Yarde vs Kovalev is deep in negotiations

Yes, taking an animal to a boxing fight in Chelyabinsk is very important, I agree...

 

Why are you taking it so personally son.

Surely you find this whole episode hilarious especially considering Yarde hasnt faced a pulse yet.

 

I think Warrington is a brilliant example of a fighter getting stepped up correctly through the levels and facing different styles etc ultimately preparing him for a world title fight which he won emphatically and defended since. He did that off the back of 40 odd amateur fights.

Yarde has had significantly less amateur fights and I don’t believe he’s been stepped up (Like Warrington) to sufficiently prepare him for Kovalev. Although I acknowledge that he has the biggest set of nads for taking the fight, especially in Russia. I’m not knocking Yarde, I want him to do well, I just feel he’s been let down in terms of preparation for reality in June.

He is a big powerful lad, clearly got power in them hands but it’s not the heavyweight division were it’s full of big units who (apart from Fury and Usyk) are not exactly elusive, and power can get you through. It’s 175ib and it’s a division loaded with superb fighters, with quality footwork and movement who won’t just let you hit them at your own pedestrian pace.

Sorry to be negative.

 

Spot on that.

I’d always use Warrington’s career as the perfect example of sensible matchmaking that’s gearing up towards world level. Although I appreciate that isn’t a luxury for most fighters due to Warrington’s ability to shift tickets.

Apart from being an obvious Warren cum guzzler, I can’t understand why old Nasal finds it hard to fathom that people think it’s strange how a fighter goes from fighting blown up super- middles outside the top 30, straight in with someone like Kovalev.

 

Kovalev is definitely on the slide but he has to much experience for Yarde who surely will not get away with his comical Mayweather impressions against a former elite level fighter. He really needs to go for it and stick on Kovalev from round 1. Going toe to toe with Sergey Kovalev is also not recommended, just do not see anyway Yarde can win this.

 

Great post.

For all the fact that upset victories can and do happen, and fighters on the slide do get caught out, the gulf between who Yarde has been facing and even this version of Kovalev is massive.

I've said elsewhere, but I can't help thinking this is somewhat reminiscent of Enzo Maccarinelli against David Haye. Enzo wasn't a poor fighter and he had very serious power. But fighting jokers like Gunn and nobodies like Azzaoui and blowing them away was absolutely horrendous preparation for a genuine world class talent like Haye, and he was battered.

The point is that every sport operates on levels, and this feels a bit like a kid in a youth team who looks brilliant being chucked into the first team squad. More often than not they don't make it.

 

Cheers mate, yeah, I have no problem with people getting behind him and believing in his talent on here...but I think they also need to get where we’re coming from when we question the preparation for Kovalev. We’re not hating on Yarde, but asking reasonable questions about it.

 

Thanks mate. Maccarinelli is a good comparison, too.

 

Today Kovalev posted (in his Instagram feed) a short video from an airplane, saying: "... So, we're flying home. For a/the fight.

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See you in Chelyabinsk. Peace!"

So, if there were some fears that Kovalev wouldn't be able to fight because of the court hearing, it's not the case anymore.

 

Tunde and Yarde about to shock the world.

 

Also I don't think it requires especially huge testicular fortitude to fight another human being for 5m dollars.

If someone told me to fight a load of non threatening guys and then one world class fighter for 5m I'd be all over that deal.

 

Sorry mate, i should explain what I meant...I didn’t mean because Kovalev is some invincible Russian Adonis, but rather the putting his reputation/hype on the line in a country where it’s going to be very difficult to get a fair decision and where I believe he is woefully unprepared for the huge jump up in levels from his previous 18 opponents. He could quite have easily had several more opponents, say in the top 25, then top 15, then top 5-10 before taking on a title holder. None of us would have criticised him if he’d done that.

Kovalev imo is a world class technical boxer. I think some still think he’s just a big puncher but that’s not the case. You couldn’t split that first fight with Ward who was elite in boxing skill. The only way I can see Yarde catching him with a big shot is if Kovalev commits to trying to bingo him...which I can’t see him doing after that first Alvarez fight. I think he’ll stick to the boxing and work behind the jab & shots to the body. He’ll happily do the 12 rounds for a UD imo.

 

I think Yarde and his team have very little faith he can take on top 25/15/5-10 fighters without losing.

 

Would you train for years and live a clean lifestyle day in day out to get to that point though?

 

I had a different path set out for me so that was never a route I thought to take if I'm honest.

But lets be real most people don't get a 5m payday for taking the fights he has.

Anyway good look to Yarde, if he pulls it off I'll just wonder why he pretended to be a hype job only fighting crap opposition.