Just how good is Kovalev?

We won't know for sure until he faces some world class guys. Beating Cleverly doesn't really prove much IMO. Kovalev vs Michalczewski is a dream fight.

 

The only problem we have with assessing Kovalev is that the question marks potentially hanging over him, Stamina and punch resistance never get asked of him. I've yet to see him significantly wobbled or even on tthe back foot for more than a coupla seconds.

Potentially, he's very, very good, the power combined withe fluidity and accuracy of his combos just make him incredibly dangerous. Frequently when we talk about punchers we mean the guys with the big single punch KO power, but Kovalevs barrages are way more effective at ensuring sustained damage is constantly delivered.

Ultimately tho, unless he continues to knock out every guy in the division with the same ease, we will only know how good he is when he fights someone who can either take or neutralise his power, or who has the power of their own to force him onto the back foot.

Tell you what tho' for me, right now, along with GGG and Mathhysse he is the most exciting fighter in the sport. When any of these 3 guys fight, you know you're in for fireworks.

 

He's very goo and I expect him to come to dominate the LHW division for few years, if his promoter manages to get unification fights. P4P - pretty decent chance. Will he become an ATG - far from certain and too early to tell.

 

we will never know, because guys like Ward and Hopkins will never fight him

i have a strong feeling that Kovalev will soon be called a hypejob in a weak era, because at the moment, I really don't see anyone standing up to him in the ring

I would like to see him fight guys like Pascal, Cloud, Fonfara, or Bellew

 

Hopkins already said he'd fight Kovalev. Stop trying to make him into something he's not ffs

I think he'd beat Hopkins though

 

you know how it is with haters, I think Kovalev is legit, and there's really nobody at the moment who can stand up to him, but some might start some BS about how he only knocks out cans and has never faced a top fighter, similar to what people say about GGG

 

Kovalev was never down in 215 amateur fights. He is known from his amateur days as having an iron chin. The guy is very dangerous but could be exposed against a slickster with good foot work.

 

Kovalev vs Chilemba anyone? :think

 

i just recently started watching his fights... and he looks scary good to me. we shall see how he handles better opposition but there are more reasons to think he will be a monster than there are to think he will be exposed.

 

He's good. Top punching power, top punching accuracy and compact punching. Great ring cutting ability, good jab. Defense could tighten up, but if his chin is great then it's less of an issue than otherwise.

Clearly he's a stand out at 175 and makes 175 more interesting.

Is he great? Way too early to tell, but he's exciting! So instead of going overboard like usual, let's just enjoy watching the events unfold.

 

I think Kovalev should fight Stevenson. It'd be a VERY fan-friendly fight that would make a good deal of money.

 

I was sold on him after he knock Campillo out

 

I've seen just about every Kovalev fight outside of the first Boone one, where Kovalev apparently gets knocked down in the 4th, and ends up winning a SD

Anyone have that fight on video? Would love to see how he reacted to getting dropped

 

i was actually very impressed with his performance, though its the only one iv seen im hoping he gets a shot at hopkins