By Vadim Pushkin
Sergey Kovalev (30-1, 26 KOs) has challenged Andre Ward (31-0, 15KOs) to prove his championship worth by going forward with their contracted rematch.
Last month, Ward recovered from a second round knockdown to win a close and controversial twelve round unanimous decision over Kovalev to capture the WBA, IBF, WBO light heavyweight world titles at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
Ward won the fight on all three scorecards by a point - 114-113. The outcome has created an ongoing debate among boxing fans over which fighter actually deserved the victory.
There was an immediate rematch clause in the contract. Kovalev has exercised the clause and now expects to face Ward for a second time in the first half of 2017 - either in April or June.
Kovalev is not pleased with some of Ward's statements - where Olympic gold medal winner has stated that he won't go forward with a rematch unless the deal is right, and Ward has even threatened the possibility of retirement because the rematch clause prevents him from taking another fight.
"[The rematch] is not up to me and not up to you - it's up to him and his team if he really thinks he won. If he really believes that he won - then he should come out and prove it to everyone in a rematch," Kovalev told Elena Sobol.
"According to our sources, the actual date [of the rematch] it's April or June, but no later than June, but then again... not everything depends on us. Now there are promoters who need to negotiate the conditions. And now there is news that Ward wants to finish his career... I think if he does that it would be a stupid move, because the rematch can earn him move and more."
