The rise of Sergey Kovalev & his inevitable showdown with Andre Ward (VIDEO)

Discussion in 'World Boxing Forum' started by Rumsfeld, Apr 29, 2016.


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  1. Rumsfeld

    Rumsfeld Moderator Staff Member

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    Rumsfeld, Apr 29, 2016
    Rumsfeld, Apr 29, 2016
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  2. CST80

    CST80 The Hesitant Nihilist Staff Member

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    Real good video Rummy.:good Loved the Al Bundy & Marcy clip.:lol:

    Spot on with your assessment of Hopkins being the same old Hopkins and not a deteriorated version like many on here claim, although we do disagree a little as far as Kovalev stopping Hopkins goes, I think Kovalev had no problem getting rounds in and showing off his skills for as long as Hopkins let him, although I think Kovalev was cautious because he didn't want to gas himself out or take any unneeded risks against a guy he knew could easily exploit a mistake, but I think if it had started slipping away from Sergey he would have attempted to bomb BHop out of there, but Kovalev clearly had no need for that.

    There will be no debating the winner of this match being P4P Number 1 I just hope the respective camps can give credit where credit is due whoever the winner is, personally I don't think Ward has much of a chance, so if he can beat Kovalev and in dominant fashion, which in my mind I have a hard time visualizing I'll give him full credit.

    Thanks for the shoutout at the end, I appreciate it, resident Kovalev expert, I like that.:yep And you did a fairly solid job with Shabranskyy. His nickname is Slava Chigonskyy I hope that doesn't catch on, because even I have a hard time with that one.:lol:
     
    CST80, Apr 29, 2016
    CST80, Apr 29, 2016
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  3. Doc Everlast

    Doc Everlast Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    Rummy:good
     
    Doc Everlast, Apr 29, 2016
    Doc Everlast, Apr 29, 2016
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  4. Doc Everlast

    Doc Everlast Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    I need to see Ward in another tune up before I make serious predictions. People speak of Ward like he is the same guy from the Super Six. But a lot of signs point to Ward having problems with his body. He uses those Cryogen recovery machines more than my 90 year old grandfather.
     
    Doc Everlast, Apr 29, 2016
    Doc Everlast, Apr 29, 2016
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  5. Cafe

    Cafe Sitzpinkler Full Member

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    If Ward fights Vyacheslav then they both picked pretty good opponents in preparation for one another, Vyacheslav although not as skilled and fluid as Kovalev, does have a good punch and fights in a similar boxer-puncher style, Chilemba is a spoiler, so yeah, good opponents for both.

    As for the fight, I just think Kovalev's reach and jab will be the biggest factor here, Ward won't be able to dictate the distance at will, he'll be sitting at the end of Kovalev's punch, he could make it difficult and turn it into an ugly clinchfest but I just think Kovalev's too big to outhustle for Ward as well.
     
    Cafe, Apr 29, 2016
    Cafe, Apr 29, 2016
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  6. Magges

    Magges Well-Known Member Full Member

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    very good video Rummy, was a nice watch.
     
    Magges, Apr 29, 2016
    Magges, Apr 29, 2016
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  7. Hammer Hands

    Hammer Hands Active Member Full Member

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    I think Kovalev has a good chance of beating any version of Hopkins, but to say that the 49yr old Hopkins was a true test is maybe an error.

    Kovalev fought the perfect fight, and had the tools and skills to implement a great strategy, but you have to understand that Hopkins didn't have the reflexes, speed or balance that was needed to make this a real fight.

    In no way do I say this to discredit Kova! I really like Kova, and I hope he defeats Ward then goes his whole career undefeated.

    I bring this up because my gut instinct tells me that Ward Probably edges this fight. I think Ward has the core strength and balance to disrupt Kova's game.

    If Kova had dominated a prime Hopkins in the same fashion, I would probably say he handles Ward.
     
    Hammer Hands, Apr 29, 2016
    Hammer Hands, Apr 29, 2016
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  8. Ukansodoff

    Ukansodoff Deontay plz stop ducking Joshua. Thank you. Full Member

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    Another great video. Cant argue my view against any of it really, again. Cant wait for this fight, it is the best fight to be made in the sport in my opinion and i really dont know who wins. Im leaning towards Kovalev but Ward impressed me alot in his last fight, not cuz he beat Barrera, that was a near given, but Barrera is a big strong Lightheavy and Ward looked stronger and faster and 12 busy rounds doesnt seem like a struggle.

    Also totally agree that as much of a shame that it is, it is politics that stopped us ever getting the Stevenson fight.
     
    Ukansodoff, Apr 29, 2016
    Ukansodoff, Apr 29, 2016
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  9. CST80

    CST80 The Hesitant Nihilist Staff Member

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    Hopkins reflexes and speed were just fine against Shumenov, Murat and Cloud who were all basically 30 year olds, and yeah I know they aren't as good as Kovalev, but Hopkins still had the speed and reflexes to handle guys who are fairly solid fighters 20 years his junior with the greatest of ease, and that should count for something.
     
    CST80, Apr 30, 2016
    CST80, Apr 30, 2016
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  10. Rumsfeld

    Rumsfeld Moderator Staff Member

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    Marcy Darcy (or in that clip's case, Marcy Rhodes) is one of the most underrated characters in television history, IMHO.

    Yeah, I meant to touch on your point you just made about Kovalev not wanting to risk gassing out in a little more depth. I think that was part of it.

    And I can't wait to see Kovalev-Ward and hope their are no hiccups in their upcoming fights before the big showdown.

    Thanks for the help!!

    :thumbsup
     
    Rumsfeld, Apr 30, 2016
    Rumsfeld, Apr 30, 2016
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  11. Rumsfeld

    Rumsfeld Moderator Staff Member

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    Don't a lot of professional athletes use those these days?

    In any case, I'm curious to see how Ward looks in his next bout as well, and while I agree that he very well may not be the same guy we saw in the Super Six - I think he's pretty close to the mark. Or if nothing else, I'm not personally seeing any evidence of strong degradation.

    Thanks for watching and for the feedback, Doc! Always appreciated!

    :good
     
    Rumsfeld, Apr 30, 2016
    Rumsfeld, Apr 30, 2016
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  12. Rumsfeld

    Rumsfeld Moderator Staff Member

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    Good points both, each of which I wish I had stressed a bit more.

    Could be. One thing I remember Froch saying after his fight with Ward is that Ward was able to control the distance far better than he expected, and The Cobra explained how he had a great ability of either being too close or too far away. That's Ward's key, I think, and it will be a far more daunting task to successfully do that with Kovalev than with Froch, because (as you mentioned) the reach and jab, but also because Kovalev is more powerful and more consistent than Froch.

    Thanks for watching, Cafe! And for the feedback, too!

    :thumbsup
     
    Rumsfeld, Apr 30, 2016
    Rumsfeld, Apr 30, 2016
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  13. Rumsfeld

    Rumsfeld Moderator Staff Member

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    Thanks Magges!

    :cheers
     
    Rumsfeld, Apr 30, 2016
    Rumsfeld, Apr 30, 2016
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  14. Rumsfeld

    Rumsfeld Moderator Staff Member

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    This is a good point, and I think the best practical example we have that helps illustrate this is Ward and Hopkins in their respective performances against Chad Dawson. I know there was more going on than just that, and Dawson was obviously not 100% at 168 - but all the same, I still think this fight serves as an example of your point because after seeing that fight - I think Ward would have beaten Dawson at 168, 175, anywhere in between, or anywhere venturing north towards cruiser. The dynamics of the fight may have been different, and Dawson may have been more competitive, but I think Ward still proved his superiority that night.

    Fair points, all. My instincts have me leaning the opposite direction, almost a mirror image of what you wrote to the word, but at the end of the day I just want to really really see this fight, regardless of how it goes down.

    :good
     
    Rumsfeld, Apr 30, 2016
    Rumsfeld, Apr 30, 2016
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  15. Rumsfeld

    Rumsfeld Moderator Staff Member

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    Thanks Ukansodoff! Appreciate the feedback, and the main point I can't stress enough where I am in 100% agreement is what I bolded in your quote.

    :thumbsup
     
    Rumsfeld, Apr 30, 2016
    Rumsfeld, Apr 30, 2016
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