The next time Sergey Kovalev ducks through the ropes, expect him to be a bit heavier.

After 39 fights at light heavyweight in a career that spans more than a decade, the former titleholder is looking to start afresh in a new weight class.

“He’s going up to cruiserweight,” his trainer Buddy McGirt told Boxing Junkie. “We’ll start training in about a month.”

Kovalev (34-4-1, 29 KOs) recently loss his 175-pound title to Canelo Alvarez after suffering an 11th-round technical knockout in November. The bout, which generated a career purse for the Russian, came on the heels of what was a taxing fight against Anthony Yarde in late August. Kovalev was nearly out on his feet before storming back to stop the British contender in the 11th round.

McGirt said that he signed off on Kovalev’s decision to move up to cruiserweight under one condition: He can’t come in anywhere close to the 200-pound limit.

“As long as we go to 185 [pounds], we’re good. No more than 185,” McGirt said. “He can come in at 180 and beat those guys. He’ll be light, and that’s OK.”

McGirt said the decision had nothing to do with the loss to Alvarez per se. Rather, he based it off of how Kovalev looked in the past couple of training camps. Cutting weight to make the 175-pound limit was becoming harder and harder.

“I think he’ll be better at that weight (cruiserweight),” McGirt said.

It’s not clear when or whom Kovalev will fight next, but his promoter, Main Events, told Boxing Junkie last month that he will likely appear on a DAZN card. McGirt says he has not spoken to anybody from the promotional side about Kovalev’s move up in weight.

“I haven’t spoken to Kathy [Duva of Main Events], so I can’t put that lie out there,” he said.

Main Events did not respond to a request for comment.

Kovalev was recently sued by a woman he allegedly assaulted for non-payment of their agreed-upon settlement. The woman, Jamie Frontz, claims Kovalev punched her in the face and that she suffered a displaced disk in her back. The assault case is still pending.

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