Matthew Saad Muhammad vs. Sergey Kovalev

Matthew Saad Muhammad stares down Sergey Kovalev as the referee recites the pre-fight instructions. Saad is supremely confident. He has heard the hype surrounding Kovalev' supposed thunderous punching power. Kovalev is also confident - he has the type of confidence built upon having never lost as well as knowing that whatever else happens, he can rely on his power. The bell rings for round one. Saad has decided the best course of action is to use movement and his underrated left jab. He circles Kovalev and flicks out the jab, most of which miss. But the movement and jab are enough to keep Kovalev at bay. Sergey does not move forward wildly. He moves forward methodically, probing for openings, while studying his opponent. Nothing much happens in round one. Kovalev wins the round just by being aggressive and trying to make the fight. Between rounds, Saad's trainer Sam Solomon tells his charge he fought a good round. There is no rush. Kovalev is told to be a little more aggressive next round. The bell rings for round two. Matthew Saad Muhammad continues to circle and pump the jab. Suddenly he stops moving and unleashes a quick one two. Kovalev partially blocks the right hand but is moved backwards by the force of the blow. He has a surpised look on his face. It tells his opponent he is surprised by his punching power. Kovalev begins to become slightly tentative. Saad seizes the initiative and rakes his opponent with a left hook to the body followed by a hook upstairs. He doesn't lose patience, though, and continues to move laterally. Kovalev is caught in a sort of "no man's land. He isn't boring inside or moving laterally and Saad is able to box around him. The bell rings. Saad has won round two by being the more effective of the two. Sam Solimon tells Saad between rounds to try to get inside next round. He wants Saad to give Kovalev a different look. Saad knows this is a bit risky, as he will have to taste Kovalev's punching power. But, Saad has faced other big hitters and come through, and, besides, he knows he will have to test his chin against Kovalev's power at some point in the fight. The bell rings to begin round three. The two combatants meet at ring center. Saad works the body and attempts to push Kovalev back. Kovalev ties him up. The referee separates them and they stand toe to toe. Kovalev lands a solid right hand. Saad accepts the blow well and presses forward. He lands a left hook to the body followed by a big left uppercut. Kovalev ties him up. Saad backs Kovalev to the ropes. He lands a right uppercut. Kovalev holds. Saad knows he is as physically strong as Kovalev, if not stronger, and can match his punching power. The referee breaks them up, and Saad resumes dancing until the bell. Sam Solimon is happy with Saad's good work in the third round. He tells him Kovalev can't fight backing up and doesn't appear to have the power to hurt Matthew with one punch. He sees that Korolev is a good, but not devastating puncher. He instructs Saad to go all out in round four. He knows Kovalev has good power and if it's a long fight, cumulative punishment from the hard punching Kovalev could wear Saad down. He wants Saad to get him out of there as soon as possible. Matthew Saad Muhammad runs across the ring to begin round four. He pushes Kovalev back and lands a hard straight right. Kovalev attempts to clinch, but Saad pushes him off. Kovalev is forced to fight off the ropes. He explodes a counter right hand off of Saad's unprotected chin and Matthew is momentarily stunned. Kovalev is able to get off the ropes and pushes Saad into the ropes. Saad covers up and Sergey lets loose with several combinations. Saad blocks most of the blows with his elbows, but a few get through. Kovalev pauses, and suddenly, Saad let's loose with a combination. He is fully recovered from the shot that stunned him a minute earlier. He turns Kovalev and backs him to the ropes once again. Kovalev is arm weary. Saad explodes with an assortment of shots to the head and body. Kovalev dips down to try to get away from the onslaught. Saad sees an opening, and shoots out his patented hybrid left hook/uppercut. Kovalev does not see the blow. It lands full force. Kovalev pitches forward on his face, inches from the ropes. Saad lifts both arms in the air and struts to a neutral corner. As the count reaches six, Kovalev starts to attempt tor rise. He rolls over and puts one glove on the canvas in a desperate attempt to leverage himself to rise. His legs will not hold and he collapses back to the canvas, where he is counted out. Matthew Saad Muhammad has won via exciting fourth round knockout. Ring magazine lists the fourth round as "Round of the Year."

 

Saad. Too tough, too relentless, too much power. Kovalev might lay Miracle Matthew out for a count but he isn't stopping him if Saad is giving anything approaching a lenient ref of his own times that would let him work and ply his very own very unique skills.

 

Saad all day for me. John Conteh beats Kov as well.

 

Saad had a very good jab as well.

 

Conteh was so text book excellent in his prime. When young guys ask me who to look up on YouTube to learn from I always say prime Conteh

 

Kova KO in 7. Precision and power win this one going away. Saad brings his lunchpail but never makes it to the Thermos.

 

This would be a great fight but I'm giving Kovalev the edge here.

Saad was an incredible offensive machine but I don't think anyone outslugs Kovalev.

This fight is gonna be a mid range battle, neither of these are qawi types in the pocket, they like the longer shots and whilst I think Saad is more athletic and a bit quicker, Kovalev has the better fundamentals and the better power.

I think Kovalev chops Saad down rather than vice versa. I feel like both will have more space than Qawi allows and Kovalev having space is the last thing anyone needs.

Not sure when Kovalev gets the job done but that's what my money goes on.

 

Sadd wasn't a very good boxer and dropped numerous decisions.

Kovalev has a very good jab, and smashing right hand behind it. Sadd wouldn't land enough to win. While Sadd was tough after feeling Kovlaev's power he would become more risk adverse. Anyone Kovalev can hit cleanly, he will pretty much defeat.

I like Kovalev on points with his jab and outfighting skills being the main differnce, but give Sadd a chance for an upset later in the fight.

 

???? Most felt Kovalev won the first fight, and he lost the second partly to low blows. The rounds won between the two was pretty much even. Ward retired undefeated, a very tough guy to match up with based on his style, rule bending and shut down type of defense.

 

Saad by mid to latter round stoppage.

 

Against whom? Was he ever stopped by a light hitting SMW moving up?

 

Sadd wasn't a very good boxer and dropped numerous decisions.

Check box rec; you'll see how many times Sadd lost.

As for SMW, there was no such division back then. Ward fought Kovalev at the weight the light heavies in Sadd's day were on fight night.

Kovalev did not lose to anyone weighing 170 pounds in the ring.

I'm confident you see Saad has more losses to opponents that were inferior to Ward.

 

Well Kovalev would need to get Saad out of there pretty early, because if this turns into any kind of war of attrition, then there’s only one winner.
Kov was found to be wanting badly in the heart department when things weren’t going his way , that wouldn’t bode well for him against Matthew Saad Muhammad.

 

You think someone that couldn't gut out through the body work & heat Andre Ward can bring is going to stand up to Saad's firepower? Only one of these men is the true definition of a real fighter, able to give and take.

Kovalev is the hammer, and has no proven ability to overcome and be the nail. He's never done so, and to be quite honest I'm not going to believe he can until he passes that kind of a gut check at some point in his career.

 

Eddie Gregory W SD 10 Matthew Franklin: Very close; could have gone either way. Gregory later won the WBA Light Heavyweight Title.

Marvin Camel W MD 10 Matthew Franklin: It was in Camel's home town. Franklin had previously decisioned him in neutral territory. Marvin Camel later won the WBC Cruiserweight Title and then the IBF Cruiserweight Title.

Wayne McGhee: Very early in Franklin's career. He improved rapidly after that.

Matthew Franklin W 10 Mate Parlov and Matthew Franklin D 10 Mate Parlov. These fights occurred in Parlov's adopted fighting center in Italy. Odds are the Draw was bogus. Parlov later won the WBC Light Heavyweight Title and Drew with Marvin Camel in a fight for the newly created WBC Cruiserweight Title.

Franklin was fighting and competing well with elite competition during his development, well before he won a World Title.