Exactly. Even when Kov is blowing hard and looks like he's on his last breath he still walks his opponent down if there's a hint they're hurt or spent. But against a smaller Canelo when he doesn't seem that tired he takes his foot off the pedal? Gimme a break.
No, these are the reason's for the stoppage. Primary factors: 1. Age. He's been on a steady decline as he's gotten older and his best days are behind him. That's a fact. Add additional constraints such as the weight restrictions, I'm sure were not going to be in his favor to endure more punishment or have more stamina throughout the fight. 2. He held back because he either didn't feel confident in his stamina or just bad game plan. This cautious fight really let Canelo build momentum and get confidence as it wore on. If he imposed his will early , he may have had Canelo tread with more caution. 3. Canelo implemented the correct game plan based on Kovalev's recent fights where he struggled showed vulnerability in stamina and getting hit to the body. Go went to the body all night long, wore him down, which Im sure weakened him faster than usual. 4. Kovalev's confidence hasn't been the same since the Andre Ward losses. The mental game is a big one in this sport at this level where every inch counts and there's a small margin for error. He's no longer the undefeated, invincible feared Krusher everyone once knew.
I'm just a Norton fanatic all the way I love him all his characters...wide eyed jimmy..ted scheckler..board room jimmy...dude really is a creep
Yeah but you can't prove that kind of dive. Kovalev gassed and drops his hands regularly. It's always been a weakness of his. And he never had a great chin
You can't rule out the fact that perhaps Golden Boy put in Kovalev's contract that he couldn't throw any power punches with his right hand. Kov threw his right hand 2-3 times the whole fight.... very strange, even considering his strategy with McGirt, where you box and use your jab.... your jab is nothing if you don't follow it up with anything!!!
The best jabber at LHW half commits to his jab and pitty pats for the rest of the fight. One of the biggest punchers in LHW history forgets to throw his right hand. Give me break. He was given the script that the fight was going to go 12 rounds and the scores would be close and he could fight again on DAZN with dignity for another 7-figure payday Canelo was given the script to go for the kill as soon Kovalev began to wilt. This way it does not look so scripted. That KO was legit but no way did Kovalev expect it. I bet he thought it was going the full 12 rounds with a 8-4 or 7-5 scorecard. A guy with financial and legal problems like Kovalev is easy prey for cartel sharks like Golden Boy.
True, I can't prove anything. I'm not even sure it happened. But like a lot of people who saw the fight I'm left with the impression that something very odd happened.
This makes some sense. I said before the fight that there was obviously some dodgy stuff going on. Apart from PEDs, time since Yarde, fight, rehydration clause, and Las Vegas home ground advantage, Kovalev always had the chance to get in the ring and throw that big right hand. It didn't really happen. His jab was pitter patter, he was throwing quite a lot of jabs but they didn't seem to have the shoulder behind them. My only question would be why he'd let himself get KOed like that, instead preferring a decision loss. However, Golden Girl is probably sick of hearing about Canelos gift decisions so he told him to go for it if he had a chance. Seriously, the way that KO unfolded was strange and way too quick. He was stunned by an innocuous punch and then another punch, which didn't appear to be that damaging puts him into a position where he was completely helpless with his hands down turned sideways to Canelo. That didn't make sense. Against Yarde and Alvarez who are much bigger punchers he didn't react like that. Anyway, I didn't vote because I'm not 100% sure, but it was fishy.
Of course, there is that. Both fighters know the fight is scripted, but they are handed different scripts. Could happen. Or maybe, they both agreed to go the distance but Canelo saw his chance and went for it. There are several possible scenarios that would fit for this being a fixed fight.