Kovalev - has any pfp fighter declined so rapidly?

Jeff Fenech.

 

He's never looked as weak as he did against Canelo. It's clear he was definitely physically damaged from concussion in the Yarde fight and the weight clause from Canelo. Hard to explain otherwise.

Yeah, he struggled against Yarde but look at the shots he took compared to how the Canelo fight ended.

Also we can mention 'Buddy', who destroyed Kovalev's style by trying to make him a jab and mover point fighter at middle-age. Kovalev is a highly aggressive boxer-puncher who intimidated people with his power. Remove that and he's still skilled but no longer a force to be reckoned with when you consider his stamina isn't great and he's no slick defender.

Remember when Groves had his style changed by Paddy and started throwing volume. He wasn't the same fighter. Another guy with a very aggressive power style and not the best stamina or robustness. Then he returned to his sniper style trying to land heavy RH's and won his world title. If he'd tried to fight Chudinov with a point style he would have been ground down and stopped most likely.

 

Danny Williams after taking that beating from Vitali

Roy Jones Jr after coming back down from HW.

Those were the first two to come to mind.

Kovalev is definitely up there. He looked an absolute shell of his former self in the Clenelo and Yarde fights.

 

Man poor Vargas he could've been great, fought so young against the likes of Campas, Quartey, Wright and Tirinada, they Really threw him against the lions at such young age.

 

Roy Jones went from one of the best ever to basically Amir Khan in a couple of fights.

 

RJJ and Leon Spinks

 

Yeah one case where the short prime is absolutely not his fault.

 

Danny Williams was a P4P fighter?

 

lol i obviously missed the condition that it must be a p4p fighter.

Danny did challenge for the WBC HW belt though, so he was at a high level.

 

Chino was Tailor made for Morales , aside from that Chino was made to wear pillow gloves and Morales still couldn't get the job done.

 

I personally think the demise of Kovalev is overrated simply because he lost to Canelo who people refuse to give any credit for.

most people have Kovalev winning the first Ward fight and thought the low blows were the cause of the stoppage in the rematch so off top 2 of the losses people try to claim are very debatable vs another prime top 3/5 P4P fighter.
Yes he did get stopped by Alvarez but people leave out him coming back and comprehensively outboxing him in the rematch.
Even the Yarde fight yes it was close yet Kovalev STILL won by K.O. and would have won the decision even if he didn’t.
As far as the Canelo fight people refuse to acknowledge Canelo’s level of skill and their match up was competitive, throughout the whole bout til the K.O. is was a close fight and Kovalev showed no signs of being a shot fighter.

people act like Kovalev is an easy out yet ain’t too many fighters from 68-75 jumping at the chance to fight, his next fight should be a good indication if he comes out and wins will it be considered luck or will he get credit, is he the destructive fighter he was a few years ago no but certainly has shown he’s skilled enough to still be a top 5 LHW.

 

Juan Diaz, Chocolatito (maybe)

 

Donald Curry....

 

Naz