Kovalev vs Agnew

 

Krusher Kovalev Survives Cuts Above Both Eyes, Knockouts Out 26-0 Agnew in Seventh Round to Retain WBO Light Heavyweight Title

 

By Robert Brizel, Head RCM Boxing Correspondent

 

Atlantic City, NJ (March 30th, 2014)– In the televised HBO main event at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, New Jersey, on March 29, 2014, Sergei ‘Krusher’ Kovalev of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, successfully retained his World Boxing Organization World Light Heavyweight championship with a methodical seventh round knockout over defensive minded Cedric Agnew of Chicago, Illinois.

 

Kovalev, now 24-0-1 with 22 knockouts, punctured the 26-0 southpaw Agnew’s tight upraised glove defense with a left jab hook power body shot which sunk Agnew to the canvas, where he was counted out by referee Samuel Viruet at 0:58 of the seventh round.

 

A left jab hook to the chin thrown by Kovalev sent Agnew to the canvas for the first time in his career in round two, partially caused when the southpaw got tagged while out of foot position. Agnew returned the favor with a nice head butt on Kovalev in close, sending Kovalev to the canvas for the first time in his career in round four, ruled no knockdown by the referee. The head butt caused a deep gash above Kovalev’s right eye to stream blood.

 

Despite winning every round handily, Kovalev was cautious with the defensive unknown Agnew. Kovalev outworked Agnew by far, but still got hit with power by Agnew’s clever counters occasionally, which kept him on alert.

 

Agnew had one flaw: he lacked sufficient experience against quality opponents. Other than his 12 round USBA victory over Yusaf Mack in his previous bout, he had no fights against serious opposition in his 26-0 record.

 

Agnew was warned by the referee several times for low blows. Still, he managed to put Kovalev’s title in danger in the sixth round, when an Agnew elbow accidentally opened a cut over Kovalev’s left eye. With cuts over both eyes, Kovalev’s mission became more imperative to close the show. Kovalev dropped Agnew for a flash knockdown in the sixth when the referee ruled one of Agnew’s knees had grazed the canvas after he went low following a body shot.

 

After winning the bout, Kovalev stated in the postfight interview he “would fight “any champion in my division. I’ll fight anyone in my division.” However, Kovalev cursed out WBC Light Heavyweight world champion Adonis Stevenson of Canada for ducking him in a unification bout, as Stevenson will fight challenger Andrzej Fonfara at Bell Centre in Montreal on May 24, 2014.

 

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