Kovalev in the 1940s light heavyweight scene

I feel he`d have much more success against Bivins and Maxim than Moore and Charles, Archie stood a good chance of stopping Kovalev and Charles was simpy brilliant, would have been great clashes though.

 

Kovalev would be lucky to rank in the 40's at 175. Kovalev has the punching power and athletic ability, but he's too one dimensional and lacks both the ring IQ or the defensive skill for me to see him having any major impact back in the 40's.

In both Ward fights and the Pascal fight he showed he can't adjust mid-fight and rarely protects his body.

Kovalev's own trainer admitting that Kovalev isn't the sharpest tool in the shed.

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I agree with this statement. Kovalov could KO guys but couldn't adjust within the fight. If Andre Ward could confuse him, I can't imagine what Archie Moore would do to him. Well, I CAN imagine, actually.

 

I don't imagine Kovalev doing great at 15 rounds.

Could he make 175 on the day? Otherwise, he could end up against heavyweights, he wouldn't do well.

 

I was thinking the same thing. He'd struggle making 175 and probably be very drained if he did or unable to stay long at the weight before having to move up and tackle the big boys. I don't think he'd be outsized there especially and would bring a fair bit to the table in terms of power, athletic ability, footwork/distance control etc. Not to be trifled with because of his power and straight punching/outfighting ability, unless we end up, quite feasibly, with a Fosteresque situation wherein his debilitating effect on smaller guys doesn't carry over 200lbs or so. Then he's in the **** much in the same way Foster was, only Bob was a more skilled and varied fighter. Too frail and lacking defensively once his comfort zone is breached.

If he could make 175 for a time then obviously he would be very dangerous even with weaknesses and would probably notch up some serious wins, but I could equally see him suffering heavy defeats if he was forced into a round robin with other excellent contenders on a frequent basis, the type that might break him mentally. He'd have to be managed well I think, a tougher ask back then than today, though not impossible I suppose.

 

He wouldn't fight at 175, he'd fight at 185 or whatever he rehydrates to and take on the heavies. I think he'd have some success really, but come a cropper at some stage to one of the bigger punching heavies, like a lot of the guys around that weight.

 

Loses to :
Moore
Charles
Marshall
Conn
Bivins
Has a good shot against the rest.
Maxim didn't really become a factor until 1949.

 

For years I believe Kovalev’s same day weigh ins were in the low-to-mid 180’s, so it’s conceivable he could make 175 for big fights and fight as a small heavyweight (as the mentioned 40s LHWs did more often than not)

But I don’t believe he could be a legit world champ nor do I think he would have a huge chance of winning a title outright. Very good, great jab, hits hard, not stupid, but clearly lacks mental fortitude. I say ‘not stupid’ but he failed to make basic adjustments in the second Ward fight and was dominated as a result, looking terrible in the process.

So yeah, we’d still be talking about him. I mean, there’s a certain contingent on here that still talks about Oakland Billy Smith, so I’m sure Kovalev would still be discussed today.

But as he was in his own era, he’d be nowhere near great.

 

Kovelev would be an even bigger puncher in the 1940's with those lighter gloves. He'd probably do well, except vs those who go to the body with authority.

I don't see him beating Charles, but I'd pick him over Bivins and Maxim.

Moore didn't have the best chin, though I'd favor him over Kovalev.

 

Assuming the matches would be made like they did at the time where the top guys usually fight each other multiple times, he'd win some, lose some. He's not Ezzard (who is?), it'd take an upset for him to beat Moore, but he'd be in the mix in what was a brutally strong era. The 15 round distance would be a drawback, but the flipside is putting heavy hands like his in smaller gloves would be a big boon for him.