Russia: Hometown hero Kovalev calls out Canelo after defending title in style

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SOT, Sergey Kovalev, Russian professional boxer: "I’m happy. I’m really happy, you know, like because I’m in my hometown, and I fought from front of my boxing friends, from front of my family, of my friends. I’m really happy, you know. But three more days I’m here, which is a relief. I should be relieved to get next fight."
SOT, Sergey Kovalev, Russian professional boxer (Russian): "I definitely want to fight with Canelo and if he answers me - we will fight. They also acted cunningly. They played a cunning game, pulling me out in training camps, at the end of the camp they offered me things that are very difficult to refuse. Therefore, I didn’t have such offers before, but I'm not a prostitute, I can't be bought. Therefore, I promised Chelyabinsk that I would be here. Everything was already organised, tickets were on sale. Moreover, it would be inconvenient to come here after such a terrible act."
SOT, Sergey Kovalev, Russian professional boxer (Russian): "By the grace of God: you see, I won, now I am open for a fight with Canelo or for the combined fights to identify the undisputed champion in the light-heavyweight division. This fight is needed, a tournament is generally needed. A pair have already been identified - Gvozdik and Beterbiev. Well, again, that's what I think about it: whatever happened - happened for the best. But I wouldn't mind picking up two belts in one fight."
SCRIPT
Russian boxer Sergey Kovalev defended his WBO title by knocking out Britain's Anthony Yarde in his hometown of Chelyabinsk on Saturday.
Despite being being rocked by heavy hits in the eighth, Kovalev fought back in thrilling style to knock Yarde out three rounds later.
After the fight, Kovalev called out Mexican superstar Saul 'Canelo' Alvarez.
"I definitely want to fight with Canelo and if he answers me - we will fight," he said. "I am open for a fight with Canelo or for the combined fights to identify the undisputed champion in the light-heavyweight division."
According to Kovalev, Canelo's people 'played a cunning game, offered such things that are very difficult to refuse' after they made him an offer when the Russian's fight with previously unbeaten Englishman Yarde had already been organised.
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