Former WBO world light heavyweight champion Sergey Kovalev (34-4-1) admitted he was too tired after the sixth round of his championship fight with Saul Alvarez (53-1-2).
The Russian got TKO’d in the 11th round, as many expected a much tougher fight from “Krusher”. Kovalev looked as if he didn’t know how to use his size and reach advantage and was way too passive on the outside, not landing enough to make Canelo uncomfortable.
According to the former champ, he didn’t have enough time to prepare properly for this fight due to his short training camp. Kovalev fought at the end of August when he defeated Anthony Yarde in Russia.
“I was tired after round six, because I had my last fight very close to this one, but it’s okay, it’s a new experience for me. Canelo is really a great champion. A little bit right now, I didn’t recover from my last fight. But it’s okay. Thanks for the fight Canelo, I have big respect for him. He made history,” Kovalev said.
“To open my body less, I had to use more jabs, more safe. I’ll be back. I’ll be back much stronger.”
Kovalev would also explain that his inability to secure unification fights was the reasoning for holding out until the Canelo fight was finalized.
“I know that I can be a unified champion, let’s make a unification fight – but nobody wants to fight me in my division,” Kovalev said. “This guy Canelo is more fresh, he came into my division more fresh. He has more stamina, but it’s okay, it’s a good experience for me.”
