Sergey Kovalev vs. Light Heavyweights late 70's -early 80's.

How about adding Bob Foster to the list?

 

Only loses to Spinks.

 

Would expect him to do very well. I'd expect him to stop Marvin Johnson and MSM before they stopped him. Don't see Qawi surviving the size gap for the full 12. The EMM fight would probably be the most intriguing matchup.

 

In.

 

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Kovelav's far better than I thought he was and I agree he was robbed terribly against Ward. I'd give him a chance against all on the list bar Spinks but you missed out Foster and he would obliterate Kovelav.

 

I feel Kovalev would fit into that era fine, but would most likely lose to all of the above mentioned fighters. Spinks would almost certainly stop him. We don't really know yet how well Kovalev would fare in a 2 way firefight (he certainly wasn't in one against the light hitting and economical punching Ward). He would be in one with all the above mentioned fighters.

 

Had Kov winning against Ward, but he allowed Ward to take the play away from him in the second half of the contest and did seem affected by Ward's body shots. Because of that, I can see Qawi having real success against Sergei. I also think Spinks beats him quite clearly. But I think I'd favor him over just about anyone else from the era.

 

I concur with those picking Spinks to beat him, but it would be a very tough proposition for Michael. Eddie Mustafa Muhammad would be an interesting match too. Outside of those two, I'd have to favor Kovalev over the rest.

 

About how I see it.

 

I can't say with any certainty he'd beat any of that list.

 

I'm not dumping on Kovalev merely because he lost to Ward...in fact, after seeing what I have of the fight on You Tube,...I find a case for both men winning, in other words, I could see a draw fitting rather easily, and I still consider Kovalev as a top fighter, and would love to see a rematch, with the Krusher making a few adjustments in taking the verdict, or stopping Ward.
Having said all of this, I can't see Kov beating the strong and cagey master counterpuncher Victor Galindez, Michael Spinks, and especially not Eddie Mustafa Muhammad. Bob Foster would probably be a constant menace...likely to end matters in an instance. Master technicians like Harold Johnson would be a bridge too far, as well as would Willie Pastrano (off his form vs Johnson), Tommy Loughran, Joey Maxim, especially Billy Conn, and probably the powerful old Mongoose as well. The deal is, Sergey Kovalev is far from being experienced enough to deal with these old masters....and who does he gain experience against? Nowhere in the 175 lb division even approaches the names I've just mentioned....and that's hardly Kovalev's fault, but in keeping with the thread question, it doesn't seem to stack up so well for the Krusher, and frankly, I haven't been worrying about all that stuff in enjoying Kovalev as a fighter. He's just got to deal with what he has around today, and that means he just has to settle a score with the man who got the decision over him just recently, and that's all....there's none of these marauders of the past to deal with,...just Ward...

 

Kovalev is better than given credit for.

Id say he's already one of the more dangerous lhw of all time.

But he wasn't 'robbed' against Ward. He lost by one round by my scorecard.

If ever there was a fight that needs to be scored a draw, it was this one.