Sergey Alexandrovich Kovalev vs. Saúl Álvarez Barragán & Ryan García vs. Romero Caingcoy Duno RBR

It seemed like Canelo got Sk's respect early in the fight and the way he chose to fight was a direct result of said respect. Canelo was throwing fire most of the fight, the jab strategy was likely the best thing I felt like it was anywhere from 6-4 Sk to 6-4 Canelo by the end of the 10th. The Ko was a shock, but it was also the answer to why Sk fought tentatively most of the night. Hats off to Canelo for pulling it off.

 

Kovalev couldn't go too hard early because Canelo is brilliant defensively, counters well and Kovalev was worried about gassing. Canelo was sharp early and threw some hooks when Kov went for the right hand. Kovalev going hard early would have played right into Canelo's hands.

I totally agree with Rummy. He is spot on.

 

This forum was the only place in the world where Kovalev was favoured in this match up. Bookies are usually accurate with their odds.

People are putting too much stock in size difference, as evidenced in fantasy HW match ups. Skills and athleticism trump size.

 

Canelo impressed me with his pressure in this one. He fought conservatively, out of necessity. I had Kovalev up before the KO, since he was just generally outworking him. Canelo was more effective however. Reminded me a bit of Qawi (but not as good).

Anyone else think the referee stepped in way too early tho? Though that looked a belter in the low quality vid I just watched lol.

 

How did that work out for him?

 

to keep his midsection out of range of canelos hooks.

 

I mean this trash, untrained, unfocused version of Kovalev still won at least 6 rounds. Canelo scored a spectacular KO, but he didnt look good, his workrate was even more abysmal than usual.

 

Canelo was the better fighter for sure but Kov's size had him outworking and outscoring him imo.

The ref stopped it incredibly fast but Kov wouldn't have beat 30 in hindsight.

 

We didn't see the best of either fighter here; so I don't want to call this a chess match. People have a tendency to call slow boring fights chess matches but really a chess match is what Golovkin vs Canelo 1 and 2 were like. There were a wide variety of high level skills on display in both of those matches. In this match, I didn't see much that couldn't have been executed by journeymen. Like I said, Kovalev's offense was pretty weak, especially for him, like his worst offensive effort ever, and as for Canelo he wasn't a slick defensive master. The whole extent of his defense was basically to stand there with a high guard then wait to counter. That's not chess, not high level chess at least. I guess, they do have low level chess that children can play against each other.

 

Unfortunate in my opinion. But Canelo's skills were great here with his feet, which makes the controversies surrounding him all the more unpalatable IMO.

P4P No1

 

canelo looked like a frickin boss, im not one of his nuthuggers, but i aint a hater either and i know my boxing.

 

A bout with Kovalev should have been disaster for Canelo. Kovalev fought the worst fight he could have fought and should have knocked the midget out in the first three rounds. This kid has the luck of the Irish.

 

Yes, his pressure footwork surprised me here. Very educated. He was too conservative to be winning a lot of the rounds tho IMO. But I guess that comes with Kov's power.

 

Yeah there's so much feeling about when it comes to Canelo. I'm glad i am ambivalent lol

 

I never get over my butthurt. I'll carry these scars with me to the grave.