Sergey Kovalev vs. Thabiso Mchunu - WBC Ordered

[Ruthless-RKO]

THE WBC MANDATES SERGEY KOVALEV TO FIGHT THABISO MCHUNU IN CRUISERWEIGHT TITLE ELIMINATOR

The Ring has learned that former light heavyweight titlist Sergey Kovalev will be returning as a cruiserweight to fight Thabiso Mchunu in a title eliminator the Board of Governors of the WBC recently approved.

A former WBO, IBF and WBA light heavyweight titlist, Kovalev (35-4-1, 29 knockouts) has not fought since he defeated Tervel Pulev by 10-round decision in his cruiserweight debut on May 14, 2022, in Los Angeles, California. The South African southpaw Mchunu (23-6, 13 KOs) is the No. 5-ranked cruiserweight by The Ring and is coming off a split-decision loss to WBC cruiserweight titlist Ilunga Junior Makabu on January 20, 2022.

If there is no agreement between parties, the WBC will conduct a purse offer on Friday, February 24, 2023, at the WBC headquarters in Mexico City under the WBC Purse Offer Procedures.

“This is very big for Kovalev, he has a chance to be a champion again in the cruiserweight division and holding a WBC title, which he has never held before,” said Egis Klimas, Kovalev’s manager from Turkey and three-time BWAA Manager of the Year. “Kovalev has a good light heavyweight career and we’re bringing him back to be a champion again as a cruiserweight. He never had a chance to fight for the WBC belt as a light heavyweight and we’re looking to have win a WBC belt as a cruiserweight. We’re happy that he’s fighting again.”

[DrDuke]

A quite winnable bout even for the aged Kovalev. It depends on how much left in him, which you never guess after another bout of an old man.

[Thomastearns]

39 year old Sergey Kovalev is as shot as shot can be.

For sure there's some remarkably well preserved specimens who can still put on a reasonable facsimile of their younger selves inside the ring, but he's not one of them.

Unless he's somehow found some miraculous means of physical rejuvenation he needs to be put out to pasture for his own good.

This sort of thing should not be happening these days.

[Mexi-Box]

Kovalev could KO him, but he also could just gas like he's prone to after his drinking habits got worse. Tough one to pick.