WBC Orders Sergey Kovalev vs Thabiso Mchunu Title Eliminator
The WBC has ordered two-time cruiserweight title challenger Thabiso “The Rock” Mchunu (23-6, 13KO) and former unified light heavyweight champion Sergey “Krusher” Kovalev (35-4-1, 29KO) to fight in a title eliminator.
According to The Ring, the WBC has issued that the fighters’ teams enter negotiations. As usual, the organization has provided a deadline, February 24, to get a deal done or a purse bid will follow.
MCHUNU’S TOUGH ROAD TRAVELED
In 2016, Thabiso Mchunu came up short in trying to lift the title from around the waist of then-WBO champion Oleksandr Usyk. He later picked up the biggest win of his career by outclassing former champion Denis Lebedev in 2019.
Ranked number two by the WBC, Mchunu has not been in the ring since losing a rematch against the WBC champion Junior Makabu in January 2022. Some boxing enthusiasts believed that 34-year-old nicknamed The Rock should have gotten the nod and been crowned champion.
KOVALEV IS LOOKING FOR A SUCCESSFUL SECOND RUN
After losing the WBO light heavy title to Saul ‘Canelo” Alvarez in 2019, Krusher took a year and a half layoff before returning to the ring. In May 2022, the 39 year-old first fought as a cruiserweight and picked up a solid win over then-undefeated Tervel Pulev.
The battled-tested, number-four rated Russian has had a career with some ups and downs. He has shared the ring with big names like Bernard Hopkins, Andre Ward, Jean Pascal, and Alvarez. In addition, he is a three-time light heavyweight champion.
This is an important fight for both men as neither can afford a loss at this point in their careers. Mchunu is looking to cash-in a win over the former champion for a third bite at the championship apple. The aging Kovalev is hoping to become a two-division champion as he approaches the end of his career.
3kingsboxing.com will continue to monitor this story and provide any future updates.
By: Bo Bland
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