Sillakh is going to surprise a lot of people

Surprised so many are COMPLETELY dismissing Sillakh's chances here. I love Kovalev and expect him to win but I do think this is a risky fight for him. Why he's taking on such a high risk/low reward in a voluntary, especially in his first defence I don't know.

Sillakh is arguably the most naturally talented fighter in the division, is faster than Kovalev, has a much longer reach, and he can really punch with both hands. He also has a natural size advantage over him too. He's weighed 180 + for over half his fights. He's even come in as heavy as 196, an in shape 196, whereas Kovalev has only ever weighed in at or above 180 once before. I'm wondering if Kovalev can make 168, because he really doesn't look like he rehydrates that much to me.

Sillakh scored a lot of stoppage victories in the amateurs as well as the pros and Kovalev has been dropped and stopped (from a hard left counter) in a round in the unpaid ranks by a fighter who A. doesn't hit as hard as Sillakh, and B. who Sillakh beat with ease.

Also Sillakh got busted for steroids in the amateurs too, which makes a little suspicious that he still might be using.

Obviously Kovalev has the power and skill to spark Sillakh quickly if he catches him, but Sillakh is going to dangerous while he's still standing and Kovalev's going to have to be careful he doesn't get caught with something big because Sillakh possess all the attributes to test his chin too.

 

Read an interesting interview with Darnell Boone the other day where he offers his opinions on Kovalev, Stevenson and Ward.

LF) You turned pro in 2004 and the following year faced the 6-0 Andre Ward over six rounds. Tell me about that fight?

DB) I fought him on a week’s notice. I felt I hurt him badly in the fight, when I floored him in the fourth they gave a late count. At the end I thought I had won but I feel they didn’t judge the fight correctly. A lot of his punches caught my arms and gloves.

Note: one judge had it to Ward by just a single point.

LF) Ward was shaken and dropped a few times early in his career do you think his chin improved with stepping up to 168 or is he just too defencively adept at avoiding punches now?

DB) I honestly feel that nobody has really hit him flush since I did. We still don’t really know now whether his chin is suspect or not.

LF) Was there ever any talk of a rematch?

DB) Yes they called me a couple of times but it was never made. I’d fight him again right now.

LF) You are the only fighter to have beaten WBC champion Adonis Stevenson. You flattened him early in the second with a big right. Were you surprised when you knocked him out?

DB) Well I’d wobbled him at the end of the first with an uppercut. In the second I threw a double jab and right and down he went. At the time I didn’t even know the right had caught him like that (to knock him out).

LF) How much had he improved in the rematch you had earlier this year?

DB) It was the same as the Kovalev rematch, I don’t know where their power came from in the second fights.

LF) You just mentioned Kovalev, you fought to a close split loss a few months after your win over Stevenson. Was that decision fair?

DB) After that fight I was 100% certain I had beaten him. I completely man-handled him and dropped him three times though only one was counted. If you had been there you would have said I’d won.

LF) Two years later he stopped you in the return. What happened?

DB) I just don’t know where he got that power from it’s like he was on something. In the rematch he had ten-times more power. I mean, with him and Adonis Stevenson I don’t understand how I can man-handle them both and then have that happen in the rematch when I’ve done exactly the same things?

LF) Who would win between the pair in your opinion?

DB) I’d go with Kovalev. Even when I got the better of the first fight he was still strong. With Stevenson he just tries to set up his left hand but Kovalev has power in both hands and a little more boxing about his work.