Camp Notes From Trainer John David Jackson on IBF Light Heavyweight Champion Sergey Kovalev
By: Raymundo Dioses
In defense of his IBF light heavyweight title, Sergey Kovalev is currently conducting his training in the high altitude setting of Big Bear, California under the guidance of trainer John David Jackson. Kovalev is set to face challenger Andre Ward on November 19, 2016 in an HBO Pay-Per-View event live from the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.
“Things are going real well, Sergey is on schedule,” said trainer Jackson to BoxingScene.com of his pugilistic prizefighter. “We’re doing a lot of conditioning right now and just going over strategy watching Ward fights, picking him apart and seeing what he does best. He is a very intelligent fighter, I did not realize how intelligent was until I watched him and studied him. He’s a good fighter.”
Kovalev is coming off a decision win against Isaac Chilemba in July 2016. Chilemba was just the second Kovalev opponent to go the 12 round distance in a fight that took place in the Russian’s hometown of Ekaterinburg.
“For this fight I do, after the last fight I told him I needed him more focused and listen to his team more… So for this right here he’s giving me his all and he’s giving me a chance to really mold him and make him the complete fighter he needs to be for this fight.”
Plans are for Kovalev to soon move training camp to Oxnard, California.
“We’ve been here for three weeks, we’re here two weeks more. That’s five weeks total and then we go down to Oxnard for the final four weeks,”