Russian boxer Sergey Kovalev made a triumphant return to the ring, defeating Ukrainian Vyacheslav Shabranskyy in two rounds to win the vacant World Boxing Organization (WBO) light heavyweight title, in a fight held at the Theater at Madison Square Garden. , In New York.
The 34-year-old Kovalev was able to regain one of the 175-pound world titles he lost to American Andre Ward in a highly controversial decision last November.
The victory allowed Kovalev to put his mark at 31-2-1, with 27 knockouts, and confirmed that he remains the fighter with the devastating punch.
The Russian champion was able to knock down Shabranskyy (19-2, with 16 knockouts) twice with powerful right-hand punches.
The first fall was when the opening minute of the actions of the first episode took place, and when Shabranskyy could not fully recover, he landed another right that sent him back to the canvas.
With one minute remaining in the second round, Kovalev hit Shabranskyy with his right hand to the head and the third knockdown of the fight was recorded.
Shabranskyy was able to continue and Kovalev took the opportunity to not give him more opportunity, with a combination of right and left he sent him towards the ropes and made him stagger, so referee Harvey Docked intervened and stopped the fight at 2:36 minutes of action.
“I have shown the great form in which I am and I have recovered one of the titles that belonged to me and that I should never have lost because of what I did in the ring against Ward,” said Kovalev. “I had to overcome myself after the unfair defeat I suffered, but I have returned in fullness.”
The Russian fighter reiterated that what happened against Ward was all an illegal decision and that he never thought that the defeat would be his last fight, on the contrary.
“I want to be the best in my division again and I am convinced that I can offer great fights as a professional,” Kovalev stressed. “We are going to see again who is the best of all in the immediate future.”