He works in methodical, not malevolent fashion.
Come Jan. 30, I do wonder, though, if we are going to see what happens when 32-year-old Sergey Kovalev works with a fire of ire lit beneath him.
In a couple weeks, the 28-0-1 (25 knockouts) Russian rematches with Montrealer Jean Pascal (30-3-1, 17 KOs), whom Kovalev stopped in eight rounds last March. This time, the IBF/WBA/WBO light heavyweight beltholder said on a conference call that he wants to finish the job earlier and with more finality.
This time, he?d like for it to be curtains for the skilled Pascal?s career, he told media of the tangle to unfold at the Bell Centre and on HBO.
New Jersey-based Main Events and Canada?s Interbox are putting the promotion together.
The extra push to be more conclusive could be stemming from the assertion by the 33-year-old Pascal, as laid out in a presser weeks back (and repeated in a Q&A press release sent out today), that Kovalev is racially biased.
I asked Kovalev about those attacks. He is insulted by them, he said, and will seek to show Pascal to what level on Jan. 30. Referee Luis Pabon saved Pascal last time; this time, ?Krusher? said, hopefully there will be no merciful move. ?I stop his career,? he said, with no decibel shift in his tone.
His trainer, John David Jackson, needled Pascal, terming him ?shot? but then said Pascal still brings skills to the table.
Pascal, for his part, said he?s feeling a bit reborn under new trainer Freddie Roach. Coach Roach said he will try and have JP not mimic Roy Jones Jr., and work off the ropes. Roach said that yes, they haven?t spent much time together but he sees things to like in his new client.
Other topics included PED testing; past foe Bernard Hopkins refused testing for some reason, Pascal said, but, happily, Kovalev is on board with testing.
I asked if the bias issue is making him a madman; no, Pascal said. He will be composed and fight smart on Jan. 30.
My take: Look out, Mr Pascal. Your righteous indignation might come back and boomerang into your face. Kovalev mauls like a grizzly without being jabbed; get under his skin and we could see a new level of chaos from the Krusher.
