Sergey Kovalev vs. Eleider Alvarez Live Coverage And Discussion

Welcome to Fightful’s live coverage of Sergey Kovalev vs. Eleider Alvarez. Fightful is bringing you live coverage of the event live from the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Atlantic City as Kovalev is set to defend his WBO light heavyweight title against undefeated top contender Alvarez. In the co-main event, Dmitry Bivol will defend his WBA light heavyweight title against former title challenger Isaac Chilemba. 

You can join in the discussion on our Disqus boards below. We’ll be bringing you live round-by-round overage of the main event and quick results of some of the top undercard fights.

Here is the main card (10 p.m. ET/HBO):

• Eleider Alvarez defeated Sergey Kovalev by KO, round 7, to win the WBO light heavyweight title 
• Dmitry Bivol defeated Isaac Chilemba by unanimous decision (120-108, 120-108, 116-112) to retain the WBA light heavyweight title

Here are some of the top undercard fights:

• Bakhram Murtazaliev defeated Fernando Carcamo by KO, round 1, 0:41 seconds to retain the IBA International Junior Middleweight Championship
• Denis Douglin defeated Vaughn Alexander by unanimous decision: Super Middleweight Bout
• Frank Galarza defeated Alex Duarte by KO, round 2, 1:57: Junior Middleweight Bout

MAIN CARD

Dmitry Bivol (c) vs. Isaac Chilemba: WBA Light Heavyweight Championship

Round 1: Bivol starts off with a jab and Chilemba responds with a jab to the body. Bivol lands a couple of vicious hooks upstairs to put pressure on Chilemba. Bivol throws a jab. Chilemba throws two consecutive jabs. Bivol hits a stiff jab to the body followed by an overhand right. Bivol connects with another overhand right that lands square on Chilemba’s jaw. Chilemba throws a left hook to the body followed by a couple of jabs upstairs.

Fightful scored round 1 for Bivol 10-9

Round 2: Bivol lands a flurry of punches to hurt Chilemba who is on the ropes. Chilemba throws a left hook which appears to be blocked by Bivol. Bivol lands another overhand right. Chilemba continues to try and throw the left hand, but with little success in hurting Bivol. Chilemba lands a short left uppercut. Chilemba is starting to be more aggressive but Bivol is able to dodge some of Chilemba’s punches.

Fightful scored round 2 for Bivol 10-9

Round 3: Chilemba throws a couple of jabs to start. Bivol lands a jab to Chilemba’s body and dodges a left hook from Chilemba. Bivol connects with a pair of jabs to Chilemba’s body. Bivol lands a short left hook upstairs. Chilemba lands a quick uppercut that splits Bivol’s defense. Bivol lands a three-punch combo to stin Chilemba. Bivol and Chilemba trade blows for a second.

Fightful scored round 3 for Bivol 10-9

Round 4: Both men barely throw anything in the opening 20 seconds of the round. Bivol throws a lazy jab. Bivol misses with a straight right but lands a left hand to the body. Chilemba throws his left hand, but Bivol continues to block a good portion of those left hands. Chilemba lands a couple of jabs to the body. Bivol also lands a pair of jabs then a couple of short left uppercuts.

Fightful scored round 4 for Bivol 10-9

Round 5: Bivol throws several jabs to the body, but none connect. Bivol throws a couple of jabs and makes Chilemba miss with his jab. Chilemba and Bivol hit each other with a straight left at the same time. Bivol and Chilemba continue to trade jabs through the middle of the round. Bivol lands a strong right hand and Chilemba misses with a big right. Chilemba lands a couple of short hooks to the body.

Fightful scored round 5 for Bivol 10-9

Round 6: Chilemba throws a jab to start and then a left hook to the body. Bivol lands a left jab and Chilemba misses with the left uppercut. Bivol misses with a wilde right hand, but does get to connect two good left jabs. Chilemba eats a left jab by Bivol and then Bivol starts to string some punches together. Bivol lands a quick left jab.

Fightful scored round 6 for Bivol 10-9

Round 7: Bivol starts the round by landing a solid overhand right. Bivol then starts landing a series of punches to the body and Chilemba now starts to throw power punches. Chilemba is starting to move forward to mount some sort of pressure, but Bivol is too agile and too good to lose any momentum to Chilemba. Chilemba throws a couple of left jabs. Bivol lands a solid left hook on Chilemba’s jaw.

Fightful scored round 7 for Bivol 10-9

Round 8: Chilemba and Bivol continue to trade jabs. Bivol lands a strong right hand to Chilemba’s jaw. Bivol lands a quick jab to the body. Chilemba lands a right hook to Bivol, who manages to defend well against it. Bivol lands a left jab upstairs. Bivol continues to land the jab to the body. The crowd here at Atlantic City is starting to get a little restless as there are pockets in the crowd chanting “Bivol! Bivol! Bivol!”

Fightful scored round 8 for Bivol 10-9

Round 9: Chilemba starts off with by throwing a left hook. Bivol lands a quick left uppercut to Chilemba as Bivol is moving around the ring while Chilemba remains with his feet planted in the middle. Chilemba throws a couple of quick jabs, but Bivol lands a strong right jab. Both men trade shots for a brief moment. Chilemba lands a quick jab. Chilemba blocks a strong left hook thrown by Bivol. The round ends with a lot of heated action with both men throwing big punches.

Fightful scored round 9 for Bivol 10-9

Round 10: Chilemba starts to put some pressure on Bivol by throwing the right hand. Bivol continues to move and hit the occasional jab, Bivol starts to land a number of power punches to Chilemba and is getting more and more momentum as the fight progresses. Chilemba throws a left jab. Chilemba lands a left hand upstairs. Bivol lands a beautiful left uppercut to end the round.

Fightful scored round 10 for Bivol 10-9

Round 11: The championship rounds start with the challenger throwing a few quick left hands. Chilemba lands a couple of jabs as Bivol is not as explosive in this round than in the start of the fight. Bivol lands a left hook but is clearly trying to avoid any unnecessary fighting.

Fightful scored round 11 for Chilemba 10-9

Round 12: Chilemba connects with a couple of jabs. Chilemba then throws a 1-2 punch combination. Bivol throws a left jab as Chilemba moves closer to his opponent. Chilemba lands a right jab. Bivol then lands a left hook upstairs. Chilemba misses wildly with the right hook to Bivol. Bivol connects with a right hand, but then eats two straight left jabs from Chilemba. Chilemba continues to land the jab and Chilemba is getting more confident as the round progresses, but it’s too little, too late for Chilemba.

Fightful scored round 12 for Chilemba 10-9, making it 118-110 for Bivol.

Official result: Dmitry Bivol defeated Isaac Chilemba by unanimous decision (120-108, 120-108, 116-112) to retain the WBA light heavyweight title

Sergey Kovalev (c) vs. Eleider Alvarez: WBO Light Heavyweight Championship

Round 1: Kovalev starts off with a couple of jabs. Alvarez throws a few shots to the body. Kovalev pressures Alvarez with a pair of jabs to the corner. Alvarez lands a quick left jab upstairs. Alvarez lands a couple of uppercuts and then lands a right hook. Kovalev lunges forward for a jab. Kovalev is pressuring Alvarez and Alvarez taps Kovalev in the back of the head a couple of times. Alvarez misses with a left hook.

Fightful scored round 1 for Kovalev 10-9

Round 2: Kovalev starts off with a jab and then a left hook to Alvarez’s chin. Kovalev lands a couple of hooks and Alvarez responds with one of his own. Kovalev lands a short jab to the body. Alvarez lands an uppercut to the body and then a counter left jab. Kovalev lands a right jab upstairs. Kovalev lands a quick jab and Alvarez misses with the right hook. Alvarez lands a vicious left hook upstairs.

Fightful scored round 2 for Alvarez 10-9

Round 3: Alvarez and Kovalev trade several shots at each other. Kovalev lands five consecutive uppercuts to the body. Alvarez misses with the left jab. Kovalev lands a pair of left uppercuts to the body. Kovalev lands a few more shots to Alvarez as Kovalev is starting to cut the ring off for Alvarez. Alvarez misses with the left hook.

Fightful scored round 3 for Kovalev 10-9

Round 4: Alvarez lands a couple of jabs to the bodies. Kovalev lands a strong jab.  Kovalev hurts Alvarez with a left hook as the crowd is on its feet. Kovalev lands several jabs and Alvarez is also willing to trade blows with Kovalev. Kovalev lands another left hook. Kovalev lands more jabs to Alvarez.  

Fightful scored round 4 for Kovalev 10-9

Round 5: Kovalev throws a couple of left hooks upstairs. Alvarez lands a pair of body shots to Kovalev. Kovalev throws a couple of hooks to Alvarez. The two men clinch on the ropes as there was almost an accidental headbutt.

Fightful scored round 5 for Kovalev 10-9

Round 6: Kovalev landed a left hook to Alvarez, but Alvarez landed a pair of body shots. Alvarez is in the corner but is able to connect with a pair of body shots. Kovalev lands a left hook to the body and then Alvarez lands a right jab upstairs.

Fightful scored round 6 for Alvarez 10-9

Round 7: Both men trade shots throughout the round as the crowd are chanting for both men at times. Kovalev landed a three-punch combo, but Kovalev is down from a left hand. Kovalev is hurt as Alvarez is now raining down punches on Kovalev. Alvarez knocks down Kovalev again, this time with a right hook. Two more punches by Alvarez and Kovalev is out. The referee stopped the fight. We have a new champion!

Official result: Eleider Alvarez defeated Sergey Kovalev by KO, round 7, to win the WBO light heavyweight title