I think Conteh had too much of an an all round game for Kovalev. Apart from his skills he could be a right nasty sob. Kovalev looked as though when you get down to the nitty gritty when in adversity he had heart problems, that would be no good against Conteh.
Would go for Conteh. Too versatile, excellent stamina and strong. Actually started pro' career as a heavyweight, before dropping weight.
I felt kovalev clearly beat Ward once first fight. I think Kovalev being sold short. But I'll wait til his career over to say for sure.
I really hope Kovalev recovers well from the Andre Ward debacles and establishes himself as something of the premiere LHW champion of the era. Hearing his story and how he came up, not even being paid for fights at times.. and then seeing him go through the ringer 2x and the entire Ward fiasco... I feel for the man.
Andre ward PROVED 100% that he was MUCH better fighter than this trash racist . a natural 168 guy exposed him badly. It is very pathetic that he had to wait until ward retired to win a sad belt again
Conteh could have easily won the first Conteh v Saad M. title fight. "Adolph Ritacco and Nick Belflore, Saad Muhammad's corner men, were suspended by the New Jersey State Athletic Commission for using an illegal adrenalin chloride solution mixed with ground tea leaves to stop the bleeding from the cut above his left eye. The WBC, which allowed only Vaseline or adrenalin chloride 1-1000 to be used on cuts, ordered an immediate rematch." 1979-08-18 : Matthew Saad Muhammad 172½ lbs beat John Conteh 175 lbs by UD in round 15 of 15 Location: Resorts International, Atlantic City, New Jersey, USA Referee: Carlos Padilla 146-142 Judge: Harry Gibbs 144-143 Judge: Charlie Spina 146-141 World Boxing Council Light Heavyweight Title (1st defense by Saad Muhammad) See also: Matthew Saad Muhammad vs. John Conteh (2nd meeting) Notes Unofficial Big Book of Boxing scorecard - 143-143 Draw Saad Muhammad's purse was $150,000, and Conteh's was $50,000. Saad Muhammad suffered a bad cut over his left eye and another one on the side of his nose from a headbutt in the fifth round that was ruled accidental by referee Carlos Padilla. Conteh was knocked down twice in the 14th round. [1] Adolph Ritacco and Nick Belflore, Saad Muhammad's corner men, were suspended by the New Jersey State Athletic Commission for using an illegal adrenalin chloride solution mixed with ground tea leaves to stop the bleeding from the cut above his left eye. The WBC, which allowed only Vaseline or adrenalin chloride 1-1000 to be used on cuts, ordered an immediate rematch.
John Conteh fought in a golden era of the LHW. JC feared no one and fought everyone and had a bit of Colin Jones viciousness about him in the ring. JC was a not one to back down from a challenge. Conteh ko in 10 rds.