Epic fail on the matchmaking. Sillakh will fight carefully and use his superior boxing skills and hand speed to earn the decision.
I expect this fight to be tough for kovalev but at some point his power will take its toll on sillakh. You act like kovalev only has power. He has superb technique himself.
Classic! Suspect chin boxer is supposed to get KOed with the first landing punch Sometimes it works, sometimes it backfires! Sillakh has a decent chance, because he knows he has to stay on alert with SK, SK is the favorite but its not as easy Real test for both fighters :thumbsup
I actually like Sillakh qute a bit, but I don't see him being able to stand up to Kovalev's attack. Oh no, not at all.
This is a showcase fight for Kov. He basically tells Stevenson's fans "I just krushed a man with great boxing ability. What does Adonis have on me now?"
Sillakh, who is a slick boxer with real one-punch KO power, is the most dangerous light heavyweight matchup for Kovalev (except perhaps for Stevenson). Anyone else would be an easier fight. But Sillakh is a bit chinny (KOed cold in the amateurs several times) so I think Kovalev will probably win by KO.
I really admire Sillakh's skill, but he'll probably get tko'd by Kov. I'm not saying Ismayl is a bad fighter, but it's just that he'd have to fight pretty damn perfect to escape with the win. Good for both guys in taking the fight though, should be fun while it lasts.
Ironically though, despite in my opinion (and I think that of most serious fans) having a better opponent in front of him than Stevens does in Bellew, Kovalev will likely get less credit for the win. Sillakh basically disappeared as a LHW contender after the Grachev loss (in a fight he had been winning), but undoubtedly remains a top fighter at 175