The fight isn't Finalized yet I've seen many articles all talking about the same thing, Kovalevs Manager says he'll take the rematch it has not been submitted yet but let's say that's only a formality. I'll start by saying I watched the fight 3 times and I'm torn between 57-57 and 58-56 Kovalev. But, I can say I though Kovalev won the last 3 rounds of the fight. anyway.... Why Kovalev Wins: He realises he has nobody to blame but himself for the loss even though he knows he was up on all three cards he sees all the things he did wrong, he corrects his stamina issue by doing cardio even before his training camp. He does long sessions of Cardio while in training and then Long rounds of Sparring. He either hurts Alvarez and is able to finish him, or Discourages him and is able to go 12, not slowing down enough for Alvarez to land a big shot. Why Alvarez wins: Kovalev doesn't learn from his mistakes. Alvarez and his long time trainer make a few adjustments exploit Kovalevs flaws earlier. If the fight isn't going in Alvarez favour he is a second half fighter where Kovalev for sure isn't and I have a hard time believing if Kovalev goes past 6 he'll carry the same kind of stamina or power. Alvarez either has a way better fight than the first time around or it's all the same as before down on the cards but having a lot left in the gas tank taking over and exploiting Kovalev's flaws. My pick: I think Kovalev sees that he was up on all 3 cards. I disagree with 5-1 as I felt Alvarez cleary won round 1 and 2. He (Kovalev) feels he just has to fight the same fight but will knock Alvarez out. Alvarez makes the adjustments hits a few more power shots earlier but saves his big 1,2's for the 5 round and makes Kovalev wilt and breaks him down.
I was going to chastise you for the lack of specificity in your title until readng your OP and discovering that it was cleverly left with the ambiguous pronoun on purpose. Well played, sir.
I was going to chastise you for the lack of specificity in your title until readng your OP and discovering that it was cleverly left with the ambiguous pronoun on purpose. Well played, sir.
I was going to chastise you for the lack of specificity in your title until readng your OP and discovering that it was cleverly left with the ambiguous pronoun on purpose. Well played, sir.
I was going to chastise you for the lack of specificity in your title until readng your OP and discovering that it was cleverly left with the ambiguous pronoun on purpose. Well played, sir.
I'll also let it be known I want Alvarez to win, but I fully know Kovalev can change it's not too late but think he's too stubborn. but even if he IS too stubborn he can go for broke more in say a 4th round setting and get his man out. I think he's the most Stubborn boxer ever and comes in with no plan.
that he did, Alvarez never stopped trying to win but he was fighting smart and Jabbed Kovalev for reactions found a spot where Kovalev didn't react and landed a punch and was likely surprised that Kovalev didn't take it very well.
I thought he was too easy to hit especially by the jab and counters. he also was too one shot at a time and didn't commit as much in his punches I honestly think hes done. I'd love to be proven wrong though
I think it's more beginning of the end but then he (apparently) is taken the rematch this is 100% do or die. if he doesn't win the rematch I think that's it for him, and if he does people will not be afraid to fight him at all anymore. even if he wins I don't think he'll be seen as the best fighter at 175.
who do you rank as number 1 at 175? Thats a good thread topic in itself. Kovalev losing really muddied the water Stevenson has been "lineal" for a long time but most dont see his opposition as worthy to make him number 1 plus his recent draw Jack had a great showing vs Stevenson but ultimately could not seal the deal Bivol is very good but I dont know if he did enough to be considered the top man yet Is it Alvarez on the back of the Kovalev win and being a top contender for so long?
It's not good Kovalev actually seems vulnerable now, gives opponents more confidence too. Soon it's going to be like being a Groves fan, that constant tension of knowing the guy can ko everyone, but could get sloppy and hurt at any point past mid way.
Rematches usually favour the technician but Robbie pedan who was losing to campbell scored a knockout and they rematched and he destroyed Campbell. there's probably a decent amount of times the less technical fighter wins a rematch. depends on who makes the better adjustments. Kovalev claims it was his stamina if he can correct that. Others will claim it was a lucky shot. I don't fully buy into the lucky since he set up the same fight all night and throughout his whole career. Kovalev did win rounds 4,5,6 on virtually everyones card so he did take control-ish but he wasn't really winning it like the Crusher he was outlanded in round 5 but landed the "harder shots" even though that round nothing hard was landed. would being out landed but getting the rounds help him win a decision, could he make it 12?
Nice work. It seems that when a fighter wins by KO he tends to win the rematch by an even quicker KO. He knows what hurts his opponent and how to land it. Kovalev was up 4-2 on my card, which mirrored yours. But Alvarez was probing with his shots early in the fight, trying to find what would work whereas Kovalev was doing the same thing he always does. I can see Kovalev selling out a bit more trying for an early KO. A dangerous strategy, but probably his best shot.
You also have to take in to account that Kovalev was rocked about five times during the fight, that is five concussions in a short period of time. His reflex might now be off of few miliseconds, just enough to get cliped a little bit more.
