Duva: Winner of Dudchenko-Mohammedi Could Fight Hopkins Sooner Dependent on Stevenson’s Hand Injury

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    Anatoliy Dudchenko is trying to make an entrance into a very top heavy light heavyweight division. His opponent June 21th on The NBC Sports Network Series is Nadjib Mohammedi.

    There’s a lot on the line. There’s a title shot on the line and a chance to dethrone the oldest champion in boxing, Bernard Hopkins. With all the drama surrounding Main Events, Golden Boy Promotions, Adonis Stevenson, and Sergey Kovalev, does this IBF title eliminator matter because by all indications, Bernard Hopkins is on a collisions course with Adonis Stevenson.

    Kathy Duva says it does. “his is a significant fight because the winner is going to be the number one contender in the IBF. While there is potential that Bernard Hopkins will unify his title against Stevenson, the winner will fight Bernard Hopkins after he fights Stevenson. Bottom line the winner of this fight is going to get a shot at a very big fight,” Duva said on a conference call today promoting the fight.

    Duva held no punches as she took stab at the two of the top guys in the 175 lb. division,  Adonis Stevenson and Bernard Hopkins, explaining that there is young blood ready to take the reins.

    “There’s a whole lot of young talent out there like Anatoliy and Nadjib and they want to test themselves against the best. At end of the day there are two elderly guys holding things up in the light heavyweight division,” explained Duva. “One way or another that title fight is coming soon. The IBF has indicated they will give Bernard Hopkins an exemption to fight Stevenson but if it doesn’t happen in a timely manner then he will fight the winner of this fight.”

    Duva has heavy interest in the 175 lb. division, not only with Dudchenko but with WBO world champion Sergey Kovalev who until late was on a collision course with Adonis Stevenson before his exodus to Showtime and Al Haymon. Duva was asked how she would keep Dudchenko busy if he won by fighting Kovalev or Pascal, or another route as he waited for the winner of Hopkins Stevenson. Her response was rather surprising.

    “Anotoliy will remain active whether it be on our NBC Sports Network Series or HBO. In fact Adonis Stevenson suffered a hand injury in his last fight so I wouldn’t be surprised if the winner of this fight gets the Hopkins title shot sooner than later.”