Sergey Kovalev dominates NadJib Mohammedi; Jean Pascal nets controversial decision

Kovalev - Mohammedi Weigh-in. Credit: David Spagnolo
Kovalev – Mohammedi Weigh-in. Credit: David Spagnolo

Coming into the bout Saturday night at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, Nevada, little was known about Sergey Kovalev’s opponent, Nadjib Mohammedi, and after they won’t know much else than he was another victim of “Krusher.”

Kovalev (28-0-1, 25 KOs) carried out what most thought would happen by stopping Mohammedi (37-4, 23 KOs) in the third round with a crushing right then a left to add insult to injury, which he didn’t not make the 10-count. It is believed that Mohammedi broke left orbital bone from the initial right hand, which displays how powerful Kovalev is.

Before the big stoppage, Kovalev, the WBA, WBO and IBF champion, had a solid first, not landing much of significance, but Mohammedi did little on the offensive realm, which had to get Kovalev’s KO radar going.

In the second Kovalev knocked Mohammedi down midway though the round, and despite hounding him the rest of the round, Mohammedi escaped for one last round of punishment.

After stopping Mohammedi, Kovalev was asked about the possibility of a rematch with Jean Pascal who won a controversial unanimous decision the bout before and Kovalev said if the fans wanted it he was game.

Kovalev admitted that he only caught a round or tow of Pascal’s bout in his dressing room, but from what he saw, he thought his opponent, Yuniesky Gonzalez won, as did  the majority of media.

Pascal (30-3-1, 17 KOs) and Gonzalez (16-1, 12 KOs) gave fight fans a great show, which included several exchanges laced with power shots, but in most instances, it appeared Gonzlaez got the best of Pascal in those exchanges.

Pascal was visibly wobbled multiple times in the fight, but never met the canvas, and displayed that even though his punches lacked the power they usually do, he could still take a shot with the best of them.

Pascal ended up winning with 96-94 scores from all three judges, (I had it 96-94 for Gonzalez), and is now in line for a rematch with Kovalev.

There were rumors that Kovalev could face Pascal next, but Mike Coppinger of USA Today tweeted out that Kovalev’s promoter, Kathy Duva, said that Kovlaev would be back Nov. 28 in Moscow and that they would offer the bout to Artur Beterbiev,  who is with Al Haymon. Duva has been very vocal about this week, so the chances that takes place are slim.

So if the location runs true, it looks like Pascal will have to travel to Kovalev’s home country as Kovlaev did in their first fight, when he went to Canada to take on Pascal, even though Kovalev was the champion.

So who knows who Kovalev will face next, but it probably doesn’t matter much, as the bout is destine to end early no matter who he fights next, unless it’s Andre Ward, but that bout is rumored to take place in 2016.

So in a night that had no surprise ending in the main event, Kovalev reigns supreme and added one more highlight reel KO to send shivers down the rest of the 175-pound division’s spines.