The more I see these fighters and the more I read about them I get the feeling this is Matthysse vs Garcia 2.0. You have Kovalev who's looking unstoppable... he's knocking them all out... then you have Stevenson who was an average boxer but after his shock win over Chad Dawson (similar to Garcia after fighting Khan) he's become a better fighter... When this fight happens everyone's going to give Stevenson no chance to win and will expect Kovalev to KO him... there's a few others out there who share my views on this... what do you guys think? Also, don't get me wrong... I'm a Kovalev supporter and would love to see him flatten Stevenson (it could very well happen)... but the similarities are astonishing
Kovalev is the more complete boxer, though Stevenson is obviously slicker. For me, Garcia and Matthysse are not as good punchers as these guys, nor do they move as well or are as skilled. If you compare Kovalev's balance to Matthysse or Garcia's, it's night and day. Kovalev is a very very good offensive fighter who has fewer limitations than Matthysse and who would be the better boxer going into a match vs Stevenson. Though in a match where one punch decides the outcome, that wouldn't matter. BTW, for me, Garcia is a very average champion. It's harsh, but let's just say, a guy with Ismayl's style would give Garcia all kinds of problems. A guy with Dawson's style would again, give Garcia all kinds of problems. While I have to credit him for taking on very tough opponents (Kahn and Matthysse), I still see him losing to certain styles easily.
Bellew and Sillakh tried to employee the same strategy vs big punching opponents: counter and box. Only Sillakh had more talent than Bellew but was disposed of by Kovalev frighteningly quick. In fact, I estimate had Sillakh fought Stevenson, Stevenson would have looked really bad and left the ring with more than a broken nose. Kovalev didn't walk Sillakh down and knock him out. He slipped inside a quick long range jab and silmutanously adjusted the distance and threw a crushing right cross that hammered Sillakh's temple. Fight basically over at that point. Kovalev is basically more capable of making strategic adjustments faster than Stevenson.
I respect what Stevenson has accomplished, and the wins he has had lately. But i'm not impressed by his style. I do think Kovalev will beat him. Would be a great fight no doubt.
Bellew's chin >> Sillakh's. Kov & Stevenson's power are both forces to be reckoned with. I think Kovalev would be the aggressor in that fight, a role that obviously suits him. OTOH I think Stevenson in the role of the counter-puncher is also a role that suits him very well, that's what he does best. Hard to call. Lucas was cruder, skill wise, than either of Kov or Stevenson.
Don't forget that Matthysse is a short guy who always had to work his way in. Kovalev is a good size light heavyweight who can close the distance very quickly with his footwork. GGG and Kovalev are two of the best guys at cutting off the ring. He's bigger than Stevenson and can force Stevenson to lead if he wants to.
Seems similar but Garcia has one of the best chins in boxing right now, dont think Stevenson takes Kovalev's punches saying that he did take a big overhand right from Cloud and didnt flinch Kovalev TKO 8
