Kovalev vs Cleverly for the WBO LHW strap.

One more factor here. I think Cleverly fights down to his level of opposition because he's a fighter by nature. When he's challenged by a guy with power, he can be very hard to hit cleanly. Like in the Bellew fight. But when he determines the other guy is no threat, THEN he'll stand and trade because he knows his chin and stamina will hold.

To me it's a great combo. He has the right mentality to withstand punishment and gut out a win. But I think he'll surprise people who expect him to willfully let Kovalev land on him easily. He knows Kovalev has skill and power and that he doesn't have to stand and trade to make it a fight. He also knows he'll get big credit for any win, so he'll try and box his way there.

 

I dont think clev will try to keep kov at bay instead he`ll fight up close on the inside where he nullifys kov mid range punches

 

Kovalev is pretty good at keeping distance in his favor,I doubt he will allow the fight to be on the inside very much.

 

Well if so it will be Kov on the backfoot, Kov comes forward Clev will meet him on the inside

 

Everybody who picked Cleverly will look soooo dumb on Saturday

 

Cleverly will be running for his life once he tastes a bit of Kovalev's power. Bank on it.

 

Good post and one I agree with. I dont think Nathan will let his guard down as much as usual because he knows hes in against a big puncher, but I also think Nathans chin is solid and just see Nathan outworking and outboxing Kovalev to win very clearly

 

I think the 3 judges that night have the same opinion you do, that is why Kovalev will go for the KO.

 

He goes for the KO anyway, but Nathan will surprise him

 

If you're wrong with your prediction, I fully expect you to make a post on here about Roy Jones being the greatest SMW/LHW of the past 20 years.:good

 

IF, you should have said WHEN

 

:deal

I just wanted him to feel like he had a legitimate chance of victory so he would take the bait, but to be honest, Cleverly is getting DESTROYED.

 

To be entirely honest, I have not seen enough of either man to make any well thought out argument in favour of one or the other, but my gut is telling me to go for a Cleverly win and that's what I've gone for, both here and in the vBookie section where I put 60 on him - I dont bet big on anyone.

 

Kov is rightfully the favourite coming into the fight. However, after the fight, people are going to see how good Cleverly really is! I see a Cleverly decision.

 

52-51 in the poll, probably been a long time since there has been such an even split in fight predictions