Is Kovalev finished as an elite fighter?

Power still there but man is he slow. Defense wasn't great to begin and it to has gone down with age.

 

I agree. Kovalev might be completely broken psychologically though since he was always the bully type wanting to see people beat down senseless. Now when it's him crawling around on the floor, I don't know if he can come back.

 

Fixed

 

To age well as a stalking type of fighter, you need an iron chin.

Kovalev doesn't have that. Alvarez and Ward arent even punchers. Any top guy with durability is a viable threat to him now.

 

yeah Alvarez took some good punches and hung in there. He looks like the real deal. He reminds me a little of Tito Trinidad. The heart and perseverance. And he punches decently. I am not sure how I rate the 11 knockouts or whatever it is, but he can punch ok. Kovalev does not have good stamina..

 

He decided he wanted to take it easy, save his money, and not train as hard after the Ward fights. He still has his skills, but it looks like he decided to milk whatever was left of his career and retire with the most $. He might still get another big money fight after this.

 

35 is a hard wall to hit. Back before roids most fighters retired in their early thirties. The ones that stuck around picked up losses.

 

What will a rematch look like? Will he still be of interest for Bivol, Beterbiev or Gvozdyk should he win? I think there are afir chances he is still relevant.

 

Seems like he would be upsetting the odds if he comes back.

Everything we know and hear about Kovalev and especially during and since the Ward saga... yes, relatively speaking, he is done. No knee-jerk-reaction of deucing on him. Kovalev was pound for pound. He is/was great. Just won't be padding that resume too much from here out.

 

I have been telling everyone that Beterbiev will destroy Kova if they ever fought and you all laughed at me, send me inappropriate messages and all kinds of other Shenanigans, now look who is laughing. Beterbiev is 3 times better than Alvarez, and much more powerful, Kovalev will get knocked out back to Moscow.

 

Is a rematch clause in place?

He was deservedly ahead in the fight.

You never know with someone who still has big power. I sure would like the rematch.

Now, if he loses again, he's done at elite level because the blueprint to beat him got found out and the division is too stacked.

 

lol wtf

 

They'll be laughing their titties off

 

At 35 it’s likely he is done. The Ward robbery in the first fight ruined him psychologically. He had a tough road to make it to the top and a man with his temperament just never seemed to get his focus back after that fight.
I’ll say this Rematch Alvarez. He has the clause. If He wins it, it will be a great a great win at his age when everyone thought he was washed up. Lose and hang them up.