Could Kovalev go .500 against these 12 LHWs of Classic Past?

No

 

I'll say yes, he could beat 6 out of that list of 12 if he had a fight against each.

The only fight that he ever lost was against Ward 2 (he beat Ward the first time is my position and I'll stand by that) and even in that fight he looked good and in control right up to the round that he lost.

Kovalev isn't short on boxing skills, it seems that he's short on dedication in the gym.

He's a busy, attractive styled fighter that can smash with either hand and has a good sense of timing and distance. He'd give a lot of people problems.

 

You would think that. Your track record displays that you have a very limited knowledge of boxing.

Foster would execute Kovalev.

 

Very important point. John David Jackson recently blamed Kovalev's growing arrogance and lack of dedication in training for the second Ward loss. It's certainly possible that a more focused Kovalev would have fared better in the second fight against Ward -- a great fighter himself -- even with the low blows.

(Could be sour graps from JDJ but Abel Sanchez also complained about Kovalev's attitude in training)

 

Well, Foster had a terrible record against heavyweights and Kovalev is likely bigger and stronger that any light heavies of that period, keeping weigh in rules in mind.

Kovalev has shown that he can box in addition to his power. He potentially could beat Foster with either quality. Foster was more of a head hunter and Kovalev hasn't shown much of a chin problem. Kovalev of a year or two ago would probably beat him. Current version maybe not.

 

Kovalev can't take it to the body. When hurt he folds. That's nothing a fighter can turn on and off.

Foster could not beat a heavyweight. He had no issues in his prime beating LIGHT heavyweights. Kovalev is a light heavyweight. Foster destroys him with the first body punch he would land.

The whole "Kovalev is an ATG" saga here on these boards should be a wake up call to boxing "fans". A fighter is not an ATG until he proves it by exhibiting ATG characteristics. The characteristic of a knowledgeable boxing historian is to be patient in assessing a fighters skills. Experience dictates that great skills and ability are only proven over many years.

 

He couldn't beat SOG a 168 pounder

 

An additional point is that up until now Kovalev has actually been very consistent. He's pretty much demolished everybody without too many problems, until Ward. If you go to Boxrec and check the records of these greats, they have tremendous records but every 15 fights or so they drop a fight to guys that aren't a patch on Kovalev. It's far from unreasonable to assume that a fighter like Sergei is better than Billy Adams (10-4-3) or Jim Hall (3-0-3) or ... well, you get the idea. Even the greats had some stinkers, and losing to Ward (controversially) does not make a fighter inept in my eyes.

 

Ward weighed 168lb for their fight? Really? Got a link?

 

Well, if he did 3 situps for the Ward fight then I'd say that he could considerably improve his abdominal punch resistance. I have a feeling that he's lax in that area; he's never really had great definition there which is a clue that he maybe has not trained enough.

Edit: I agree with the rest of your post. People are too quick to hype a fighter up after a commanding performance or relegate him to the garbage can after a bad night out. I refuse to dump Kovalev as junk just because he lost one fight against Ward, who is a tremendous fighter himself.

 

Ward moved up remember

 

So he weighed more than 168lb against Kovalev?

 

Well, he showed he could not take shots on and below the belt line. But he won the first fight with Ward.

I'd guess Kovalev would be about 4 wins 8 losses here, but these are the best light heavies. IMO Kovalev has show enough to rate in the top 20-25 at light heavyweight.

 

Inept? no. Unable to "take it" in a tough fight? YES. An inability to take it in tough fights makes said fighter quite ordinary.

 

I don't think people are now disregarding Kovalev because he lost to Ward, it was the way he lost which was the problem.
Ward probably hits harder than people think, but let's face it he's not exactly Archie Moore or Bob Foster.
Also Kovalev didn't seem to have the appetite for the fight, he folded very easily and seemed happy to do so.
Being an ATG just isn't about the skill set, it's about having that indomitable spirit never to be beaten.
I don't see that in Kovalev.