Kovalev vs Yarde Predictions

Hard to say really, Yarde has proved nothing to give me any indication of how he will perform at this level.

I have no data to go on, just gut instinct.

I don't agree with Yarde's training strategy, that is not the way forward.

I'm going to back Yarde, I might be wrong, but I back him on pure gut feeling about his power, and his resolve.

 

If Yarde wins this then we will see just what Warren has left, Yarde has alot of assets that could see him crossover but does Warren have the reach anymore?

 

The only way I can see Yarde winning is via knockout. If he knocks out a modern day great that should propel him to stardom on its own. So it shouldn’t be a difficult job for frank.

 

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Check out from a minute in...I think Tunde is also doing the stare down hahaha. The lad is barmy.

 

Is there something wrong with him?

 

Warren not even there for the press conference? Lions in the camp? More like throwing your fighters into the lions den and not wanting to be there

 

How tall is Kovalev?

 

I think there is an awful lot wrong with him haha.

He’s done his job in building Yarde up from nothing and gaining him a mandatory position despite minimal resistance. In that sense, we should also praise Tom Schwarz’s team for also gaining a very high ranking with the WBO without fighting anyone of any substance and finally getting a big payday off the back of it. We were all moaning about that at the time so why are we pretending the same hasn’t happened here?

I’m gonna stick my neck out here, but if this is the one sided beatdown I reckon it will be, then this is the last time Tunde and Yarde work together.

 

I hope he proves me wrong.

 

Up until now they had to deal with young hungary lions, which isn't much to write home about. This is a siberian tiger that they're dealing with now.

 

Your like a picky old woman- his son George is with them.

Frank will no doubt be flying in by Friday and will have the Russians under manors.

 

Did Yarde and Tunde look phased to you there? They look completely at home and at ease.

 

There's quite a few similar comments and at first I was of same opinion, that Kovalev would be just too much for Yarde's inexperience. It's difficult because we don't know how good Yarde is yet. Visually, yeah he's ok. He likes to fight from range etc and he's quick and has combos and punch power, but you never know till they go into a proper fight.

I have a problem with Kovalev's two performances against Alvarez. In the first, he's put a lot into round 4, landing 29/82 and got tired soon after, deep breathing between rounds then caught flush in the 7th and finished off. In the rematch Kovalev has increased his output to 8/35, 18/71, 21/75, 13/60, 23/73, 24/72 then a massive 38/105 in the 7th and he was jab happy with 11/52. By then he had it won and though he coasted after that he was still throwing 57 to 78 per round. So what happened to him between the 2 fights to gain this additional staying power and output ability? Was it all down to his new trainer or them working out Alvarez and having a plan? Or did Alvarez not show up in the same manner, throwing and landing less than their first match. Or was it a combination of both?

Based on Alvarez 1 don't think Kovalev is a huge task, but the Kovalev from Alvarez 2 will be a problem. Kovalev is good but I'm not sure he's that good. He's a bit of a bully and in the first match he tried to walk through Alvarez's shots a few times and was getting caught easily and when he tired, he emptied quickly. He does not like being hit though and has shied away when taking body shots and complained lots of times about low blows and in more than one match.

When Alvarez first fought Kovalev he'd had a few more Pro fights than Yarde - 23 as opposed to 18, but he only had the WBC Silver belt plus some NABA/NABO belts. Alvarez wasn't known as a big puncher either and his record backs it up as he's won just over half of them by decision.

It's a bit of a conundrum. Yarde may be able to stick it on him and force him to expend more than he wants early doors, same as Alvarez did in their first match. Alvarez was a hefty outsider for that match at 4/1, so there's reason to believe Yarde can do something similar, though the cautious and sensibly boxing Kovalev (but still throwing consistently) from the rematch would be a problem.

 

Yarde getting a Cleverly type beat down.