Groves retirement interviews revealed a pretty important piece of information that might have led Smith and camp to be overconfident now. Reading between the lines, Groves' shoulder actually wasn't 100% right and he couldn't get enough sting on his jab, one of his main weapons. Smith beat a compromised Groves, and the fight was still quite close. Maybe fighting Kovalev, who has a great jab and right hand like Groves, but without the shoulder injury, and a division Smith has never fought in, isn't the best idea. Also, Smith confirmed he has a big frame but the weight cut isn't that bad and suggested Groves was heavier. So he might end up on the small size at LW if he jumped straight in with Kovalev.
New found power? Callum was always considered a puncher. His current KO% is solid as well. And I might be mistaken, but the guys Callum didn't stop, haven't been stopped before either.
I think I need to edify some of you ,the human body follows the laws of physics just like any other material. Weight is not the same as mass (look it up). This is the reason two fighter's the same weight can have different mass and one hits harder than the other. Loss of mass as in the aging process results in loss of hitting power and energy (stamina).
Boxing is not called the sweet science for no reason. Some of you believe in old wives tales, the punch is the last thing to go , well gentlemen and women the laws of physics says your all wrong!
It's Skoglund's movment that gave Callum problems. Skoglund was moving in and out of range for the full 12 which Callum had difficulty adjusting to. Against Groves he didn't have that problem. Groves is a guy that sits back and is comfortable with people pressing him so he can get his counterwork off by timing them. But how does a shorter counter puncher deal with a guy that is 6'3 and has an extremely disciplined jab and decent workrate? He now has to close in, which was unnatural to Groves. It was a bad fight from Groves once they went ahead to make the final happen. Plus Groves shoulder wasn't fully healed. I remember discussing this with a guy on IG and explain it to them that it was a bad style match up and tried to convince not to put any money on Groves. He should have just given the money to me instead.
Kovalev (even now) doesn't struggle a jot with someone that had even the slightest difficulty with Skoglund or Hoelzken.
I don't know much about Smith but I say this fight goes to the cards. I think this will be harder than the Alvarez rematch.
it is but just like how Gatti got mcgirt changed his style and fought less than the best Kovalev can do it. at this point his career is a victory lap. Imagine that Bute rematches froch and won? that's basically what Kovalev did. if he fights Beterbiev, Gvosdyk, Bivol there is a decent shot he doesn't win. not saying he doesn't beat all 3 there are ways but he could also fight lesser people for a lot of money too. at this point duva knows of an expiration date. Kovalev also has the rubber match option vs alavrez which he'd likely do if he ever lost again.
I have a background in partical and theoretical physics and would love for you to explain to me how I’m wrong. You’ve described none of the physics around how Kovalev has supposedly lost his power.
Blasphemy. KRUSHER has big time power, Khan once hurt isnt really dangerous, just courageous. Khan hasnt come back after a rematch and schooled his KOer, khan is hurt in almost every fight from his brit level days he was getting hurt. KRUSHER has been hurt against ward, alvarez and boone.
It's how mcgirt trains fighters he tells them to vary up power on shots. the goal was to go 12 with alvarez and he did it. I'm not sure if Kovalev lost power it's no impossible to lose power over time. but alvarez was never in position to eat the power which Kovalev doesn't have the power in his left he has in his right.
Callum hurt his hand in the Holzen fight. I wouldn't count Callum at all, but at the same time he has been a little inconsistent in his last couple of performances. But one advantage that Kovalev has is a great ability to control the long to mid range especially well. He excels at controlling range. He gave Ward fits in the first fight for the first 6, I had him winning by one point personally
