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HBO Results: Eleider Alvarez shocks Sergey Kovalev, stops him in 7!

Alvarez weathered the storm and landed a fight-changing shot to take Kovalev’s title.

Sergey Kovalev v Eleider Alvarez Photo by Elsa/Getty Images
Wil Esco is an assistant editor of Bad Left Hook and has been covering boxing for SB Nation since 2014.

After years and years of waiting for his world title opportunity, Eleider Alvarez is officially a world champion. Alvarez took on Sergey Kovalev tonight on HBO as the underdog while most have had their eyes pointed towards a future showdown between Kovalev and Dmirty Bivol (who won on the undercard).

Kovalev came into this fight strong, asserting his technique and punching power, but Alvarez had a good game plan, designed around ambushing Kovalev with sharp counter shots. However at one point things weren’t looking so good Alvarez, who suffered a cut under his eye from a headbutt, and Kovalev started coming on strong with an assault that looked to have Alvarez in distress.

Alvarez managed to weather that moment though, and landed a fight changing right hand that badly hurt Kovalev in the seventh round, flooring the champion. Kovalev would get up but Alvarez would jump right back on him, putting Kovalev down a second time. Kovalev jumped up again, perhaps too quickly, and still didn’t have his legs under him. At that point Alvarez went for the finish and rocked Kovalev with a right hook that ended the fight. Here are clips of the seventh round volley that ended Kovalev’s night.

With the win Alvarez (24-0, 12 KOs) takes the WBO light heavyweight world title while Kovalev (32-3-1, 28 KOs) is left to do some serious soul searching.

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