Does BETERBIEV Have More Power Than KOVALEV?!

''Kovalev is an animal of a puncher''

-- Nathan Cleverly

2:36

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Nathan Cleverly

''“Kovalev is a massive puncher; each punch is like being hit by a sledgehammer,” Cleverly said. “He sparked Ismayl Sillah clean out in the second round – he was completely gone. He didn’t do that to me, he shook me up and I was in no position to continue really, I was drunk from the punches and I have got a great chin, so he does hit hard and he’s probably the most dangerous Light Heavyweight out there.”

Were you surprised by how hard he hit?

I suppose I wasn't surprised because with his record it was inevitable that he was a banger and every shot he threw was a thudding shot. It was like a hammer. He wasn't rapid fast, he had good timing, good distance and his punches were just so hard... His jab, his right hand. Just when he caught you on the shoulder he would have an impact and he was just clubbing me. He just clubs you with his heavy hands and he's the type to just club you into submission. That's his aim. To club you until he puts you down. I just kept it tight early but I knew, after taking a few of his punches, I knew I couldn't afford to be caught with a shot on the chin. I knew that. I remember thinking in the first round, if he catches me clean, I'm gone. I remember thinking that.

Yeah. I did think I would be able to take it but I knew, I knew – and especially from the first round – I knew if he caught me clean it was highly likely I would go. Even the shots on the gloves and the shoulder, the impact was really heavy. It was clear to me from the first couple of punches that when this guy landed I would be in trouble.

Darnell Boone

'KOD: Who is the hardest puncher that you have fought?

Darnell Boone: The hardest puncher was [Sergey] Kovalev. He knows exactly how to use his height and leverage with punches. He keeps you on the outside, away from getting on the inside on him. He fights tall.

Cornelius White

“His power is unreal,” White said of Kovalev. “I've never felt that power before. I've fought heavyweights, cruiserweights and I've never felt that before. And they weren't bricks. It was steel.”

Lionell Thompson

''I ain't ever been hit that hard. When he hit me it felt like somebody lifted the soul out of my body.''

Interview with Thompson. Thompson has sparred against a who's who of the LHW and SMW divisions: Dawson, Bute, Froch, Pascal Troy Ross, David Lemieux and numerous others too. He said every shot he throws is heavy, even the ones on the arms and gloves hurt. He said that no one hits like Kovalev.

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Earl Newman

0:56-1:39

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On Beterbiev's power and some quotes from his team.

Bob Ajisafe

'He's very strong, very tough. Hits very hard with a lot of power. I think he's definitely going to be one to watch in the division. I don't think there's many who could last with him.''

What is it about Beterbiev that makes him so good?

''It's his power. I mean sometimes you box with him or out box him but sooner or later he's going to catch you with one of those big shots and he's just got so much power for a light-heavyweight.''

Blake Caparello

Beterbiev has sparred recently with Bob Ajisafe and Blake Caparello, who believes Campillo (25-6-1, 12 KO) is in for a brief outing. "I really think it will be a short night for Campillo," Caparello said. "This guy has some incredible brute force. He could even chase and hunt down a strong Sergey Kovalev in the ring''

“I do believe experiences like this will help me grow not only as a fighter but also my reputation,” said Caparello in closing. “Artur Beterbiev has a good reputation as being a beast and not many sparring partners can go with him''

Oleksandr Usyk

Q: Oleksandr, you won most everything as an amateur, including the gold at the 2012 Olympics. Who would you say gave you your hardest fight as an amateur?

Oleksandr Usyk: “Well, all those fights, they all took place within the last couple of years or so, so it’s hard to say. Maybe, if I was pushed to say, it was Artur Beterbiev of Russia who gave me my roughest fight. He is very aggressive and he does hit very hard.”

Gabriel Campillo on both Kovalev and Beterbiev

Almost a year after Campillo’s scandalous loss to Tavoris Cloud in February of 2012, ‘Chico Guapo’ stepped into the ring with then rising danger man Sergey Kovalev, now recognised as one of the best fighters in the sport. In hindsight a third round loss to the Russian was no disgrace at all and Campillo believes that Kovalev would have a good chance at defeating Ward should that bout come to fruition.

“Kovalev can beat anyone put in front of him but he is not unbeatable. He can beat Ward, it’s a fight we all want to see but I don’t have a clear favourite as yet. Maybe the amount of time Ward has been out and not fighting boxers of this quality could cost him. If I were his manager I might look to avoid that fight! As a boxer he will look to fight him, so there’s a conflict there.''

“Kovalev is in his prime and we don’t know how long that will last but there is also Artur Beterbiev who is very strong, for sure he was the hardest puncher that I fought. I would favour Kovalev in that fight but anything can happen with a strong guy like Beterbiev.”

Someone posted this on another forum

''I've heard scary stuff about this guy from behind gym doors, including a high HIGH praise and a glowing endorsement from Ovill Mckenzie who has been in his camps, said he will win world title within 10 fights without question''

Jean Pascal

Pascal is convinced that despite Beterbiev's short experience as a pro, he will be ready for Tavoris Cloud.

Pascal: ''Honestly I wouldn't be surprised if he knocks Cloud out.''

Artur Beterbiev is renowned for his power, as Pascal confirms.

Pascal: ''Artur is a brute, I remember the first time we sparred, he hit me so hard my neck hurt for a week. He's a very big puncher, he's very strong physically but he's also very smart.''

Russ Anber

I posed this question to Russ Anber, a trainer who helps Marc Ramsay with Beterbiev, and has worked in the corners of Sergio Martinez, Roy Jones Jr., and Jean Pascal. He drew on his 36 years in the boxing biz, and was straightforward with his appraisal of the Russian, a two-time Olympian.

"Beterbiev is almost too good to be true," Anber told me of the fighter, who resides with his wife and kids in Montreal. "Technically, he's a complete student of the game, old school. He's university educated, understands biomechanics. His style is strength, imposition, but he's complete. He's as strong as a heavyweight, spars heavyweights here, like Oscar Rivas. He's the kind of guy, he comes into the gym, he doesn't turn the music on, he turns it off. He goes to the body, his infighting is good. And he's beaten Sergey Kovalev in the amateurs twice!"

"This is the most complete boxer I've seen up close," Anber continued. "It's an effin privilege to be with him. His mental approach is that of a spartan. And I mean, he's the sort of guy you'd want your daughter to bring home. It's almost too good to be true."

Yvon Michel:

How impressed are you with the rapid progress of Artur Beterbiev?

Look, he is really impressive in every aspect of what you dream of for a fighter. He has a personality; he is an intelligent person, he’s a family man. He has strength, power, speed, technique and dedication. The only thing that is missing is experience and we’re working on it. It’s a huge step (facing Cloud), we understand that, but we’ve seen him spar, I’ve had reports from his strength and conditioning coach, his trainer Marc Ramsey, who trains a lot of high performance fighter. Everything is telling me that we have an exceptional fighter on our hands

Beterbiev's strength and condition coach (Andre Kulesza):

One last word that Andre Kulesza. This guy was coach with the greatest athletes in the world. Including Lucian Bute, a beast of training.

"Phfff, it does not compare. That's what I've seen stronger in my life. It is measured scientifically. The recovery time, strength, relaxation. Artur Beterbiev is in a class by itself. "

Mark Ramsey

“No matter if the fight is short or long, Artur will fight like hell in every round, promised Marc Ramsay, Beterbiev’s trainer. I know that a lot of boxing fans in Canada are worried to see Beterbiev, who has only five pro bouts, face one of the biggest name on the international scene. But not me. I am working every day in the gym with Artur. I know how much this fighter is great and mature. Andre Kulesha, our physical education’s specialist, told me he never worked with a fighter stronger and resistant like Artur. Cloud has no idea how much Berterbiev is good, strong physically and resistant. Trust me, Artur has the stamina to attack from the first to the 12 rounds if it's necessary.”