Hunter: Eastern European Robots scared to dig in and fight inside?

we know this strictly isn't true... with guys like provodnikov, jirov and even someone like GGG who like to mix it up inside.

But what is it with guys like Tszyu and Kovalev.... big puncher-boxer types but scared when it doesn't go their way and it goes to into the trenches?

 

i wouldn't call him a racist. He's just doing what a lot of boxing analysts do and categorizing boxers from a particular part of the world (or particular school) and associating them with a certain style.

i.e. latin, mexican fighters macho brawlers, eastern europeans robotic disciplined straight up style, black american slick style.

And when you look at it, there is a lot of truth to this, at least at the highest elite level. The best American black boxer is a slick skilled fighter, while best eastern european Wlad, Kovalev are more straight up fighter types.

Hunter even goes further and categorizes a particular type of eastern european - The one with big reputation as puncher-boxer types. like Kovalev and Kosta Tzsyu.

Even Kovalev trainer Jackson said in the rematch he will tell kovalev to prove less about being tough inside and actually teach him how to better deal with infighting wrestling type of tactics.

 

a fight is a fight.... in fighting and grappling is part of boxing... especially if you have a referee who accomodates it. You expect the boxers to agree and fight at kovalevs agreed distance? Now Ward knows he can drain koivalev on the inside unless kovalev will come with something new to deal with it in the next fight.

it's not a theory... it's a generalization that does has some truth to it. There are always going to be exceptions to the rule....at the elite level you will have boxers who have multiple facets to their game. e.g. Kovalev is a decent boxer and not just a big puncher.

TBH, I hope Kovalev changes his style and mentality... before this he relied a lot on reputation and bully tactics. I hope he reacts like Matthysse did after his so called robberies against Judah and Alexander, where after those fights he did everything he could to leave it out of the judges hands..... especially Kovalev who probably has the biggest firepower in boxing and he hardly let his hands go. Worse, he said "he will kick his ass" in the rematch...he better live up to his words