Is Kovalev finished as an elite fighter?

Being looked at and even owning every belt in a division does not mean said fighter is elite.

We clearly have very different opinions of elite. To me being elite means you're truly arguable as great as any fighter in the sport.

There less than 10 truly elite fighters in all of boxing.. To be elite you can't have major holes that are Imperative like chin and stamina are huge components that Kovalev lacked entirely.

Not even physically or especially mentally capable of being elite, but fact to be

 

I think age and the body slowing down is a big factor with stamina... … I train like **** at my age and still have nowhere the stamina had in my 40's.. I hope Kovalev has a rematch with Alvarez.... wins the fight and heads off into the sunset on a highpoint... will it happen … it would be very hard.... but I always like the see boxers end their careers with a win

 

nope, because lots of fighters landed those on Kov, and nothing happened. B-hop, Chilemba, Agnew, Pascal. it's easier to knock someone down when they have no legs and can't hold their hands up! look at Klitschko, most of his knockdowns he took were when he was exhausted, not because their opponent was some killer. Ross Purrity, Lamon Brewster. remember ?

 

What the **** are you even talking about?? You didn't even come close to answering my question nor make a point period.

 

I haven't been on the board for awhile but I find these responses class acts. Fact is, Kovalev has gotten older the last two years than most, I saw his lack of confidence eroding as the fight went on. A younger Kovalev would never
have walked into sucker punch like that. I wish him well but he just ages faster than most-is lying about his age

 

Kovalev looks like he is 45 when he really is 35 (about to be 36 in a couple of months).

 

But how is it that he walked into a punch because of his lack of confidence? Wasn't it because of his reaction time is worse now, his reflexes are gone? I think it's because of that.

 

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kovalev should move down to super mw. those lhw are getting too big and powerful. and alvarez was snapping his chin.

 

Kov was finished as an elite fighter after the first award fight which he won. Father Time is undefeated and you need to look no further than Kov. Age and hard living can take a toll on any fighter. Props to Canelo for beating a bigger guy but this fight was never close. Kov was out boxing Canelo but there was zero chance he was going to get a decision. The KO saved Canelo’s fans from having to defend another questionable decision which I am certain Canelo would have received. Kov’s only chance was a KO and it was obvious he no longer had the gas in the tank to pull it off. He’s way past prime and needs to hang it up. Probably made 5-6 million with PPV for this fight. Can buy a tanker of vodka and drink himself into oblivion. Or as Tyson said Bolivian.

 

It gets harder to move down as you get older. He's already a skinny dude at LHW.

 

Yes, DONE. He has been a brilliant fighter.

 

His punch resistance is gone. It happens as fighter ages. Head shots he use to eat now puts him out. He is also slower as heck too. Any future fight he has he will now be gun shy. He knows one decent shot and he's out.

Time to hang it up while he is still healthy. Or continue to make money as a stepping stone/gatekeeper type fight. But his days as one of the top guy is gone.

 

That KO was about as bad as it gets. He was out before he hit the ground and looked like a rag doll. Even a younger fighter would have a long road ahead coming back from a KO like that