Yeah, even if they probably hit about the same, Kov is going to have a 3 inch height and reach disadvantage. I'd give him even odds with the cruiserweights his height: Glowacki, Lebedev, Drozd. Those would be good competitive fights.
I don't think Haye has ever been 225, although with his long layoff, he might be out of shape and weigh that now. But for a guy with his height and reach 210-215 is normal. He's actually the same size as Holyfield and Ali. Since it's normal these days to cut 10-15 pounds and rehydrate on fight night, he might still be able to make cruiserweight. Still, if Kovalev doesn't cut weight he might weigh between 185-190. That's still giving away 20-25 pounds, 5.5 inches of reach, and 3 inches of height if they fought. That's a lot to ask of anybody. Haye was able to do that with Valuev because Valuev was a terrible unathletic boxer. He couldn't get away with the same stuff against Klitschko.
Haye is too big. He's a HW and Kovalev is LHW. The weight gap between LHW and CW is the largest in the sport (25lbs). Kovalev weighed 183½lbs for his last fight, Haye was 210lbs and looks in the 220lb region judging by recent pics of him. That's an awful lot of weight to give away to someone who hits as hard as and is as quick as Haye. Kovalev definitely has the power to knock out the Haye who fought at CW though. If blown up SMW Lolenga Mock can come within a whisker of knocking Haye out then Kovalev can certainly go one better. Haye was in desperate trouble against Mock. He had to rugby tackle him to canvas to buy a bit more time for his head to clear. Mock has only stopped 12 of the 47 opponents he's fought too. That said, we have no idea how Kovalev would fare up at CW and I'd still favour a CW Haye to beat him. Haye has serious power for a HW not just a CW. 6:29 [YT]joJ_IiayIMw[/YT]
It depends on the weight it's fought at, even though I'd still favour Haye at CW it's not impossible for Kovalev to beat him there.
How would you know? :huh Aren't they equally old? There is no way Kovalev wins against Haye at CW or HW.
hayes a ****, but he would probably win by ko. however if kovalev caught him with a flush 1-2-1 then haye would be put to kip.
I'm starting to think it's not Missus Gee that has the hots for the Welsh Dragon, but her repressed hubby. How the fuk do you get the retired SMW champ into a thread on Haye-Kov, unless you're utterly obsessed with the dude, and he fills your every waking moment. It all sounds a bit ho-mo-erotic, Herol. And to think the forum assumed, all this time, that it was Missus Gee who couldn't stop thinkin' 'bout Joe.
Haye by quick easy blow out. I think Kovalev is the top LHW but Haye is an all round greater fighter regardless of being bigger, faster and more explosive