Main Events promoter Kathy Duva says she'll examine the possibilities for Sergey Kovalev's next fight, but she will be looking into making a fight against IBF light heavyweight titlist Bernard Hopkins. The IBF ordered the fight earlier today.
From a Main Events press release:
"When the IBF issued today's letter, ordering Hopkins to fight Kovalev next, without granting any exceptions to Hopkins in the interim, everything changed," promoter Kathy Duva of Main Events, said. "Kovalev has many opportunities, now. We are going to take a few days to evaluate and then decide upon the next move. Of course, Sergey would be thrilled to face Hopkins if Bernard wants the fight."
Kovalev is surely ready, willing and able to fight Hopkins. "I want to fight Bernard Hopkins because he is a legend of boxing," Kovalev said after knocking out White. "It was good news that Hopkins and Karo Murat fell out. C'mon and fight. I'm ready. Are you ready?"
Kovalev (21-0-1, 19 KO) obviously wants the fight, but I think it's worth noting that Duva doesn't exactly express a huge, no-doubt interest in making this fight. Of course, maybe she's just as caught off-guard as others might have been -- two days after beating Cornelius White, and just after Karo Murat couldn't make it to the States, here her fighter was put into a mandatory position to face the most famous light heavyweight in the sport. This is the big fish of the division right now. The guy that beats and likely retires Bernard Hopkins will have a spot in history, even if he proves to be a fluke. It's like Don Larsen or Rashard Lewis' contract.