Watch the full fight replay of Sergey Kovalev vs Artur Mann in this action-packed boxing match! Kovalev, the former unified light heavyweight champion, faces off against the tough German contender Artur Mann in a thrilling battle.
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00:00In Korea, there was a rousing rendition of the Russian National Anthem, everybody on their feet inside this arena, and this arena is full.
00:07So Chelyabinsk has come out for Sergei Kovalev, and they are desperate to see him end his career with a victory.
00:17It's not going to be easy, though, against Arturo Man.
00:20So here we go, the schedule for 10. Kovalev in the white and gold, man in the black and white.
00:26I think you're absolutely right, Andy. I don't think this is a gimme for Sergei Kovalev, and with all due respect to Arturo Man,
00:33I think this is more about where Kovalev is at this stage of his career at 42 years of age than anything about Arturo Man.
00:39But let's see, let's see what the crusher has left in his arsenal at this stage.
00:50He's been up at Cruiserweight for his last couple of fights.
00:53I mentioned that fight against Anthony Yard that he managed to get the win in, and he needed the win because he needed the title to take into the fight against Canelo in late 2019.
01:05He got stopped by a left hook in the 11th round, but I was covering that fight, and I had him up through 10.
01:12I thought he was probably 6-4 up through 10, and then he got stopped, and then he had a long period out of the ring.
01:22Came back, and then we saw him, as I mentioned, in Riyadh in Saudi Arabia last May.
01:27Man, with that tight high guard.
01:37Just looking to try and walk in on Kovalev if he can. Kovalev trying to work that right to the body.
01:43Yes, they're nice and compact so far, Arturo Man. He'll know that Sergei Kovalev is going to come out and look to dictate off that jab.
01:50But the age, the inactivity, and the natural size advantage that Arturo Man enjoys over Sergei Kovalev.
01:56You know, this fight will get very, very interesting if Arturo Man forces Kovalev to work in these early rounds without having too much success.
02:03A minute remaining in round one, and that's what Man's looking to do, as you described it.
02:20Get on that front foot, keep that guard intact.
02:25He's got the gloves up just covering the face, and he's got nice long arms, so when he drops those elbows in,
02:29it makes for a pretty effective shell. And when he gets close enough, like he almost was there,
02:35looking to try and chop down with the right hand. Make Kovalev work at 42 years old and as inactive as he has been.
02:45That is the way forward here for Arturo Man. Can Kovalev produce that combination punching power that we've seen from him in the past?
02:54Good left hook to the body there from Arturo Man. A well-documented perceived issue of Sergei Kovalev.
02:59Kovalev's man lands the right hand over the top as well. It was a good shot.
03:04He could be pleased with his start here, the visitor.
03:09Hasn't done an awful lot, but the right hand lands again.
03:11Bell goes, and I agree with you. I think that was a good, tidy opening round for the away fighter.
03:28And you talked about natural size, and that's exactly what it is, because he's always been up at 200 pounds,
03:37and making the leap up from 175 to 200 as you get older is something that a fighter might always be tempted to do,
03:45but it's just such a massive leap.
03:48And that right hand got through a few times in that opening three minutes.
03:53There's a very, very short list of fighters who have made that jump of success, Andy.
03:59Particularly at the stage of his career, Sergei Kovalev's at.
04:03But as I said, Arturo Man will be buoyed by that start.
04:06Certainly the last 30 seconds or so found the home for that right hand to the head of Kovalev.
04:10He's landed a decent left hook to the body.
04:16Just needs to keep making Sergei Kovalev work at 42 years of age.
04:22And see if he can crack the crusher.
04:35That didn't look low.
04:37No, it looked okay. It looked like it was on the top side of the belt line there.
04:42They've both got their belt line where it should be, just below the belly button.
04:45So basically anything on it will be, you would imagine, deemed low by the referee.
04:53Anything squarely on it.
04:57This is good stuff from Man.
04:58Keeping a nice high guard.
05:00Catching a lot of those shots.
05:01Good left hook to the body.
05:02Kovalev's having to work hard here, isn't he, to try and keep him off, basically.
05:12You think about Kovalev in his pom-pandy, that ramrod jab that used to set fighters onto the back foot straight away.
05:17It's just not there anymore against a naturally bigger man in Arturo Man.
05:21And, of course, Kovalev's advancing years.
05:25What I always used to absolutely love was the way that he would rattle fighters with that right, left, right.
05:31Just step with the right hand, almost like a southpaw jab.
05:34Step with the left hand.
05:36And he just pinned people with three incredibly solid jabs, really, the way that he threw it.
05:41Two with the right hand, one with the left hand.
05:43And you could almost feel that impact just shake an opponent.
05:51He's got his work cut out here tonight.
05:53We suspected that he would have, for the reasons that we've discussed already.
05:58But this is going to be hard.
06:01Yeah, man clearly has a very clear game plan here.
06:05Make the older man work.
06:06Try and work that body when you can.
06:07Kovalev just having to push him off, shove him off to try and make a little bit of space for himself at times.
06:19Looking for that right hand in round the back of the guard.
06:21Hasn't quite managed to find it, just left.
06:23The longish uppercut was short as well.
06:30Well, there we go.
06:34He's been caught there, Arturo Man.
06:35And he's gone down quite heavy.
06:38Not solid as he gets back to his feet.
06:41The referee just gets to the count of eight.
06:44And that really came from nowhere to an extent.
06:48And Kovalev just looking to try and set about him here.
06:51And Arturo Man is in trouble.
06:52He's in big trouble inside the final 30 seconds of this second round.
07:00Kovalev just looking to try and spear that right through the middle.
07:03Short left hand on the inside, Andy, I think that caused it.
07:08I think it was.
07:09A stab to the pit of the stomach there from Kovalev.
07:11He now is just letting those hands go.
07:15And down he goes again, Arturo Man.
07:17And the referee says, no knockdown.
07:19I'm not too sure about that.
07:20I think he could quite easily have called that one.
07:26But what a dramatic finish to the round there for Kovalev.
07:28Because, man, as we were describing, had a plan.
07:32It was the obvious plan to employ.
07:35Trying to pose that natural, physical size.
07:38And there's that left on the inside.
07:40And that's a beautiful shot.
07:41Almost perfect, Andy.
07:44You were talking about that one-two-one.
07:45It was a two-one there from Kovalev.
07:47Fed him the right hand.
07:48And then that ramrod left jab that we were talking about in those first two rounds.
07:52Made a comeback.
07:54And he is hurt there.
07:55And you can see the way that he goes down.
07:59He gets that arm out just about to break his fall.
08:02But you can tell how hurt a fighter is often from the way that they go down.
08:06And he does have those four defeats.
08:09He has been stopped three times.
08:12Paris Piedis managed to do it to him.
08:14Gazim Agomedov managed to do it to him as well.
08:18Kevin Lorena.
08:20So he can be hurt.
08:21Arturo Man.
08:22He is 34 years old.
08:23He's not as old as Kovalev.
08:24But he's still been at this a long time.
08:26We're miles on the clock.
08:27And there is a massive spring in the step now of Sergei Kovalev.
08:32Who's looking to just put his hands together like the crusher of old.
08:39The man has gone from having that tight defense early on in the first couple of rounds.
08:44And now he's even catching shots.
08:45And they seem to be moving him back.
08:47Needs to deter Kovalev.
08:49We've got a good right hand there from Mann.
08:50Needs more of that.
08:51We've said in the past that Kovalev, you know, he is the bully.
08:56He likes to hit you, hurt you and get on top.
08:58But a good left hook there from Arturo Man.
09:00It was.
09:02And again, he throws it.
09:03And this could be a very interesting fight, I think.
09:05It's already got very entertaining.
09:07Mann probably won that opening round.
09:09But the second was a 10-8 for Kovalev.
09:12And these two are not struggling really to land on each other.
09:18Trying to stick that jab, Kovalev.
09:21As you mentioned, it was such a weapon back in the day.
09:25He comes in quite square, man, doesn't he?
09:26With that guy.
09:27A couple of the right eye there of Arturo Man.
09:30And I think on the corner of the right eye, it might be just up in the eyebrow.
09:35I'm not sure if the blood's running absolutely clear.
09:37I think it might be going slightly into the eye.
09:39I didn't see how that was caused.
09:41Could have been a head clash.
09:42Could have been a punch.
09:44Might get an indication from the referee at the end of the round.
09:46Midway through round three.
09:48But however it's come, that will encourage Kovalev.
09:54Good left hook to the body there from Mann.
09:56Looks like he's got his feet underneath him now.
09:58Good left hook upstairs.
10:11If Mann can just hold his ground and stay in there for the rest of this round,
10:15it's going to be interesting to see what that volley
10:18and that assault from Kovalev in the last round
10:20would have taken out of him at this stage of his career.
10:22That's absolutely right.
10:24And these are the things you have to think about
10:25because that gas tank just will not be what it used to be.
10:28It cannot be.
10:31It'll be interesting to get a look at that cut as well
10:33and see how bad that is.
10:34And Mann just looking to try and climb in behind
10:37a slightly wild-looking left hand there.
10:40I think these opening three rounds
10:41has taken a reasonable amount out of both of these two.
10:45It's a good 2-1 combination from Arturo Man there.
10:48Good left hook to the body.
11:00He felt that one, Kovalev.
11:02Another good left hook to the body.
11:03Just touching upstairs.
11:04Bring those hands up.
11:05Short right hand on the inside.
11:06And it's a good fight, this.
11:11It's good action already.
11:13Again, he's looking to try and clamp that left in
11:15around the back of the elbow there, Arturo.
11:18And he's come back well, actually, in that third round
11:20after what was a difficult, difficult end of the second,
11:23to say the least.
11:24It'd be good if we could get into that man corner
11:26and have a look at that eye
11:28because there is quite a lot of blood coming from it.
11:34I'll keep my eye on the referee
11:35and see if there's any indications
11:39as to whether that was a head crash
11:40or a punch that caused it.
11:49That's it there.
11:50Jab.
11:51Jab.
11:53He's still got it.
11:54He absolutely has.
11:55A bit of snap and twist on that one.
11:57This just opened up the cut.
11:59This being a 10-rounder, we need to...
12:01I was going to say complete four rounds,
12:04but because that's been called firepunch,
12:06if the fight gets stopped at any stage
12:08due to that cut, then it will be a TKO win.
12:11For Sergei Kovalev.
12:15Good finish to the third round there for Arturo.
12:17And the start of the third round,
12:19Kovalev came out, put it on him.
12:20Boyd by the lockdown in the second,
12:22but man, targeting that body with a left hook.
12:26He had himself a very good end to that session.
12:31Looking to step in here, man,
12:33and really put some heat on that right hand.
12:53Crowd trying to get behind Kovalev here.
12:55That was Kovalev with a crunchy right,
12:58and you see the blood coming from that eye again
13:00early in the round.
13:01Decent combination there, too, from Kovalev.
13:15Just got one in there, Kovalev,
13:17before the referee got in and called break.
13:20Some experience, and then tries to just
13:22throw that left-hand in round the back of the guard.
13:27He's thrown that shot well after man
13:29in these first three and a bit rounds.
13:30Just touch upstairs, and then whipping that left hook
13:32down to the midsection.
13:33Good right hand there as well.
13:35Kovalev pulling out with his hands down.
13:36He's got one in the right hand.
13:44The right hand.
13:46The combination punching there for a man just moving Kovalev a little bit,
13:49finishing with the right hand.
13:51As we've been saying, he's a career cruiserweight,
13:56and with that comes that solidity of impact.
14:01And maybe Kovalev doesn't quite have,
14:07although, of course, he has put him down
14:08with that left hook in the second round.
14:11Kovalev's legs noticeably slower here.
14:18Already looks to be feeling the pace.
14:19Some good body work from Arthur Mann.
14:24Sat down nicely on that right hand there, man.
14:27Planted the feet, sent it down the middle.
14:36Good chopping right hand there.
14:37Found the jaw of Kovalev, you can see that.
14:41Far side of the ring, Kovalev just needs to try
14:43and just pop in that jab.
14:46Big gulper there, there from Kovalev.
14:47Another left hook to the body,
14:48landed from Mann with him against the ropes.
15:01He needs to keep using that jab.
15:02That cut is something you can work on, Kovalev,
15:05because there's a lot of blood coming from it.
15:08We haven't been able to get a really good look at it.
15:14But it's not going to be easy for Mann to see out of that eye.
15:17I think the blood mainly is running clear of the eye.
15:19Not completely.
15:20That's another tough round.
15:23This is a hard fight.
15:24Absolutely, absolutely.
15:26Particularly when you mentioned earlier on
15:28the inactivity for Sergei Kovalev at this stage of his career.
15:30I think it's not the biggest secret in the world
15:33that he perhaps hasn't looked after his body
15:35over the years, as some professionals have.
15:38So this is where it's going to start getting tough.
15:40I mean, Arteman looks as though
15:41he's ridden out that storm from the second round.
15:44He had a good third and a good fourth there.
15:46And Kovalev just slowing down a little bit more and more
15:49with each passing minute in this fight.
15:55He's got that right hand well.
15:58And he's finding the target, Kovalev,
15:59and knows what happened in the second round
16:02that he is capable of hurting Artur Mann.
16:04It was a well-executed left hook.
16:06There wasn't loads on it.
16:08But it was enough.
16:10And he's just got to keep that in mind.
16:14As I said, Chelyabinsk could really come out
16:16for Sergei Kovalev.
16:17It's a spectacular arena, this.
16:24All lit up and all eyes on Kovalev.
16:31Not the best body language from Kovalev
16:32as we start this fifth round.
16:34Quite easily pushed onto the back foot there.
16:38Mann was looking to come out strong, wasn't he?
16:40And pose himself.
16:42It's something that I felt during that Robin Safar
16:44performance in Saudi Arabia,
16:46that just the balance being pushed back.
16:49Kovalev was always a front foot.
16:50Oli, push down to the back foot.
16:52It's a little bit too comfortable,
16:53but it's actually on all the legs.
16:56Give him a bit of work.
16:57You'll be here to stop.
16:58Those older legs and enough of weight.
17:02We're labouring the point slightly,
17:03but at 25 pounds,
17:05it's just such a huge step up.
17:08And that power that he had at 1-7-5
17:11to keep off these bigger, bigger men
17:13is just a lot more difficult to do.
17:16And the man's trying to back him up to the corner.
17:18He's using the jab there, Kovalev.
17:20Steps in with that left hand.
17:23Has to push him off there.
17:24That's a goal.
17:26It's going to be a dream.
17:27It's going to be a bit of a bigger man.
17:41No, no.
17:42It's had some success until they're 1-1.
17:44It's going to be a bit of a difference.
17:46First ball, it's coming out for a lot.
17:48We're both going to be a lot of success.
17:50Slightly laboured looking right-hand there from Mann, probably they couldn't quite capitalise
18:10on it.
18:11This is tough for both of these two, the minute remaining around five, we're almost at the
18:19halfway point, strong looking right-hands from the pair of them, the stronger was probably
18:31from Mann, Kovlev just gave that ground and used the ropes, decent jab from Kovlev just
18:45off set man as he was coming in.
18:57Neat looking combination again there from Kovlev.
19:13And there goes the bell, so we are at the halfway point and it's been pretty gruelling this,
19:25from an early stage.
19:27Now you're seeing it five rounds in, Kovlev of course had the 10-8 in the second round,
19:34could have been a 10-7 I thought that second time that he went down to the canvas there,
19:39man, I think that could have been called.
19:41So Kovlev's got another round in there then, then we're looking at the drawing card, aren't
19:49we, three, three, five rounds.
19:51No, absolutely not, I would say three-five with that 10-8 round, it could well be even.
20:16He put his hands together pretty well at times in that round, Kovlev.
20:23And Ottoman I think at times could do with just letting his hands go a little bit more,
20:29it's okay to be the bigger guy and look more imposing and look like you're capable of landing
20:35something solid, that kind of imminent threat, but you've got to deliver it.
20:41That was a really good combination from Kovlev, a lovely snap in it, then he's out of the way.
20:46That was a really good combination from Kovlev, a lovely snap in it, then he's out of the way.
21:03a very good round this first minute of round six, just keeping man turning, keeping him moving, using the jab well, nice quick hands, good rhythm to it, and this is what he needs to do.
21:21He's just shaping, shaping almost for that right-left-right that I was talking about earlier on, didn't quite throw it.
21:39Midway point to round six, and he's been busy in this round Kovlev, the man hasn't really had too much of a look in just yet.
22:01Tries to get that left hand away to the body, and again there.
22:16Chopping right from there, wasn't too far away, right into the body from Kovlev.
22:19Chopping right from there, and not at the top left.
22:23.
22:25.
22:28.
22:34.
22:38.
22:40.
22:45.
22:46Man's trying to see if he can make a little bit of an impact lately in the round here
22:59because this has been a good round for Kovalev. Long right hand there for Man, didn't quite reach though.
23:07He's had to throw plenty in this round, Kovalev, but he's had a nice rhythm to his work.
23:11And again there, just works those hands.
23:16This is what he needs to do. He's got to occupy Man, hasn't he?
23:21You can't just allow him to walk in on him and then let his own punches go.
23:24And that was a good round for Kovalev, really good output.
23:27Kept that opponent occupied and that is really the blueprint for him for the rest of the fight.
23:34It's not going to be easy to achieve.
23:36Good example there.
24:01Just letting those punches float.
24:0310 seconds left.
24:13Seconds out.
24:21Seventh round.
24:22Round seven.
24:23So into the seventh, the man with the high guard trying to get
24:43onto the front foot. A little faint there.
24:50And there's that left hand again from Kovalev and down goes Arturman.
24:56It's the exact same punch that landed in the second round.
24:59And it's shaking him right down to his boots here.
25:04And Kovalev having had a very, very good sixth in the corner,
25:08have called this one off. And that is a tremendous win from Sergei Kovalev.
25:14He was a tough Max this, taking a fight with Arturman.
25:17The man at times is looking to impose that greater size,
25:21but the knockdown in round two with the left hook.
25:24And then the finish in round seven, I think with an identical punch,
25:29has got the win for Sergei Kovalev.
25:32And let's just have a little look here.
25:35And there it is. A left followed by a right.
25:39And he was just about to follow up.
25:41Went down, he went, he was that short left on the inside.
25:43The uppercut left and then a punishing right hand was what finished it.
25:47The uppercut left right combination.
25:50Has just sent him crashing down Arturman.
25:53What a way to finish for Sergei Kovalev.
26:00If this is indeed the last dance of the crusher,
26:03then he has gone out in fantastic style.
26:06Yeah, and almost typically Sergei Kovalev, a typical Sergei Kovalev finish there.
26:14As mentioned before, the right hand followed by the jab.
26:17It was the right hand eventually that put pain to Arturman,
26:20was buzzed out on his feet there.
26:22But it wasn't easy for Sergei Kovalev.
26:25No problem, I'm sure he wouldn't have had it any other way in his final fight.
26:28But he got the job done, the crusher, with a final fight stoppage win.
26:33Will it be his final fight?
26:34And I'm sure somebody's going to be able to attempt to come back on the back of that.
26:38Well, that is the question, isn't it?
26:41That very much is the question.
26:42But it was a really interesting fight to watch because, as we were saying,
26:46you've got a career-long heavyweight really stepping up to cruise away.
26:50He's not big enough in the way.
26:51I think everyone would agree with that.
26:53He's 42 years old.
26:55And he's in for somebody who's lived in some good company.
26:57And that physicality looked like it was going to make a difference.
27:01At the halfway stage, I reckon it probably was level.
27:04But he had a really good sixth round.
27:07Let his hands go, found a lovely bit of rhythm and timing.
27:10And then in the seventh round, he just found that left hook again.
27:13The one that he found in round two to put man down.
27:16And he went down heavy.
27:18He went down heavy.
27:19And the quarter at that point decided that they had seen
27:22enough.
27:23And this is what everybody has turned out for each other.
27:26This is what everybody wanted.
27:28And let's be honest.
27:30It's what boxing fans around the world would have wanted to.
27:34Because it's been an absolutely sensational fight for a time to win, by the way.
27:39And you want to see somebody go out with a win.
27:43If this is it, then this will be a final night to remember for him.
27:49if you can run this game, you're going to win.
27:51If you'll be a final night to win.
27:53If you can run this game, you will win.
27:54If you can run this game.
27:55If you'll continue it.
27:56So you'll be a final match.
28:02ited by again.
28:09Well, and the race between the two.
28:10two.
28:17When this match was made, remember we had a conversation about it and we felt that...
28:20We don't know any other way!
28:22It was...ambitious probably isn't the right word given what Pobl had to achieve during
28:28his career, but when you wanted to take your man out on a win, they could have continued
28:33to go home.
28:34Yeah, absolutely.
28:35I think we definitely saw that at times in the fight as well.
28:38There's an incredible amount of people in that ring.
28:41It's a great deal, Artemem, a career-long cruiserweight, somebody who had the physical advantages over
28:44certain companies, which is not something that he's been accustomed to throughout his career
28:47for large parts of it.
28:48And yeah, it wasn't a walk-over, wasn't a gimme, but we saw that.
28:52But ultimately, Kovalev, just the classier punches and the classier work put paid to Artemem.
29:04There's an incredible amount of people in that ring.
29:07It's a great deal.
29:08It's a great deal.
29:09You saw it all yourself.
29:10It's a great deal.
29:11We're going to be in a war in 42 years, it's a great deal.
29:12It's a great deal.
29:13It's a great deal.
29:14It's a great deal.
29:16To your inawaiti of Sergei Kovalev in 42 years, it's a great deal.
29:18It's a great deal.
29:19a strong decision in this match, in the seventh round, at 36 seconds,
29:26with a technical knockout, he achieved the victory and achieved the title of the Intercontinental Champion
29:33IBA Pro Sergey Khabalov!
29:41Ladies and gentlemen, he ended it with TKO, the winner of this round,
29:47new IBA Pro Intercontinental Champion Sergey Khabalov!
29:59So Kovalev with that hand raised, another belt around his waist, it was all about the win tonight.
30:09And when Kovalev wins a fight, it is generally by stoppage, and that is another notch on the ring post for him.
30:19And it was an interesting fight to watch while it lasted, it really, really was.
30:23And it was that left hand that did the damage in the second round, and then in the seventh round,
30:29it was Wright that finally put him down in the seventh, that got that corner stoppage.
30:33But the close range work, he's still got that timing, he's still got that fluidity, he's still got that snap.
30:45And if this was indeed the last dance for the Crusher, then it was a pleasure to witness it.
30:51And we will just leave you with these replays.
30:56Thanks very much for joining us, take it easy everybody, and we'll catch you again next time.
31:01I'll see you again next time.
31:31You take care.
31:33Your mic is on the phone.
31:34Your mic is here.
31:36I'll see you again next time.
31:38Your mic is here.
31:39Your mic is good.
31:41I'll be fine.
31:46Your mic is here.
31:47Your mic is here.
31:50God bless.
31:52You keep doing it.
31:54You keep doing it.
31:56Don't be sure you keep doing it.
31:58You keep doing it.
32:00Do you promise?
32:01All right, good luck, be healthy, have a good luck, good luck with you.
32:05The same case, when you didn't understand anything, but then grew up and realized very and very much.
32:12From Sergei Kovaleva, young boxer from Chelyabinsk, Elyseeu Chimarev,
32:17the letters and genuine words.
32:21It was The Crusher's Lost Dance.
32:24The Cruiser's Lost Dance.
32:25The Cruiser's Lost Dance.
32:27Good luck! Thank you very much!
32:51I want to see you on the floor.
32:54It's so cool.
32:56It's so cool.
32:58Russia!
33:00We're not sorry!
33:02If you have a little of strength on the applause,
33:05let's give applause to the opponent,
33:07Sergey Kovalev,
33:08Artur Fedorovich Mann,
33:10a boxer from Germany,
33:12who took and left,
33:14and did everything he could.
33:16We wish him new success.
33:18Thank you, Artur.
33:21Everyone,
33:22We need to sit!
33:23We need to sit!
33:25It's good!
33:27I'm with all of you!
33:28I'm with all of you!
33:30Sorry!
33:31I'm with all of you!
33:32I'm with all of you!
33:34I'm done with all my friends!
33:36This is my first time!
33:38I am the other family!
33:39I am the other family!
33:41You all are like,
33:44we have alright,
33:46you're married!
33:48You are the only one else!
33:50You're the only one!