Sergey Kovalev to return against Vyacheslav Shabranskyy on November 25
Monday 11 September 2017 11:39, UK
Sergey Kovalev will make his return to the ring on November 25 when he takes on Vyacheslav Shabranskyy at Madison Square Garden.
Following back-to-back defeats to Andre Ward, there had been rumours that former unified light-heavyweight world champion Kovalev may decide to hang up the gloves, but he has confirmed that he will fight on.
30-year-old Shabranskyy has just one defeat on his twenty-fight record, a stoppage defeat to talented Cuban Sullivan Barrera in 2016 and the Ukrainian will certainly be no pushover for Kovalev.
The showdown will be over ten rounds and 'The Krusher,' 34, has stated that he now feels mentally and physically prepared to return to the summit of the sport.
He said: "I learned a lot from my fights with Andre Ward. When you don't win and when you suffer adversity, it makes you stronger. It also shows you who your real friends are.
"I feel like I cleaned out my life and now I'm ready to start fresh. I'm very excited to get back in the ring, and fight at Madison Square Garden for the first time, and I'm focused on the future. I'm not looking back."
