Seems there are three Greats at 175 1. Kovalev 2. Beterbiev 3. Ward IMO no.1 and 2 would take no.3 out in a few rounds. And no.3 knows it I always thought Kov vs AB would be 50/50, but CST made a great point that AB style is so physically demanding and he could blow his wad in the early rounds. Sergey is very springy and alert, and has the stamina to .... well just think Hopkins R12 Sergey also doesnt have that Hagler/Golovkin in him where he will go into a war. He has serious skill to back up his brutal power, and he wont be deterred to use it If you thing AB could win, how? How could he catch up with the super springy fast fainting monster puncher?
That's what CST was getting at I think AB would Steamroll the entire division if it wasnt for Kovalev If he's robotic against an (almost) equally devastating puncher who is far more mobile, hes in deep manure The Steamroller's the ultimate phone booth fighter, but Kovalev wont play that game
Beterbiev will lose nomater how many miles he gets under his boots. Too many amateur fights, too old for new tricks
Sergey is the one who seems more like a 1-2 kind of fighter to me. He used his height and strength well though. Beterbiev looks like he has better skills and more punch variety. This fight, in America, is going to be huge. Think about it, if AB can blast Ward, how does he have a lesser skillset than Kov? Stop being sychophants.
Beterbiev is not ready for Kovalev yet, Kovalev would beat Beterbiev now for sure and both would knock SOB Ward out!!! Hell, Ward is afraid of Stevenson.....................
Another thing I'll point out, people tend to forget Kovalev has claimed robbery in their amateur match and he may very well have a point, the final score was 25-24....that's pretty ****ing close if you ask me, and since AB was the bigger fighter in Russia, Sergey may very well have gotten the shaft with that decision, so it proves Kovalev could almost outpoint Beterbiev at the height of Artur's amateur heyday, and Beterbiev's power didn't effect him very much, since Beterbiev KO'd several opponents as an amateur that's saying something about Sergey's "suspect" chin. Regardless Kovalev as gotten far better since turning pro and become an even better all around fighter, whereas Artur still fights like he did as a amateur and hasn't added many wrinkles to his pro game.
Seems most of the people claiming Sergey has a glass jaw were haters. They all hate on GGG, otherwise Sergeys chin would be the focus of their hate. And its total garbage. Sergey has a damn solid chin. Pascal caught him a few times and didnt phase him. Most end up to scared to even try and KO him but those who do find his chin holds up. He's a complete fighter, a horrific opponent who would destroy both Ward and Stevenson You may have put it in my head the AB is a lot slower and cumbersome than he really is though. He's surely a whole lot better than a plodder, and there's a good chance he could get Sergey in a corner and tag him brutally, you not think? No one else is beating Kovalev. What chance do you give Artur? (oh and cellular level was a reference to mobile phones!)
No he's far from a plodder, he's a very effective aggressor, only his aggression will work against him with someone like Sergey. Like I said before his style is physically exhausting and if Kovalev can avoid him for the first 4 to 5 rounds and counter him with his jab as he comes in and get out before Beterbiev can land anything big, that will slowly take its toll and may even get him out of there early, but if he's still around at that point he'll most likely slow down and also possibly be psychologically affected which could inhibit him from throwing fearing what could come back at him. Here's the deal you don't walk down Kovalev. And you don't walk down Beterbiev....you will pay dearly for it, and Beterbiev in all probability will be the one who tries to walk the Krusher down, and it most likely won't turn out well for him. As of now I see it 70/30 maybe in a year 60/40 for Kovalev. I got the cellular comment, I was just doing something at the time involving cooking and planned to respond later, but I got distracted by the Fonfara-Cleverly card. And the answer is no thus far on the cellular level, we just PM each other a lot.
Glad you got my cellular thing Great onolysis, i see it pretty much the same way I dont know anything about Artur's trainer, but hopefully hes in with one of the best IDK who even are the best trainers these days. To me it was Emmanuel, Beristain and Billy Graham. Nacho's almost certainly finishing his legendary career with the legendary Juan Manuel, so i dont know who Beterbeiv should go to But he best get in with someone real clued up if he's got thoughts of fighting this guy Another question for you - who in 175 history do you favour to beat Sergey?
Beterbiev is very dangerous for everyone, including Kovalev. I believe he would win one out of three, if they actually fought a trilogy.