By Minnie Larry
Venue: Hard Rock in Atlantic City, New Jersey
The new WBO Light Heavyweight Champion crushed the “Krusher” in his 1st ever Championship bout. Eleider Alvarez performed one of the most ambitious upsets in recent professional boxing, dethroning 35-year old former fighter of the year, Sergey Kovalev (32-3,28KOs).
Sparks flew in the 7th and final round when Alvarez dropped Kovalev three times within a 40 second span. The final knockdown was enough for the referee to call of the bout.
After a 4 year hiatus, fight night returned to the Hard Rock Hotel in Atlantic City, New Jersey, Saturday night. The first knockdown surprised an out-punched Kovalev, lifting him backwards off stage with a stiff right jab. The second roundhouse came after a fickle Kovalev, tried standing his ground, but instead becoming leveled with a left hook, followed by a right jab. The final shots caught a rickety “Krusher” with an overhand right, chased by a left hook and an additional over- hand right, sending a breathless Kovalev back to the canvas for the 3rd and final time of the night.
Up until the 7th, judges scored the bout, 58-56, 59-55x 2 all in favor of “The Krusher.” Kovalev gained momentum in 4 of the previous 6 rounds. The 4th saw an exciting exhibition of back and forth punching, with Kovalev pulling forward after landing 25 of 60 power punches against an on-the-run Alvarez. Alvarez began foregoing his defensive technique, allowing for an accidental headbutt to bruise and bust his upper left cheek, which then began seeping blood from the wound.
It’s common knowledge Alvarez broke 3 knuckles on his right hand during his last fight as an amateur. The most dramatic aspect of the bout, was watching Alvarez pummel Kovalev multiple times with limited use of two knuckles. Alvarez remains undefeated advancing his record to 24-0 (12KOs).
The time of the finish was 2:45 in the 7th.
In other action, WBA light heavyweight champion Dmtey Bivol 14-0, 11KOs retained his title by unanimous decision over Issac Chilemba, 25-6-2, 10KOs. The scores were 116-112 and 120-108 twice.
