I don't know but Larry Holmes was starched a few times as an amateur as well, I believe. He turned out to be one of the hardest sonuvabitches to put away in his division's history.
Cleverly was rocked by that bum he fought at the O2. What was his name? Kuziemski? He gets hit. His defence isn't the best. Kovalev hits hard enough to knock him out, no doubt. No idea how good Kovalev's chin is, mind.
Anyone can be hurt. Cleverly so far has shown a great chin. He just needs to box smart and take Kovalev into the later rounds. Hes hardly been past 3 rounds so Clev needs to keep away from him early and take him into the later stage of the fight and then apply some pressure. Although i doubt Clev will do this, hes a bit like Amir Khan in that sense. His heart rules his head and he wants to go to war with everyone. I think he will get hurt early on but think his toughness will pull him through and hell get a fairly close ud. I cant see Clev stopping him. Just cause he got stopped in the amateurs doesnt really count for that much. But it will be interesting to see what Kovalev is like if he cant just go in and knock someone over in a couple of rounds. Very interesting fight. This could be the fight where Cleverly boxes smart and goes about it very mature and really develops as a fighter. I hope everyone gives him respect if he wins this.
Many power punches over the years haven't had the best chins. Offense being there defence etc. Kovalev fights like a man not protecting his chin but nothing shocks me anymore. One punch and he could be gone. Then again Cleverly's going to have rely heavily on his chin if he's going toe to toe.