, he never gave me credit for my victory. It will serve as a source of motivation for my next camp. I will arrange it, where I'm his last opponent. If he thinks it was a fluke, he'll have a second fluke on February 2nd."

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[ironbeard]

Quebec City is gorgeous at that time of year.

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It’s official!!

[oogiebe]

While I would love to see Kovalev win this, I have my doubts he'll ever be the fighter he was. All of a sudden, he's chinny.

[Ruthless-RKO]

While I would love to see Kovalev win this, I have my doubts he'll ever be the fighter he was. All of a sudden, he's chinny.

Might win a few rounds again but he might just tire again and get clipped!!

[jamamb]

i thought he was up 5-1 or at least 4-2 in the first fight and he was landing plenty. alvarezs ability to stay in there leads me to believe alv is simply tough enough to take his stuff and outlast him and get to him eventually

the trajectory of kovs career imo doesnt speak positively to how he fares vs top lhws now, but he is a dangerous offensive fighter and cant be totally written off.

[lazboy]

I think Alvarez has his number. Get in there, crowd him. Kovalev a dangerous and skilful outside fighter with a inside limitation.

[victor-romeo]

I think Alvarez has his number. Get in there, crowd him. Kovalev a dangerous and skilful outside fighter with a inside limitation.

While you give an accurate description of his fighting style strength and weakness, I think his age is more of an issue in his probable coming demise.

[lazboy]

I think Alvarez has his number. Get in there, crowd him. Kovalev a dangerous and skilful outside fighter with a inside limitation.

While you give an accurate description of his fighting style strength and weakness, I think his age is more of an issue in his probable coming demise.

I agree. I’d probably say both age age confidence now.

[jamamb]

believe it or not they are very close in age

[ironbeard]

While I would love to see Kovalev win this, I have my doubts he'll ever be the fighter he was. All of a sudden, he's chinny.

Kovalev has never had the best of chins.

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Face To Face at Rematch Presser

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The card, which will take place at the Ford Center at the Star -- the training facility of the Dallas Cowboys -- in Frisco, Texas, on the eve of the Super Bowl, will begin at 7 p.m. ET on ESPN+ with preliminary action. From 10 p.m. to approximately midnight, the show will air on ESPN and ESPN Deportes for Commey-Chaniev followed by Valdez-Tommasone. And at midnight, the action will shift back to ESPN+ for Lopez's bout against an opponent to be determined followed by the Alvarez-Kovalev II main event.

[tiny_acres]

The card, which will take place at the Ford Center at the Star -- the training facility of the Dallas Cowboys -- in Frisco, Texas, on the eve of the Super Bowl, will begin at 7 p.m. ET on ESPN+ with preliminary action. From 10 p.m. to approximately midnight, the show will air on ESPN and ESPN Deportes for Commey-Chaniev followed by Valdez-Tommasone. And at midnight, the action will shift back to ESPN+ for Lopez's bout against an opponent to be determined followed by the Alvarez-Kovalev II main event.

2 hour drive from my house. I'll be there

[DrDuke]

Btw prior to their first bout I had a dream, that Alvarez knocked Kovalev out. Recently I've had another dream, which actually was quite the same, Alvarez knocked Kovalev out again in the rematch. I usually don't trust my dreams about boxing, they are often pretty absurd, but those two dreams about Kovalev-Alvarez were realistic and the first one had already come true.

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This fight has come so quick! To think it was August last year!

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For Alvarez-Kovalev, which will headline the card the referee will be Luis Pabon, from Puerto Rico.

Levi Martinez (New Mexico), Lisa Giampa (Nevada), and Jesse Reyes (Texas), were appointed judges for the bout. The WBO Supervisor will be WBO President Francisco "Paco" Valcárcel, Esq.

[lazboy]

He was one of my favourite fighters to watch - a bad boy, marketed as the most sinister presence in boxing, he was, for a time. Don’t have much faith left in him now. Don’t feel he leads a healthy lifestyle. Which is his choice.

Completely baffled that he trained less for ward 2. Explained that he had overtrained for the first. This is now his excuse again for Alvarez 1 - overtraining and no instruction. So he’ll train less again?

Alvarez made him breathe heavy, made him uncomfortable up close. Kovalev said he was drained, there was nothing in the tank. No doubt kovalev was doing very well but it wasn’t one sided. It’s a mixture of kovalevs lack of endurance and Alvarez’s pressure and I don’t see that changing.

Alvarez has the blueprint. Get in kovalevs face up close - make him work, take him deep. Alvarez by Mid to late rounds.

[Best Coast]

While I would love to see Kovalev win this, I have my doubts he'll ever be the fighter he was. All of a sudden, he's chinny.

i
Remember how badly Fernando Vargas got his "chin cracked" in his late-round KO loss to Trinidad? It is partially psychological, but he was never the same after that extended beatdown and in his first fight after the Tito loss he was dropped and badly hurt by feather-fisted Wilfredo Rivera before rallying to eventually stop Rivera.

I dont think Kovalev's chin was "cracked" as badly as Vargas was but it should still effect him so soon after the first Alvarez loss, less than 6 months ago.

[lazboy]

While I would love to see Kovalev win this, I have my doubts he'll ever be the fighter he was. All of a sudden, he's chinny.

i
Remember how badly Fernando Vargas got his "chin cracked" in his late-round KO loss to Trinidad? It is partially psychological, but he was never the same after that extended beatdown and in his first fight after the Tito loss he was dropped and badly hurt by feather-fisted Wilfredo Rivera before rallying to eventually stop Rivera.

I dont think Kovalev's chin was "cracked" as badly as Vargas was but it should still effect him so soon after the first Alvarez loss, less than 6 months ago.

Yea I wonder how that works mentally. Muhammad Ali said something about willing yourself through the moment, or not going towards the light or something (most likely have that jumbled with something else). But when you look at Tyson Fury’s round 12, psychology/will must play a part.

[Evander]

Not been watching either of them lately.
It's a massive fight for Kovalev though, up to him if he's willing to go all out and it may take that.

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