ATLANTC CITY – The final press conference was held today for the August 2 title fight between Sergey “Krusher” Kovalev, 24-0-1, 22 KO’s and Blake “Il Capo” Caparello, 19-0-1, 6 KO’s. Kovalev is putting his WBO Light Heavyweight belt on the line at Revel Casino Hotel in Atlantic City. The 12-round fight will be the second fight in an HBO Boxing After Dark triple header presentaton this Saturday night. The HBO telecast begins at 9:45pm ET/PT.
Johannesburg, South Africa’s Isaac Chilemba, 22-2-2, 9 KO’s, will square off against Cory Cummings, 17-6-1, 13 KO’s of Newark, NJ in a 10-round light heavyweight co-feature bout that will not be shown on HBO but will inernationally televised.
Here’s what was said at today’s final press conference.
Sergey Kovalev: “I prepare the same for each fight. I am not a talker, I am a fighter. I want to get in the ring Saturday and win my next fight.”
Sergey “Krusher’ Kovalev
Photo credits to Larry Levanti/Main Events
John David Jackson, Kovalev’s trainer: “Whether it goes 1 or 12 Sergey will do what he always does and that’s destroy.”
Egis Klimas, Kovalev’s manager: “I don’t think he (Kovalev) is going to give to somebody what he has been working so hard to get, his world title. We have been through hell to get to this point. Whoever I put in the ring he will fight. He never asks how big or tall he just asks when is the fight.”
Egis Klimas and Krusher
Photo credits to Larry Levanti/Main Events
Klimas: “Don’t go for beer and peanuts because you might miss something!”
Kathy Duva, Main Events: “Sergey brings electricity and excitement every time he steps in the ring. It should a great night of fights.”
Kathy Duva
Photo credits to
Larry Levanti/Main Events
Duva: “In 1984, Main Events won four world titles. In 1985, I learned that it is easier to win a title than it is to keep it. The pressure that is put on a world champion, especially one as dominant as Sergey, is something that none of us could possibly imagine.”
Blake Caparello: “I am coming to America to beat Sergey. He is a good fighter but I am looking forward to Saturday night.”
Blake Caparello
Photo credits to Larry Levanti/Main Events
Brendan Bourke, Caparello’s manager: “Blake’s in great shape, really confident, and looking forward to the opportunity. We think we have what it takes to pull off an upset.”
Ron Rizzo, DiBella Entertainment: “People weren’t jumping at the opportunity to fight Sergey. Blake’s manager wanted this opportunity and craved the opportunity for this fight.”
Rizzo: “Blake has a calming type of influence, not many things have that type of effect on my boss, Lou DiBella. Blake is well prepared for this opportunity; he is in this position because he wants to become a world champion.”
Kovalev and Caparello
Photo credits to Larry Levanti/Main Events
MEDIA CAN ACCESS FINAL PRESSER PHOTOS HERE
PDF Kovalev – Caparello Final Presser Quotes
About Kovalev vs. Caparello:
The WBO Light Heavyweight World Chmpionship between Sergey “Krusher” Kovalev, (24-0-1, 22 KOs) and Blake “Il Capo” Caparello (19-0-1, 6 KOs) is on Saturday, August 2nd at Revel Casino Hotel in Atlantic, City, NJ. The fight will be telecast as part of a split-site triple-header on HBO Boxing After Dark beginning at 9:45 PM ET/PT. The event is presented by Main Events in association with DiBella Entertainment. Tickets prices are $55, $80, $160 and $250. They are available at ticketmaster.com or 800-745-3000. Doors open at 6:30 PM and the HBO Boxing After Dark special triple header split site telecast begins at 9:45 PM.
About Revel
Revel Casino Hotel is Atlantic City’s newest and most spacious casino resort and convention destination. Located on Atlantic City’s world-famous boardwalk, the ocean front hotel is designed to offer endless views of the Atlantic at every turn. The casino resort offers 130,000 square feet of world class gaming, with 2,400 slots, 130 table games, electronic tables and players’ lounges, along with the high-limit table game Ultra Lounge. A member of the American Express Gold Hotel Collection, Revel features 1,399 ocean view rooms. Guests can enjoy indoor and outdoor pools, cabanas, gardens, lounges, a 32,000-square-foot spa, 13 restaurants that offer a range of fine dining to deliciously affordable menu options, a collection of boutiques, nightclubs, a dayclub, and live entertainment at The Social and showroom headliners at Ovation Hall. While taking in all the casino has to offer, guests can earn points as they play, dine, shop and relax with the Revel Card loyalty program. For additional information and updates, and for complete details and rules of all promotions, customers can visit the Revel Card desk or visit www.revelcasino.com and become a fan on Facebook at www.facebook.com/revel and follow @revelresorts on Twitter and @revelcasino on Instagram.
