The decline of Kovalev's power...

He did not commit to any punches against Canelo. If that fight had not ended in a brutal KO, I'd have said it was fixed because of how much pitty patter Kov threw.

 

Yes he's physically declined but managed to handle an incredibly strong and powerful opponent in yarde.

It's more mental. He's got audley Harrison syndrome, when he's clipped he freezes and he's also utterly terrified of being caught especially after mediocre punchers ward and Alvarez had him doing the amir khan

 

I've heard he smokes or did smoke until recently. Terrible habit for a boxer.

 

The mental destruction he took in the ward fights (thinking he got robbed in fight 1, quitting in fight 2)+his poor lifestyle habits+golden boy bribing him to get KO'd by canelo (fake af just threw pitter pat jabs and didn't commit)+aging is a nasty combination.

The formidable boxer puncher with lethal fists and good ring IQ "Krusher" is dead. What we have now is a shopworn mentally shot cautious boxer who can be bought.

 

it's an overall decline. He has the body of an old man. it's a shame there is no weight between 175 and 200. if they had even a 185 weight division that would work. all these fighters have issue. also Kovalev isn't a life style gym rat. he worked out because he's a boxer some of these fighters and MMA fighters too just love working out. people like GSP go to the gym 5+ days a week. Kovalev probably should retire but there's always the thought of what if he could win another world title

 

This. Kov had the potential to be maybe thee best ever imo, his skills, jab etc could've matched up against anyone ever at 175 and been a huge problem. If he had the professionalism of a GGG or Loma then Ward wouldn't of fancied it, it was clear Kov was abusing his talents with poor dedication that's what messed him up, you can go back 5 yrs maybe to find a decent Kov, hes been washed up for years but was that good he got by, but now hes a shell, the Canelo fight was terrible to watch, he came in worse than he could've imo

 

Mate, you've named 3 ahead of him lol, your nearly in agreement with him, hes in that category, even you see it

 

The first 3* there's more, I can name them if you want. He's not even the most powerful of his era lol

 

Hes easily the best all round puncher of his era, who you have above him ?? speed,range, power, punch selection, he pisses all over his competition at 175 prime. Ward never met a 100% dedicated hungry Kov either

 

He was never that strong. He looked terrible against Chilemba, got knocked down against Caparello. Couldn't knock out Hopkins who was knocked out of the ring against Smith Jr. and retired afterwards.

Canelo was the first real elite fighter he faced and he got knocked out cold.

 

Kovalev said before the Canelo fight he would not try to punch hard. Power is the last thing to decline with age according to George Foreman. Kovalev never believed his success was due to his power either. He thinks like a boxer, now, would be interesting to see some reasonable defense if that is the case. He never was able to fight hurt except in the Yarde fight, his power was his best defense. Kovalev option would have been to immediatly rematch Canelo but it seems that the WBO belt is already vacant which would indicate Canelo has left the LHW division and will likely fight at middleweight next fight.

 

There's making weight,,,then there's coming in shape. I believe this is the case with him plus a touch of not committing to his punches as lobk posted earlier

 

Kovalev isnt troubling anyone at the top at LHW anymore.

Even Pascal - who Kovalev spanked silly a few years ago - would probably KO Kovalev very badly at this point.

Have you guys ever seen a stock market trading chart? Kovalev's decline is like one giant red candle that doesnt look like it is going to stop.

 

Kovalev beat Ward (who in my opinion was as elite as it got) in the first fight despite what the judges had it as. His basic 1-2 punches combined with tidy footwork and massive power was enough for Ward to constantly reset and have to make adjustments.