Friday 24 November 2017 12:08, UK
Sergey Kovalev has revealed how a car accident forced him to reassess his boxing career ahead of his WBO light-heavyweight title fight with Vyacheslav Shabranskyy.
The Russian adopted a more disciplined lifestyle after escaping serious injury when he lost control of his car this summer and will be joined by new trainer Abror Tursunpulatov as he attempts to regain the vacant WBO belt in the early hours of Sunday morning, live on Sky Sports.
Kovalev suffered the first knockout defeat of his career to Andre Ward a few weeks beforehand, despite protests about lows blows and a premature stoppage, but the shock retirement of the American has allowed 'Krusher' to regain one of his lost titles.
Kovalev, the former WBA, WBO and IBF champion, exclusively told Sky Sports: "Every fight for me is very important, but not for every fight I was ready 100 per cent.
"I felt in my last boxing fight that I was ready 100 per cent, but right now I understand that I didn't. Right now we'll see November 25 what the difference will bring to Sergey 'Krusher' Kovalev.
"It's a great opportunity to get back one of my belts and I'm very happy and thanks to [WBO] president Paco Valcarcel for this opportunity that he approved this fight."
Kovalev had carried three world belts and an unbeaten record prior to the Ward defeats, the first a debatable points loss, and the 34-year-old knows he must rebuild his damaged reputation this weekend at Madison Square Garden in New York.
I want to prove for myself who I am really. I came to change my life for the best or not, because I started to change a lot of things in my life since July 20th after my car accident.
"I'm very happy. I'm just waiting for fight day and I'm going to close a lot of questions from the haters and celebrate," said Kovalev.
"For myself yes, I want to prove for myself who I am really. I came to change my life for the best or not, because I started to change a lot of things in my life since July 20th after my car accident."
Fellow countrymen Artur Beterbiev and Dmitry Bivol hold two other world titles in the same division, but Kovalev has learned not to look too far ahead and is focusing purely on Shabranskyy.
"Let's speak about future in the future, after the fight," he said. "Of course I respect both guys, because they right now are champions and they have got to the highest level of boxing.
"They proved that they are real champions and I don't care about them right now. I'm busy with my business."
Watch Sergey Kovalev vs Vyacheslav Shabranskyy, from Madison Square Garden, New York, in the early hours of Sunday, November 26, live on Sky Sports.
