Kovalev is the best light heavy by a mile!

What about Hopkins, Stevenson?

 

cosign thread titledeal:deal

 

I agee... even if I don't measure in miles.

 

Kovalev KO's any light heavyweight!

 

Abel Sanchez:

LOL!

 

His attack in top notch. There is not enough arms, gloves, and elbows to cover up from his assault. He'll find the open area and punish it.

Yes--he is the best at 175. No way Hopkins fights him.

 

Stevenson would make him his ***** and turn his ass out!

 

KOvalev vs Stevenson should be done. I just have doubts about Kovalev's stamina. I remember I thouhh about it in the Cleverly fight because his high workrate...

 

Let's see how he reacts when Superman puts his hands on him first. I can't say he's the best for now, but him and Stevenson are definitely the very best the division currently has.

 

1. Kovalev
2. Brähmer
3. Hopkins

 

^ this

 

Kovalev gets pimped against Stevenson. Too slow and crude

 

The thing about Kovalkev which was clear in the cleverly fight was how heavy handed he was. not heavy handed in the sense of one punch power, but in terms of the sheer weight that he seems to transmit through every shot. It's not often you see fighters being shook from one side to the other by shots landing on the arms, but that's what was happening to cleverly. The power difference was almost surreal. Make no mistake, nobody is going to stand in front of Kovalev and come out of a 12 round fight in one piece.

But... he's still an unknown commodity in terms of the overall package. I mean I wouldn't say his style makes me think it would be impossible to outpoint him over 12 rds, but at light heavy I doubt there's going to be anyone who moves that well to do that.

I really rate Kovalev. I think the subtle things he does, the little feints, the open mindedness of his attack - especially his use of the body whenever it presents itself, something well under used by most boxers - the way he uses good footwork to close as he throws in numbers, the straightness of his shots.. he looks a mean mean mother****er.

One observation I made recently after the cleverly fight: Kovalev didn't just expose Cleverly that night, he exposed Bellew as well. There's a lot of talk about this division at the minute for good reason; it's **** hot.

Stevenson's fight against Bellew is coming soon and even though we all know styles make fights, I think what Kovalev did to Cleverly showcased the levels within the division.

 

With regard to a Stevenson Kovalev matchup, a lot depends on two things - 1 how does Kovalev react when he's hit. And 2, does Stevenson's mentality change when he feels that power.

Cue the obvious quips here, but Stevenson is a different fighter when he's hit. Some fighters have a good poker face, others fight fire with fire, but I just get the feeling watching Stevenson that he's like a cat to water when it comes to taking it back. What happens when and if he feels Kovalev's hands on him will reveal a lot about him.

Kovalev on the other hand, outwardly looks a bit crude. But I think that belies a real good all round technical base. Without doubt the edge in speed is with Stevenson, the edge in sharpness is with Stevenson too. But Kovalev's got really good fundamentals andthose long straight shots aren't easy to stay away from, and he's a high level pressure fighter the like of which doesn't exist in the division, let alone has Adonis been in with.

It's a fantastic match up and hopefully one that'll be announced if both do the business in a few weeks time.