No, not really. I don't think he's declined since his Dawson victory, if you've watched his fights since that KO he hasn't really been all that impressive in any of them except perhaps Cloud.
The only thing that Kovalev has to do it it to move on the right side of Stevenson to take away his straight left. Stevenson has no right hook. Kovalev should only stay smart and box Kovalev without to much aggression since Stevenson is a counter puncher. The KO would come sooner or later for Kovalev. Also, Hopkins would make Stevenson look bad IMO. And yeah, he slipped a bit and age could be taking his toll on him.
Stevenson was never that good. He just got lucky by knocking out Dawson, who was coming off a loss to Ward. It's a joke that people were saying he was a P4P fighter by beating Dawson, Cloud, and Bellew. He's the definition of a one-handed fighter. It's like he doesn't know he has a right hand. For all intents and purposes, his right hand is nonexistent. He has a right jab, and a straight left. THAT'S IT. Contrast that to Kovalev, who has a jab, a straight right, and a left hook.
As I've always thought he's overrated and his power is overrated. Dawson was shot and chinny. Tavoris was never great. Bellew sucks. Fonfara is okay but chinny ad he couldn't KO him. Sukhotsky was average. Bika is a multiple time loser who's only asset is his chin. He's also a massive cherry picking coward. As you can clearly see.
Stevenson's flaws have always been there. He drops his hands when he punches, he reaches, and a jab backs him up. You can see in some of his fights where he backed up when his opponent threw a jab or double jab. It's just that his past opponents simply weren't good enough to capitalize on those flaws.
Anyone with a half decent chin, decent skills and a decent puncher has a chance to beat him. He's never been that great. There is usually always a reason for guys to duck.
I used to think that his one punch KO of Dawson would be the start of a new star, instead we see the Lineal LHW champion facing the likes of Suchotsky or dragging up a SMW in Bika
Don't think he's dropped, no, but I also don't think his level was ever that high. Kovalev would waste him and B-Hop would coast it against him.
Maybe. He's old-ish and Bika is a tough opponent. But yeah, he might not be as good as he was vs. Dawson. Kovalev has obviously impressed more lately, also being younger and all.