Sergey Alexandrovich Kovalev (born 2 April 1983 in Kopeysk), nicknamed the 'Krusher', is a Russian former professional boxer who competed from 2009 to 2025. Per Wikipedia, he held multiple light-heavyweight world championships, including the WBA (Undisputed) and IBF titles from 2014 to 2016, and the WBO title three times between 2013 and 2019.
Kovalev took Nathan Cleverly's WBO title in 2013, unified against Bernard Hopkins in 2014, lost two close fights to Andre Ward, regained the WBO title twice more, and lost it to Canelo Álvarez in November 2019. The Ring named him its Fighter of the Year in 2014; the fetched record runs through an April 2025 cruiserweight win in Chelyabinsk.
BoxRec-style profile
- Birth name: Sergey Alexandrovich Kovalev
- Born: April 2, 1983 — Kopeysk, Russian SFSR, USSR
- Nationality: Russian
- Height: 6 ft 0 in (183 cm)
- Reach: 72½ in (184 cm)
- Stance: Orthodox
- Pro debut: 25 Jul 2009 (Win by TKO vs Daniel Chavez)
- Last bout: 18 Apr 2025 (Win by TKO vs Artur Mann)
- Total rounds boxed: 211 (summed from the bout table below)
- Divisions: Light heavyweight, Cruiserweight
- KO percentage: 83.3% (30 KO wins in 36 wins)
- Titles held (major, with reign dates): WBO light heavyweight title three times between 2013 and 2019 (first won August 17, 2013 from Nathan Cleverly; unified with the WBA (Super) and IBF titles November 8, 2014 against Bernard Hopkins; lost the unified titles to Andre Ward November 19, 2016 and the June 2017 rematch; regained the WBO title November 25, 2017 per the bout table, lost it to Eleider Álvarez in August 2018, regained it in the February 2, 2019 rematch, and lost it to Canelo Álvarez November 2, 2019 per the bout table); WBA and IBF light heavyweight titles held 2014–2016 within that unified run — reign summary per Wikipedia lead and bout table
- Trainer: John David Jackson (became Kovalev's trainer in 2012, per the fetched article)
- Born: April 2, 1983 — Kopeysk, Russian SFSR, USSR
- Nationality: Russian
- Height: 6 ft 0 in (183 cm)
- Reach: 72½ in (184 cm)
- Stance: Orthodox
- Divisions: Light heavyweight, Cruiserweight
Record at a glance
- Total bouts: 42
- Wins: 36
- Wins by KO: 30
- Losses: 5
- Losses by KO: 3
- Draws: 1
- No contests: 0
- Born: April 2, 1983 — Kopeysk, Russian SFSR, USSR
- Nationality: Russian
- Height: 6 ft 0 in (183 cm)
- Reach: 72½ in (184 cm)
- Stance: Orthodox
- Divisions: Light heavyweight, Cruiserweight
Fight-by-fight record
| No. | Date | Opponent | Result | Method | Round/Time | Venue / Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 25 Jul 2009 | Daniel Chavez | Win | TKO | 1 (4), 0:55 | Greensboro Coliseum, Greensboro, North Carolina, US |
| 2 | 8 Aug 2009 | Darryl Johnson | Win | TKO | 1 (4), 2:06 | Convention Center, Columbia, South Carolina, US |
| 3 | 29 Aug 2009 | Michael Birthmark | Win | RTD | 1 (4), 3:00 | Emerald Queen Casino, Tacoma, Washington, US |
| 4 | 12 Sep 2009 | Ayodeji Fadeyi | Win | RTD | 1 (4), 3:00 | Playboy Mansion, Beverly Hills, California, US |
| 5 | 10 Oct 2009 | Micky Stackhouse | Win | TKO | 2 (4), 1:07 | Coliseum Complex, Greensboro, North Carolina, US |
| 6 | 6 Mar 2010 | Francois Ambang | Win | KO | 2 (6), 2:23 | Patriot Center, Fairfax, Virginia, US |
| 7 | 19 Mar 2010 | Nathan Bedwell | Win | TKO | 1 (4), 2:15 | Derby Park Expo, Louisville, Kentucky, US |
| 8 | 19 Jun 2010 | Harley Kilfian | Win | TKO | 2 (6), 1:24 | Emerald Queen Casino, Tacoma, Washington, US |
| 9 | 11 Sep 2010 | Kia Daniels | Win | KO | 1 (6), 1:58 | Playboy Mansion, Beverly Hills, California, US |
| 10 | 9 Oct 2010 | Darnell Boone | Win | SD | 8 | Metro Fitness, Atlanta, Georgia, US |
| 11 | 19 Nov 2010 | Dallas Vargas | Win | TKO | 2 (8), 1:16 | UIC Pavilion, Chicago, Illinois, US |
| 12 | 15 Dec 2010 | Karen Avetisyan | Win | UD | 6 | Casino Vodoley, Yekaterinburg, Russia |
| 13 | 12 Mar 2011 | William Johnson | Win | TKO | 2 (6), 1:53 | Hilton Towers Ballroom, Lafayette, Louisiana, US |
| 14 | 1 Apr 2011 | Julius Fogle | Win | KO | 2 (8), 1:16 | UIC Pavilion, Chicago, Illinois, US |
| 15 | 6 May 2011 | Terrance Woods | Win | KO | 3 (8), 1:54 | Fantasy Springs Resort Casino, Indio, California, US |
| 16 | 29 Jul 2011 | Douglas Otieno Okola | Win | KO | 2 (10), 2:39 | Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas, Paradise, Nevada, US — ★ Title fight — Won vacant WBA–NABA USA light-heavyweight title |
| 17 | 27 Aug 2011 | Grover Young | Draw | TD | 2 (8), 0:08 | Playboy Mansion, Beverly Hills, California, US — TD after Young could not continue from accidental foul |
| 18 | 5 Dec 2011 | Roman Simakov | Win | TKO | 7 (12), 0:47 | Palace of Sporting Games, Yekaterinburg, Russia — ★ Title fight — Won WBC–ABCO light heavyweight title; Simakov died of injuries sustained from the fight |
| 19 | 1 Jun 2012 | Darnell Boone | Win | TKO | 2 (8), 1:32 | Sands Casino Resort, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, US |
| 20 | 21 Sep 2012 | Lionell Thompson | Win | TKO | 3 (10), 0:14 | Sands Casino Resort, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, US |
| 21 | 19 Jan 2013 | Gabriel Campillo | Win | KO | 3 (10), 1:30 | Mohegan Sun Arena, Montville, Connecticut, US |
| 22 | 14 Jun 2013 | Cornelius White | Win | TKO | 3 (12), 1:45 | Sands Casino Resort, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, US |
| 23 | 17 Aug 2013 | Nathan Cleverly | Win | TKO | 4 (12), 0:29 | Motorpoint Arena, Cardiff, Wales — ★ Title fight — Won WBO light-heavyweight title |
| 24 | 30 Nov 2013 | Ismail Sillakh | Win | KO | 2 (12), 2:12 | Colisée Pepsi, Quebec City, Quebec, Canada — ★ Title fight — Retained WBO light-heavyweight title |
| 25 | 29 Mar 2014 | Cedric Agnew | Win | KO | 7 (12), 0:58 | Boardwalk Hall, Atlantic City, New Jersey, US — ★ Title fight — Retained WBO light-heavyweight title |
| 26 | 2 Aug 2014 | Blake Caparello | Win | TKO | 2 (12), 1:34 | Revel Casino Hotel, Atlantic City, New Jersey, US — ★ Title fight — Retained WBO light-heavyweight title |
| 27 | 8 Nov 2014 | Bernard Hopkins | Win | UD | 12 | Boardwalk Hall, Atlantic City, New Jersey, US — ★ Title fight — Retained WBO light-heavyweight title; Won WBA (Super) and IBF light-heavyweight titles |
| 28 | 14 Mar 2015 | Jean Pascal | Win | TKO | 8 (12), 1:03 | Bell Centre, Montreal, Quebec, Canada — ★ Title fight — Retained WBA (Super), IBF, and WBO light-heavyweight titles |
| 29 | 25 Jul 2015 | Nadjib Mohammedi | Win | KO | 3 (12), 2:38 | Mandalay Bay Events Center, Paradise, Nevada, US — ★ Title fight — Retained WBA (Unified), IBF, and WBO light-heavyweight titles |
| 30 | 30 Jan 2016 | Jean Pascal | Win | RTD | 7 (12), 3:00 | Bell Centre, Montreal, Quebec, Canada — ★ Title fight — Retained WBA (Unified), IBF, and WBO light-heavyweight titles |
| 31 | 11 Jul 2016 | Isaac Chilemba | Win | UD | 12 | Palace of Sporting Games, Yekaterinburg, Russia — ★ Title fight — Retained WBA (Unified), IBF, and WBO light-heavyweight titles |
| 32 | 19 Nov 2016 | Andre Ward | Loss | UD | 12 | T-Mobile Arena, Paradise, Nevada, US — ★ Title fight — Lost WBA (Unified), IBF, and WBO light-heavyweight titles |
| 33 | 17 Jun 2017 | Andre Ward | Loss | TKO | 8 (12), 2:29 | Mandalay Bay Events Center, Paradise, Nevada, US — ★ Title fight — For WBA (Unified), IBF, WBO, and vacant The Ring light-heavyweight titles |
| 34 | 25 Nov 2017 | Vyacheslav Shabranskyy | Win | TKO | 2 (12), 2:36 | MSG Theater, New York City, New York, US — ★ Title fight — Won vacant WBO, IBA, and inaugural EBP (Super) light-heavyweight titles |
| 35 | 3 Mar 2018 | Igor Mikhalkin | Win | TKO | 7 (12), 2:25 | MSG Theater, New York City, New York, US — ★ Title fight — Retained WBO and EBP (Super) light-heavyweight titles |
| 36 | 4 Aug 2018 | Eleider Álvarez | Loss | TKO | 7 (12), 2:45 | Etess Arena, Atlantic City, New Jersey, US — ★ Title fight — Lost WBO and IBA light-heavyweight titles |
| 37 | 2 Feb 2019 | Eleider Álvarez | Win | UD | 12 | Ford Center at The Star, Frisco, Texas, US — ★ Title fight — Won WBO light-heavyweight title |
| 38 | 24 Aug 2019 | Anthony Yarde | Win | TKO | 11 (12), 2:04 | Traktor Ice Arena, Chelyabinsk, Russia — ★ Title fight — Retained WBO light-heavyweight title |
| 39 | 2 Nov 2019 | Canelo Álvarez | Loss | KO | 11 (12), 2:15 | MGM Grand Garden Arena, Paradise, Nevada, US — ★ Title fight — Lost WBO light-heavyweight title |
| 40 | 14 May 2022 | Tervel Pulev | Win | UD | 10 | Kia Forum, Inglewood, California, US |
| 41 | 18 May 2024 | Robin Sirwan Safar | Loss | UD | 10 | Kingdom Arena, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia |
| 42 | 18 Apr 2025 | Artur Mann | Win | TKO | 7 (10) | Yunost Arena, Chelyabinsk, Russia — ★ Title fight — Won vacant IBA Pro Intercontinental cruiserweight title |
Titles & notes
Major title reigns (start–end): WBO light heavyweight title three times between 2013 and 2019 (first won August 17, 2013 from Nathan Cleverly; unified with the WBA (Super) and IBF titles November 8, 2014 against Bernard Hopkins; lost the unified titles to Andre Ward November 19, 2016 and the June 2017 rematch; regained the WBO title November 25, 2017 per the bout table, lost it to Eleider Álvarez in August 2018, regained it in the February 2, 2019 rematch, and lost it to Canelo Álvarez November 2, 2019 per the bout table); WBA and IBF light heavyweight titles held 2014–2016 within that unified run — reign summary per Wikipedia lead and bout table
- 29 Jul 2011 vs Douglas Otieno Okola: Won vacant WBA–NABA USA light-heavyweight title
- 5 Dec 2011 vs Roman Simakov: Won WBC–ABCO light heavyweight title; Simakov died of injuries sustained from the fight
- 17 Aug 2013 vs Nathan Cleverly: Won WBO light-heavyweight title
- 30 Nov 2013 vs Ismail Sillakh: Retained WBO light-heavyweight title
- 29 Mar 2014 vs Cedric Agnew: Retained WBO light-heavyweight title
- 2 Aug 2014 vs Blake Caparello: Retained WBO light-heavyweight title
- 8 Nov 2014 vs Bernard Hopkins: Retained WBO light-heavyweight title; Won WBA (Super) and IBF light-heavyweight titles
- 14 Mar 2015 vs Jean Pascal: Retained WBA (Super), IBF, and WBO light-heavyweight titles
- 25 Jul 2015 vs Nadjib Mohammedi: Retained WBA (Unified), IBF, and WBO light-heavyweight titles
- 30 Jan 2016 vs Jean Pascal: Retained WBA (Unified), IBF, and WBO light-heavyweight titles
- 11 Jul 2016 vs Isaac Chilemba: Retained WBA (Unified), IBF, and WBO light-heavyweight titles
- 19 Nov 2016 vs Andre Ward: Lost WBA (Unified), IBF, and WBO light-heavyweight titles
- 17 Jun 2017 vs Andre Ward: For WBA (Unified), IBF, WBO, and vacant The Ring light-heavyweight titles
- 25 Nov 2017 vs Vyacheslav Shabranskyy: Won vacant WBO, IBA, and inaugural EBP (Super) light-heavyweight titles
- 3 Mar 2018 vs Igor Mikhalkin: Retained WBO and EBP (Super) light-heavyweight titles
- 4 Aug 2018 vs Eleider Álvarez: Lost WBO and IBA light-heavyweight titles
- 2 Feb 2019 vs Eleider Álvarez: Won WBO light-heavyweight title
- 24 Aug 2019 vs Anthony Yarde: Retained WBO light-heavyweight title
- 2 Nov 2019 vs Canelo Álvarez: Lost WBO light-heavyweight title
- 18 Apr 2025 vs Artur Mann: Won vacant IBA Pro Intercontinental cruiserweight title
Photo: Никто не забыт via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0). Featured image: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/ac/Sergey_Kovalev-crop.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=original
Record source: Wikipedia professional boxing record table (cross-checked against the bout list), retrieved 2026-10-29.
