Corbett v Kovalev 20rds Modern Gloves

I think Young Corbett a bit small for Kovalev, same goes for Young Corbett III.


You see I just read the Title of the thread.

 

I would 100% bet on Corbett beating Kovalev. Especially if he doesn't get one year to adjust to 20 rounds. Jim would be too slippery and slick for him.

Isn't it weird imagining a modern fight with the HBO graphic on the bottom right corner saying: Round 18 of 20

 

I'll pick Corbett by decision especially since he'll have a year to adjust. Corbett was smart and it would be interesting what he could come up with today. Strategy wise.

 

This is definitely a good fight.

Kovalev has some good wins at light heavyweight, and is definitely not too far off the class of some of the guys who beat or troubled Corbett.

Another interesting point is why would Corbett want the extra 8 rounds. His problem was that he could lose concentration and run in to the KO punch not that he would get outboxed. I think the longer fight might actually suit Kovalev who is not poorly conditioned like some of todays modern heavyweights.

Why are so many people so convinced that Kovalev cant go the 20 rounds?

 

Modern fighter can go 20 rounds. They're human just like the guys who did it 100 years ago.

But maybe they would need to pace themselves a bit more? I don't have the experience to say.

 

I am going to say Corbett based on what I know.

Might be interesting to see Kovalev at cruiser though.

 

Interesting matchup, since you give them a year to adjust.

Even if Corbett doesn't hire the best S&C coaches that money could buy (he would), he's absolutely going to abandon the terrible training and nutrition from the 1890s as soon as he reads his first health magazine. For starters, he's not going to needlessly cut his water intake, which will have repercussions for durability, stamina, etc. That's an easy fix, too. Drink more water, and bam. Instantly improved ability.

Add to this that Corbett will have modern sparring partners. With an entire year to prepare, Corbett will alter his style into something that fits modern rules better. But he'll still have the 1890s skillset as a base, which will make him extremely awkward to fight, because Kovalev has no experience with people who fight that way. This will be magnified by Corbett's reflexes and speed.

The potential game-breaker on the other side, though, is that Corbett came from an era with only about ~10% of the number of active fighters competing today. Even with all the other stuff on his side, Corbett may just not be in Kovalev's league in terms of raw talent.

Hard to say, though.

Might turn into the world's ugliest fight, with a roided-up Corbett using his reflexes and his era's inside fighting knowledge to try to jab-and-grab Kovalev. Especially if there is a raw talent gap. It would certainly be in character for Corbett to do so.

 

Somehow I don’t think that Corbett would try to emulate the modern fighting style.

He was a maverick in his own era, and he would likely carry that mind-set over to the modern ring.

 

Depends what you mean by emulate. I think he'd pick up anything that would complement his existing style. Which is a lot, since the game has changed massively.

 

That's the thing with these threads, the oldies aren't credited with the ability to adapt, but moderns are.

For instance, if someone said Tua or Lewis couldn't do 26 rounds like Willard did in the Havana heat, people would jump all over them saying that Lewis and Tua could tailor their work rate to the amount of rounds.

Yet the old timers aren't credited with the ability to adapt to changes in technique. That's a real double standard.

 

I think that it is more interesting how the game has not changed to be honest.

A boxing manual from Corbett’s era, or a couple of years after, is indistinguishable from one today!

You have to question what a modern boxer could throw at Corbett, that he would not have seen before.