Debut Sergei Kovalev in the cruiserweights takes on more real features. According to Mike Coppinger, representatives of Kovalev and Chinese Fanlong Meng almost completed the deal for their fight on March 12th. The Kovalev-Meng fight will be the main event of the next boxing evening from the Triller Fight Club.
Sergey Kovalev (34-4-1, 29 KOs), former light heavyweight champion, and China's Fanlong Meng (17-0, 10 KOs), light heavyweight contender, agreed to meet at 185 pounds (83.9 kg) catchweight. The cruiserweight limit is 200 pounds (90.7 kg).
Kovalev has not entered the ring since losing to Canelo Alvarez in the 11th round of their fight for the WBO light heavyweight title in November 2019 in Las Vegas. The Alvarez-Kovalev fight was very competitive until the brutal knockout of Alvarez. After that, Kovalev's career stalled. For the fight with the Mexican superstar, he earned $12 million.
The 38-year-old ex-world champion in January last year in the main event of DAZN was supposed to box with the undefeated at that time native of Uzbekistan Bektemir Melikuziev (8-1, 6 KOs). Kovalev was pulled from the fight because he tested positive for banned synthetic testosterone.
Kovalev's suspension sparked a contract dispute with Golden Boy Promotions, which owed Kovalev at least one fight after he lost to Alvarez as part of Oscar De La Hoya's company deal with DAZN. The arbitrator may rule on the Golden Boy and Kovalev case next month.
Meanwhile, Fanlong, 33, was trying to get a big fight, but the COVID-19 pandemic cost the 2012 Olympian the fight against undefeated IBF and WBC light heavyweight champion Artur Beterbiev. The Beterbiev-Fanlong fight was scheduled for March 2020 in Quebec, Canada.
Fanlong was the mandatory contender for the IBF Beterbiev belt. Restrictions related to the pandemic did not allow the Chinese left-hander to travel to Russia for the rescheduled fight.
