Russian boxer Sergey Kovalev told about the preparation for the title fight with compatriot Igor Mikhalkin, compared the work of his coach Abror Tursunpulatov to John David Jackson, and also shared his opinion on the World Boxing Super Series favorite.
- I talked with many experts. Almost everyone believes that Mikhalkin has no chance in a fight against you. I can not imagine that your camp had a different opinion. Is it hard to tune in to a rival in a battle, where are you an obvious favorite?
- I now am in a situation where I am not allowed to choose rivals in the light heavyweight division. We are boxing with those who are ready to enter the ring, who are not afraid for their track record and are not afraid to take risks. And Igor does not even take risks, he enjoys the chance to fight for the world title.
Initially, I wanted to box with Barrera. For a long time talking about it. He received an offer before my fight with Shabranskyy. He refused, requesting a large sum of money. We do not have such means. Our budget allowed Shabranskyy.
- After the battle with Shabranskyy did you again made a proposal to Barrera?
- Yes. But he chose a fight with Dmitry Bivol. I respect his choice. Everyone builds his career the way he wants. At the same time there are no unifying battles on the horizon. Artur Beterbiev sues the Canadian promoter. Dmitry has a fight with Barrera. With WBC, the situation is not the most transparent. Only recently announced that Adonis Stevenson will fight Badou Jack. I had to choose from those who left, and still had to meet the financial possibilities. I can not once again give my fee to box with a strong opponent.
But I do not understand why everyone so underestimates Igor. He is the IBO world champion. Yes, this version is not basic, but it is there. And the owner of the belt of the same organization is Gennady Golovkin. Mikhalkin has only one defeat. He is awkward and motivated. He will be dangerous. And he cannot be underestimated. Igor is not an easy guy. He has a Russian spirit, a mentality. He will not be understood if he refuses to fight. Igor will fight to the end, so the duel will be interesting for you and dangerous for me. I should be ready for this.
- And Stevenson has a different opinion on this matter. He believes that the choice of an opponent is due to the fact that you are being protected.
But why do you listen Stevenson? I just explained why I fight Mikhalkin. Stevenson is a "home" champion. He fights only in Canada, and with rivals obviously weaker. Here everything is clear. Let him continue this way. To talk and to do the same thing.
- Your trainer Abror Tursunpulatov destroys stereotypes. He says that you follow all his instructions. Is it easier for you now or when did you do the training plan yourself?
- I can repeat that as it turned out John David Jackson from the very beginning of our work in 2013 was not happy with it. Hearing this in an interview, I was shocked. Why did he work then? On the other hand, it did not work. It is good to receive money, to earn a name and glory, when you are resting yourself, but for you everything is done by an athlete. In this case, I am. He was not a coach, he just holded pads. I did not have the courage to break off relations with him. I did not see a replacement, and as it seemed to me at that moment, I still achieve success. Let it be next to me.
Next were the battles with Andre Ward, and it dawned on me that my experience, work and hard work were not enough to beat Ward. Including the fact that I was not doing an athletic way of life. Between fights, I often flew home, moved a lot in Russia on different matters. Sitting with friends, relatives, gaining excess weight, skipping workouts. Together, this led to what I got in the battles with Ward. Although the first bell was still with Isaac Chilemba. But I did not hear it.
The second call and I lost the belts. The third bell is a rematch. And again I did not hear. The understanding came to me after a car accident. From that moment I heard the Almighty: "Stop, look around and take hold."
What kind of accident?
- I flew off the road in my car. Miraculously remained alive.
- Well at least you are safe.
- Yes. The car was unscathed, not counting the scratched knee. A car flew off the oncoming road, and I had to leave the clash in the ditch. Left, tumbled a couple of times.
I really got scared at that moment. I could die, and my family would have remained without a bread maker. I went to pray on Mount Athos in Greece. I thanked God for everything that he gave me and health.
- What changed after working with the new coach?
- I have two stages of preparation. First I go through the conditioning. At the first stage, I was helped by the biathlon coach Alexander Sedov. If I have any abnormalities, I write to him or we call up and he corrects how to bring my body back to normal. He is the coach of God. He is a biathlon coach and does not climb into boxing, gives a base on which I later earn boxing skills.
- Do you notice any changes in yourself after working with Tursunpulatov? Maybe new developments have emerged?
- Probably, there is nothing new, and will not be. This is the old Soviet school of boxing. New and well forgotten old. He gives me something with which I once started. I took three championship belts and reached Ward on "luggage", which I brought back from amateur boxing, which I was engaged from 11 to 26 years. I got success on it, but I need help to move on. It's hard for one.
I like working with Abror. He understands what it needs to be done and can explain it. He feels, sees, corrects. If I move too fast, he asks to slow down and work on strength. Therefore, working with him is very comfortable. We understand each other with a half-word and speak the same language.
- Your championship belts are now with Bivol and Beterbiev. What title do you value more?
- We are champions in different versions, but not champions of the world. A world champion can only be one. We are only "holders". We need to identify the best - to hold a Super Series or fight each other. Then there will be one world champion, but now...
- One quarter of the champion.
- Yes.
- You and Bivol box on the same card. Is it the idea that HBO channel wants to bring you down in late autumn?
- Of course they do. They will, and we will box. Where should I go? This is a sport and it will be very interesting for me to meet Dmitry and any other champion.
- Does Bivol have a good chance of defeating Barrera?
- The chances of all are good. Especially Dmitri, because Barrera has a weak chin. He fell from Shabranskyy and Ward. Barrera misses, Dmitry lands. Hence, the chances are increasing. In addition, Barrera is slow. Bivol will see the holes. But experience for Dmitry will still be good, and victory will add to his confidence. All the pluses are on his side.
- We talked about Bivol and Beterbiev, and Abror wants your third fight with Ward. Andre is training and is preparing to return. Do you have such a desire, maybe even in another weight category to find Ward and return his debts?
- With pleasure. At any time and at any weight. I do not agree with two defeats. We were not on equal terms. The first fight, okay. There was my mistake. I had a coach who was an idiot. He saw my workload and did not react to it at all. His main thing is to get money. I broke up with him.
Second fight. I had a psychological breakdown. I could not get in the right shape. I could look more convincing. For a long time, they did not announce the date of the battle, I left with my family for a trip to Asia. Ward's team fooled us. Then he retired, he will box, then no. They themselves were deliberately preparing for me, knowing that the battle would be. I did not know this, and spent my free time with my family. The date was announced in two months and I began to prepare. This time, of course, was not enough.
After the first battle we were on the same level. Then Ward began to grow and progress, preparing for the second meeting with me, and I began to degrade and roll down. I did not know the date of the battle, and I was not sure if he would ever do it. Moreover, I had a small depression. What's so big about? I was upset with the way I was "wrung out" by the belts.
Then they began to pull John. He said that he was still a good fellow in my eyes. But all this was a game of the promotional company Roc Nation. Jackson trains their boxers. And the client of the company is Andre Ward. For them we are guest workers. Would they give me the belt? Ward did his work in the gym, and they - behind the scenes.
- Do you follow the Super Series and who is the favorite in the finals - Murat Gassiev or Alexander Usyk?
- I saw all the battles of this division. Favorite? Hard to tell. Both are talented. Usyk seems more experienced. Nevertheless, Murat showed that he too knows how to think and tactically build a plan for battle. This we saw in the fight with Dorticos. Everyone deserves to be a winner. We will wait for the finals and we will support the best.
- If Gassiev wins, he will become the owner of four belts and will block your achievement. At this point, do you pay any attention?
- I am happy with what I have. Gassiev will become an undisputed champion and I will only rejoice for him. By this he will glorify our country to the whole world. And by this he will show a good example to youth, will give them motivation. I have no envy. From the victory or defeat of Gassiev, I will not get any warmer or colder, but if he wins, I will rejoice that there are such heroes as Murat in Russia. He made a name for himself. And many boys will go to the gym, wanting to take an example from him. Maybe they will become world champions.
