Prime Kovalev vs Artur Beterbiev

No he did not all. Ward controlled the whole fight and all facets. Froch did well not to get knocked out and only because Ward hurt his hand.

 

That was impressive indeed, although strength is less important in amateur / Olympics. 12 rounds against a stronger opponent is much harder. I never said that "being the stronger always wins fights" but it's an advantage.

Anyway, we'll have to agree to disagree. You see something amazing in Ward's skillset but not in Beterbiev, so of course you pick him. Most of us follow boxing because we are awed by the skills of some fighters and Ward, Floyd, Ali etc. are the ones who awe you.

To be honest I was awed by Ward in the Super 6 but not at 175 lb, what I saw there was a shadow of the 168 lb man - slower, less athletic, and getting caught by stuff he should have avoided. In my view it was lucky for him that Kovalev had already started to decline. I also see a great deal of underrated talent in AB that not everyone believes exists.

 

Nothing lucky about Ward beating the feared. He beat a guy nobody else could beat because of his skills set, mindset, intestinal fortitude and ring IQ. Ward was past his best as well in his 30’s had suffered injuries yet beat Kovalev. When your athleticism declines like it happens to all great ones, you rely on on your skills, fundamentals and know how. Ward was not lucky he won because he worked Kovalev started hurting him to the body draining the life out of him. He just did not fight any Light Heavyweight he fought the best the dominant champion beat him and took his soul. It was a thing of beauty to behold. He would have done a lot more to AB with his relatively weaker skills set.

 

Ha ha delerous fool... without Weekes Ward would have disqualified in 2nd fight...

 

I think Kovalev was more skilled than Gvozdyk also a bigger puncher

 

And actual VIDEO footage available on many different platforms show that Ward lost that fight and the crowd reaction to the verdict says it all.

Also literally hundreds of different writers and boxing pundits had Kovalev winning that fight. The vast majority of the population who watched that fight give it to Kovalev too.

THOSE are facts. **** your stupid “Well the record books say!!” convenient cop out. The official verdicts aren’t always the right ones. People have the ability to judge for themselves.

Kovalev >>>>>> Ward fight 1

Fight #2 had a bunch of corruption going on but that’s another story for another thread.

 

and kovalev says he hd "witnesses" yeah his friends that knew nothing about boxing. that's just pride.

 

Regardless how great Prime Kov was - and his jab is one of THE best - I've always thought that Beterbiev is just like worst style matchup for him - his kryptonite if you will.

It would have been one for the ages though, and whilst on his best night Kov might have got a stoppage or points win, I favour Artur; I just think he would get to Kov's body at some point and break him down late - Artur is not just the crude brawler folks make out, his IQ is high, and Kov does not have the movement, footwork or discipline of Bivol to eke out a points victory. But maybe 55-45 in favour of Beterbiev, because prime Kova was fearsome too.

But Prime for Prime i'd bet on Artur

 

I bet he had RJJ winning at the Olympics though

 

Ward was a special stay-at-home boxer, and there are many shady "A-side" reasons he never lost; billy-goat butts, elbows, in-pocket refs, Oakland home judges etc, and egregious decisions where even Ward knew he didn't desrve the nod! A come forward destroyer cannot beat Ward in Oakland, because he'd get point deducted or DQ'd likely. He would never have stepped in the ring with AB unless the desk was ultra-stacked.

Fixed that for you!

 

There's a reason Ward fought in the pros @168 = precisely so he would have those physical advantages! He'd have none against a big LHW in Artur. If Ward was so good and so strong, why didn't he fight Dawson @ 175, rather than letting him weight drain shamefully (I know that is really on Dawson, but Ward should have moved up for that fight then, he had already cleaned out 168! Shameful!)

 

Watching that back made me think of one thing that probably bears heavily on this fantasy matchup, and I distinctly remember the Cleverly blowout, and like others IMO Cleverly was psychologically beaten before the fight started due to how imposing and fearsome the Krusher was at the time, and I'm pretty sure many others were similar. That's one thing for certain is that Beterbiev would not have been intimidated in that way, and possibly Kovalev himself might have been a little bit 'reversed' having lost twice to AB in the ams and knowing all about his strength.

Additionally, and this actually might be the key facet of the fight, is that we saw against Yarde, even at 38, how great Artur was at being able to rip the body on the back foot, and turn defence into offense, and I think that would have been his key to victory against Kovalev, who when fighters went into their shell was a fantastic finisher, but a 'possum' Beterbiev could very well walk Kovalev onto something huge that would change the course of the fight.

Man, that would have been something to see!