Sergey Kovalev will end a 924-day hiatus when he makes his return to the ring May 14 to fight Tervel Pulev while headlining a Triller Fight Club pay-per-view event at The Forum in Los Angeles. 

The subject carrying the most weight for Kovalev (34-4-1) surrounds around the former light heavyweight kingpin making his cruiserweight division debut against Pulev (16-0, 13 KOs) in a 10-round contest.

“I'm really happy to be back in the boxing world because I didn't fight for a long time,” said Kovalev. “I miss fighting. I'm interested in what I can do in the next division where I can fight without losing weight. I'm excited and ready to go win the next title [at cruiserweight].

“Now I won't be losing weight, and my power punches will be the same -- what I did usually. Boxing the last couple of years at light heavyweight was not comfortable for me. Right now I am happy to move up and use my power for victories. I can show May 14 that the Krusher is back.”

Kovalev will turn 39 years old in April. He last fought in November 2019 and suffered a knockout loss to Canelo Alvarez in a competitive fight while earning a reported career-high $12 million payday and dropping his WBO light heavyweight title along the way.

His career has been further stalled ever since. 

Kovalev was supposed to fight Sullivan Barrera on April 25, 2020, but the announced bout was canceled due to the onset of the pandemic caused by COVID-19. Another Kovalev bout was announced against Bektemir Melikuziev for Jan. 30, 2021, but the fight was canceled due to a more serious issue when Kovalev tested positive for a banned substance.

Setbacks aside, Kovalev is looking to compete in a weight class in which he can weigh up to 200 pounds. 

“Everything is going well. I am doing the same that I have always done. But now I have more energy, more food, more everything. I am happier. I'm excited to move up a division and interested in what I can do,” Kovalev said while smiling ear to ear.

Kovalev will need to reassert himself in order to crusade as a two-division champion. He is 4-4 since 2016, including back-to-back defeats to Hall of Fame fighter Andre Ward in 2016 and 2017, as well as Eleider Alvarez in 2018. 

Kovalev redeemed himself against Alvarez with a unanimous decision win in 2019 to regain his title and survived deep waters against Anthony Yarde later that year to eventually set himself up for a shot against Alvarez.

He later admitted that fighting three times that year took a toll on his body. 

Pulev will not present the same resistance and world-class pedigree Kovalev is used to, but it will be a test nonetheless to work off ring rust for the Russian. 

“The fight will show who is the best,” said Kovalev. “I cannot wait right now. Let's just wait. I don't have any secrets. When I come inside of the ring, I am going to be doing my job – the same as I have been doing since I was 11 years old.”

The Bulgarian boxer Pulev is the younger brother of Kubrat Pulev, who will also be fighting on the card against Andrey Fedosov. Tervel is a 2012 Olympics bronze medalist but has been largely untested throughout his six-year pro career. 

“I think it's going to be a very difficult fight because Kovalev is a world-class boxer. But I believe in myself. I'm also a tough guy,” said Pulev. “The key to the victory will be who is better prepared.”

Pulev last fought in January 2021 and scored a ninth-round TKO win against Vikapita Meroro in Tanzania.

The PPV event will be available for purchase via FITE for $29.99. 

Manouk Akopyan is a sports journalist, writer and broadcast reporter. He’s also a member of the Boxing Writers Association of America and MMA Journalists Association. He can be reached on Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn and YouTube at @ManoukAkopyan, via email at manouk[dot]akopyan[at]gmail.com or on www.ManoukAkopyan.com.