What an atmosphere at the Bell Center :bbb Kovalev's constant pressure was the difference. Hats off to both guys. How was Hopkins with the HBO crew??
Pascal definitely earned some respect tonight. He went toe to toe with the Light-Heavyweight monster, and has his moments. He may have lost, but that ending left things open for a big money rematch!
Pascal showed incredible heart but I don't think a rematch is warranted. He was comprehensively outmanned and outboxed, there's no way the result would be any different if they fought again. I wouldn't mind seeing it again but it would just be another exhibition of Kovalev's utter brilliance.
There might be a rematch next year if in the meantime Pascal beats 3-4 B+ grade fighters while Kovalev clears the division and starts a second clear up spree like a psychotic housewife.
Ya I agree was a good fight. But was about 30 feet from the ring and actually thought pascal had weathered the best of Kovalev's barrage when it was stopped. Just a little ****ed about the stoppage.
It was a good fight. Kovalev showed he can take some hard shots and Pascal showed he's a true warrior. After that 6th round I almost thought Pascal could make a little comeback, but after that Kovalev just bullied Pascal.
Pascal fought his heart out. Surprised me a little with the success of his counters, he caught Kovalev with some hard shots, especially that one right hand that Kovalev walked into. Kovalev showed a far better chin than I thought he had. It will take more than one punch to end his reign as champion. He was very clinical, every accurate and efficient. Good fight for the fans. Hopefully this will bring more fans to Kovalev, he's an elite fighter that comes to fight. The stoppage may have been a bit premature. Pascal has shown heart and good powers of recovery before, including in this fight, so I can see why some might be aggrieved with the stoppage, though I think it would have only delayed the inevitable as Pascals best shots hadn't hurt Kovalev.
Great fight strange ending. Was totally wrong about how Pascal should have fought him, any time he lost discipline he was in trouble, he really should have fought defensively all fight he caught Kovalev with some great shots which I didnt think he could take, when he on the backfoot, he got too reckless. The corner should have really got him to setttle down and not to trade with Kovalev he's been fighting like that too long though I suppose. Kovalevs power is insane.
I agree about Kovalevs chin, but he was ANYTHING but accurate and efficient from rds 4-midpoint of 7. He was lunging in, without the jab, looking for the one big punch.:-( The first 4, and midway thru the 7th-end, he was indeed clinical. Using his jab to the body and hooking around with the R hand or driving it up the middle. But opening the 5th, he went a little wild, and midway thru 5 he began getting caught with HUGE power CR hands, which very well may have ended his reign if it were from someone like Beterbiev. He's gonna have to maintain composure when he's fighting guys with great chins and recvoery skills, and not go in wrecklessly for the kill or he'll eventually pay the piper. Thought for a few moments that he'd be finished if Pascal landed another combination behind one of those CR hands.:think
