By Norm Frauenheim-
CARSON, Calif. – Light-heavyweight champion Sergey Kovalev said he didn’t watch Andre Ward’s comeback victory over Paul Smith and instead concentrated on his July 25 title defense against Nadjib Mohammedi.
“Empty talk right now,’’ Kovalev said Saturday during an hour-long session with reporters before a card featuring Timothy Bradley-Jessie Vargas at StubHub Center.
The internet is on fire with speculation about a Ward-Kovalev fight in the wake of Ward’s ninth-round stoppage of Smith on June 20 in Oakland, Calif.
The unbeaten Ward, a ringside analyst for HBO Saturday night, is still deliberating about whether he’ll move to light-heavy or stay at super-middleweight. He fought Smith at a catch-weight, 172 pounds. The guessing game is that Ward is moving toward a big-money showdown against either Kovalev or middleweight champion Gennady Golovkin.
Kovalev manager Egis Klimas said he did watch Ward’s comeback, his first bout in about 19 months.
“He’s interesting,’’ Klimas said. “He’s a different kind of fighter. A very good fighter.’’
Klimas also foresees a Ward-Kovalev showdown, which he says would be “the biggest fight for Sergey.’’
Meanwhile, Kovalev, who faces Mohammedi in a mandatory defense at Las Vegas Mandalay Bay, had plenty to say about Adonis Stevenson, who holds the WBC’s version of the light-heavyweight title.
Kovalev, who is training in nearby Big Bear, continued to call Stevenson a piece of excrement.
“Because he’s running from me,’’ Kovalev said.