By James Blears
WBC light heavyweight champion Adonis Stevenson wants Sergey Kovalev, the WBO/IBF/WBA champion, to step up and fight. Last December, Kovalev's promoter Main Events had made a request for their fighter to become the mandatory challenger to Stevenson. The request was approved. He then beat Jean Pascal in a WBC eliminator in March.
The WBC set a purse bid for Stevenson-Kovalev, but then Main Events withdrew from the eliminator. They wanted the fight to be on HBO and Stevenson's team want the purse bid winner to select the network.
Stevenson says Kovalev withdrew from the purse bid process to avoid the fight.
"Sergey is looking for excuses. The purse bid on Friday. Let's see who puts up the most money and then we should do the show. I know that I can beat him, and he never fights big power punchers," Stevenson said.
"My message to Sergey Kovalev is to fight me, as soon as possible and stop sending silly messages. It's not about the money. This is very much about who is the best. I know I'm the best and I'm the WBC Champion. If I fight him, I will win by knockout. I know that I can beat him. I'm ready to fight him and this is the time!"
