In the main event of the evening in his first fight in the first heavyweight after a 31-month break, the three-time world champion in light heavyweight Sergey Kovalev (35-4-1, 29 KOs) won a convincing victory by unanimous decision over the previously undefeated Tervel Pulev (16-1, 13 KOs).
Working behind his signature jab, Kovalev controlled most of the action throughout the entire fight with Pulev. In the middle rounds, he used heavy combinations to defeat an opponent ahead of time, who tried his best to counterattack.
Trainer Buddy McGirt insisted between rounds that Kovalev stick to the fight plan and use the right distance when jabbing, which his ward used perfectly and achieved a landslide victory on the judges' notes.
“I'm going to keep fit after this fight, we'll rest for a week and then we'll be back in the gym. I didn't know how I would look in battle, of course there was some kind of rust. I haven't boxed at a high level for over a year, my body doesn't like it. I want to fight every three or four months," Kovalev said.
“The plan was to use the jab and distance. But I felt that I lacked strength in my body. I think that in my next fight I will perform at a higher level. Give me one more fight and I'll be ready for the chance to win the world title in a new weight class," Kovalev added.
