"Kovalev just doesn't want to fight me. It went to purse bids before but he just disappeared."
Wednesday 16 May 2018 14:48, UK
Adonis Stevenson has again called out Sergey Kovalev to prove who is the best light-heavyweight in the world but fears it will not happen.
The WBC world champion defends against former WBA holder, Badou Jack, live on Sky Sports, in Toronto, in the early hours of Sunday morning.
WBO holder Kovalev takes on Eleider Alvarez in August and even though he claims the Russian just "disappeared" rather than enter purse bids for an original unification fight in 2015, Stevenson still wants to fight him.
"It can happen, but I am focused on and have my eyes on Badou Jack and am hungry to beat Badou Jack, so if everything is good and he wants it, Kovalev can have it too." he exclusively told Sky Sports.
"If they want it, you will see I am going to knock Kovalev out, too.
"But Kovalev just doesn't want to fight me. It went to purse bids and everyone knows it was up for purse bids, but he just disappeared. He didn't want it to go to purse bids, and I can't force a guy who doesn't to want fight me, to fight me.
"It's possible. I have a manager so after the Badou Jack fight and everything is good, I am sure this fight can happen. All the fans need it and it should just happen."
If they want it, you will see I am going to knock Kovalev out, too.
Stevenson will be boxing for the first time in 11 months when he meets Jack at the weekend.
It will be just his fifth fight in four years but although he admits Jack is likely to be his toughest opponent for a while, he says he will use it to send a message out to Kovalev, IBF holder Artur Beterbiev and WBA champion Dmitry Bivol.
"I am not under-estimating him (Jack) but the difference is, I know the game at light-heavyweight, so I know what I am going to do," he said.
"The big difference is I am the best light-heavyweight, I am the king of the light-heavyweight. You can tell him. Before I was the king, I beat the king to become the king."
Watch Adonis Stevenson's WBC title defence against Badou Jack in Toronto on Sunday May 19, from 2.30am, live on Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Action.
