Prediction thread - Nathan Cleverly vs Sergey Kovalev

i'm shocked

 

Nathan Cleverly UD12 :deal

Franky boy knows what hes doing

 

Draw.

 

Kovalev is gonna ruin cleverly, because cleverly has sh** defense, and kovalev is last person you wanna try to prove your heart against. Cleverly might have gotten away with taking shots from bellew, but he was still hurt to the body+head multiple times, and i was surprised how easy bellew was hitting him. The fact is, cleverly doesn't know how to fight a disciplined "Boxing" match for 12 full rounds, and he will be surprised by kovalev's boxing skills also. Hopefully when hurt cleverly tries to take a knee instead of being too brave at home, because kovalev ruthless, and has already killed someone.

 

"I made a mistake, i could have out boxed him for 12 rounds but i wanted to show my heart and toughness. This is Boxing one punch can change a fight BLAH BLAH BLAH....., I'll come back stronger from this defeat, it will make me a better fighter BLAH BLAH"

Is what Cleverly will say after he gets Brutally knocked out by the Russian next Saturday.

Kovalev KO within 5 rounds.

 

Cleverly via 12 round shutout

 

begone muppet, lest I smite thee

 

F Wank does indeed, and what he's trying to do is make the most possible money. What we don't know is what he believes the best way of doing that is. Maybe he needs some extra capital for the Boxnation project, maybe Clevs been threatening to leave, maybe (and this is my take) Clev needed to do something win or loose, to make himself relevant again.

I think this fight was a risk F wank 'n' Clev figured was worthwhile. A loss won't be the end of the line for Clev, he's still young enough to regain his belt if he truly does have the quality, and anyway has never had much international interest. If he loses he will remain what he is already - a solid domestic draw (perhaps more excitingly fighting for a belt instead of defending it), but if he wins he should at least start to be taken more seriously across the pond (though I'm not convinced either of the major networks are that impressed with him), and it might open the way towards a unification.

Don't get me wrong, I ain't writing Clev off by any stretch, but I favour Kovalev quite strongly. The fight will really hinge on Clevs ability to withstand Kovalevs heavy combos and Kovalevs stamina should Nathan make it past 5 or 6 rounds.

If Clev believes in the likelyhood of inflicting a Lacy style shutout on Kovalev I think he's probably in for a shock. Kovalev is technically at least on Clevs level, and as for volume punching they average a similar number both thrown and landed, 'cept Kovalevs land a whole lot harder.

If Clev sees out the 12 rounds I would expect to see him to get the nod unless it would be utterly outrangeous, but I honestly don't expect it to go that far.

If Clev genuinely outboxes Kovalev over 12 rounds I would certainly see him as a proven top class fighter at LHW.

 

@shenmue, exactly. People thought because he gave cloud hell, and got robbed, they he would school kovalev, but he got destroyed. After kovalev destroys him they come up with loads of excuses, except face the reality that kovalev is the real deal.

 

@shenmue, exactly. People thoughtcampillo would beat kovalev, because he gave cloud hell, and got robbed, but he got destroyed. After kovalev destroys him they come up with loads of excuses, except face the reality that kovalev is the real deal.

 

franky boy never puts his paper champions in with hard opposition unless cleverly has put the hard word on him

frank is a blood sucker once his gifted fighters have 'a belt'. their careers stall and they all need to do what khan and hatton did if they want their careers to progress - leave him

cleverly has been pushing for US exposure for some time, so he really wants to find out how good he is. after beating a fighter who lost to a rookie in his US debut, it wouldn't surprise me at all if war+en knows he'll lose clev if he didn't make this fight

 

that someone was Roman Shimakov, rip. Damn, so sry for that kid. I remember roman had earlier pretty tough fight before he faced kovalev. I am not sure if damage had already done before sergei fight where he literally was fighting for his life. he was just a kid, damn...

 

Cleverly is a very good boxer BUT he is hittable on occasion and that is where I think the problem lies in this fight. If Kovalev catches him early in the fight it will be lights out, otherwise I see Cleverly winning a decision.