Legendary Bernard Hopkins to face slugger Sergey Kovalev in light heavyweight unification bout

In a classic defense versus offense matchup, Bernard "The Alien" Hopkins' veteran savvy and clever defense will come face-to-face with the explosive one-punch knockout power of Sergey "Krusher" Kovalev in a Light Heavyweight Unification title fight, Golden Boy Promotions and Main Events announced.

Hopkins versus Kovalev is set to take place in the first half of November and will be held on the East Coast at a venue still to be determined.

"Everything I do at this point in my career affects my legacy," Hopkins (55-6-2, 32 KOs) said. "I've set and broken many records, but becoming the oldest undisputed light heavyweight world champion is the goal and Kovalev stands in the way of that goal. He's another young, hungry fighter and just like the ones that came before him, he will leave the ring beltless."

Hopkins, just two months short of his 50th birthday, never ceases to amaze the experts by continuing to defy logic as he defeats some of the top young contenders in the division.  Hopkins has seemingly found a new late-career niche by taking on aggressive punchers and then nullifying their attack with his lateral movement and excellent counterpunching.

In April, Hopkins defeated Beibut Shumenov to win the WBA Light Heavyweight World Championship, breaking his own record as the oldest fighter in history to win a world title, which he set in May of 2011 after defeating Jean Pascal at age 46.

Hopkins is seeking to add the WBO Light Heavyweight Championship to his collection of IBF and WBA belts.  However, this could be the one time where perhaps he finally has taken on a task too difficult at this age for even his immense skills.

Kovalev, a rising star who burst on the scene just a year ago, has never lost a fight, and has won 23 of his 25 victories by knockout.

"I respect Bernard Hopkins for taking this fight," said the 31-year-old Kovalev (25-0-1, 23 KOs). "When I came to America, it was dream to fight the best and now I am fighting, I have my chance. He says he is alien.  He punch, I punch, then we see who is gonna go to Mars."

Kovalev comes off of the third defense of his WBO Light Heavyweight Title on HBO, defeating Blake Caparello by TKO on Saturday night.  Hopkins observed the fight from ringside.

"Golden Boy Promotions has been crystal clear that we will make the best fights for our fans no matter who else is promoting it, where it takes place or what network broadcasts it; this is Exhibit 'A' of our keeping that commitment," said Oscar De La Hoya, President of Golden Boy Promotions. "At 49 years of age, Bernard continues to electrify crowds with lightening quickness and impregnable defense; Sergey hits with thunderous force and is an early-round knockout threat every time he steps in the ring. With those two forces coming together, fans are in for a real treat."

On a related note, Main Events filed paperwork in the Southern District of New York today formally dropping their lawsuit against Groupe Yvon Michel, Inc., Yvon Michel, Adonis Stevenson, Al Haymon, Showtime, Golden Boy Promotions, Inc., and Richard Schaefer.

With the announcement of the upcoming bout between Hopkins and Kovalev, Main Events succeeded in obtaining the result it sought for Kovalev -- a light heavyweight unification fight.

Main Events' CEO Kathy Duva said, "The purpose of the lawsuit was to secure a unification bout for Sergey and allow him to face the top competition in the light heavyweight division. By signing on with Hopkins and Golden Boy Promotions for a three-title unification bout, Main Events secured the big fight that Sergey wanted. We no longer have damages, so we will not proceed with the litigation at this time."

Main Events filed the lawsuit in April after Groupe Yvon Michel and Stevenson failed to honor an agreement for a scheduled bout between Sergey "Krusher" Kovalev and WBC Light Heavyweight Champion Adonis "Superman" Stevenson (24-1, 20 KOs).

Now that Kovalev is scheduled for a unification bout with Hopkins, Main Events decided to drop the suit without prejudice, retaining the right to reinstate the litigation in the event the fight between Hopkins and Kovalev does not proceed as scheduled.

By Staff of The DailySportsHerald.com and news services