Great scrap, one of my favourite fighters from yesteryear and one of my favourite fighters today, I like Kovalev tho. He was a beast in the Cleverly fight and had a jab to set Johnson back consistently. He also has the power to soften Johnson up and stop him. Johnson has a slight punchers chance as he could pressure really well and could bang too, but Kovalev has a pretty good chin and Johnson's game plan has him walking straight into Kovalev's power, which isn't what you want. Kovalev KO6
Johnson put on the pressure and had power but also got hit a lot- I would favor Kov but action fight because Johnson would bring it. Kov skills and power should prevail
KOvolev cut above,also as I said before look at Marvins record which is a good one,but his loses all vs top fighters
On paper Kovalev should win,,,,but I keep seeing Krusher fold up against the ropes in the Ward fight. Marvin has a good chance here but I probably would make Kov the favorite barely
Kovalev, a very dominant champion, who has defeated a lot of good fighters, ended the career of one, B-Hop, very convincingly. Marvin Johnson fought a lot of very tough fighters during his prime. The likes of Victor Galindez, Mate Parlov, Matthrew Saad Muhammad, twice, and Michael Spinks. Johnson had that hard right jab, to set up his brutal body attack, then beat up the face. He busted Galindez's jaw, when they fought on Nov 30 1979,won by KO11, sent Victor flying on his back, to win the WBA Light Heavyweight Title. He enjoyed a three time reign as champion. Marvin would put a lot of pressure on Sergei, he would also get tagged along the way, but Johnson used to fighting heavy hitters would stop Kovalev in round 11. Johnson seemed to just about run people over with that pressure.
I like Kovalev here. Ko sometime during the middle of the fight. Marvin and his defense is going to get caught clean every round with big right hands. And he is hit walking in. After like 10 or 12 of those clean shots, the next one takes him out. Exciting bout for sure but never going the distance before one of these guys is stopped. I just like a big right hand to catch Johnson more than I like Marvin's volume of punches.
I'd take Johnson here. Kovalev would certainly hurt Johnson, but Johnson didn't mind a firefight he thrived on them. If Ward hurt Kovalev downstairs and stopped him, Johnson could do even more damage, he was a bigger hitter than Ward.
Great match up and would likely be a Fight of the Year contender. Think I'd lean towards Kovalev here. Both are vulnerable late on in fights and if Johnson can maintain a good pace throughout he has a chance. But as I've said before, I think Johnson would have benefitted massively from a Super-Middleweight division had it existed during his peak years. To me he was always a little small as a Light-Heavyweight and it played a part in him being outlasted, outmuscled and slowly overpowered as fights progressed, the first Saad fight being a great example. Both guys are better, more skilful boxers than sometimes given credit for but I see Kovalev dealing with Johnson's pressure and eventually walking him on to too many heavy jabs and hooks as Johnson presses. Johnson was a warrior but at 175 I just think Kovalev is the slightly sturdier of the two and it'd be him left standing at the end. Kovalev by late stoppage with the cards more or less even. But Johnson's a live underdog for me. Would have been a great fight.
Heres what you have to realize- Johnson would walk through fire to get a win. Kov wouldnt. Sure Johnson got stopped by huge punchers in Spinks ans Saad. And make no mistake about it borh those guys put Kov out cold. Johnson when the going got tough responded. Kov really doesnt.
B Hop was ancient. Johnson faced the crème de la crème of a very tough LHW division in the late 70s up to the mid 80s. Sure, he lost a few. But he showed awesome power, heart and the ability to shake off a loss and regroup I agree that Johnson was a cut above Kovalev.
