Kov's face looked

You can argue with unfailing convictions all you’d like. The fact is, Kov had mentally quit against Ward in the rematch.

I’m not saying Kov lacks heart at all. What I am saying is the way the rematch ended damaged Kov more than any of the clean punches or illegal ones in his entire career.

Kov had never been in that kind of position before and he allowed the pressure in that fight to overwhelm him to the point where afterwards, he wasn’t sure if he would continue his career.

Again....I’m not questioning Kovalev’s heart, just how losing to Ward in that way impacted him mentally?

 

I can't agree that it's a verifiable fact, but my post wasn't a call to polemical discussion. Moreso a discussion of reason. I presented my reasoning, which had at least a couple of facets, in opposition to the view that Kovalev had already quit. It's possible for a fighter to recover his stoicism after a brief moment of weakness or self-pity, even if only to be beat down all the same in the end (though there are examples of such recoveries leading to heroic conclusions).

If you're just convinced that he quit, that's okay.

When you speak of future opponents testing his fighting heart, it does imply that you think there at least might be a significant weakness in it. If you were thinking more about his mental shape after the defeat, fair enough, but I was taking your post at face value rather than trying to read between the lines.

Many fighters have those thoughts after a defeat, though. Ray Leonard considered it after Duran, and he was a young man who'd only lost on points.

The pressure overwhelmed him primarily because it was hurting and exhausting him. It happens. Any fighter who ever lost his 0 could be subject to such speculations.

 

Yes, that fight second Ward fight shows what's pretty much the only vulnerability Kovalev appears to have.

He's susceptible to hard, feet-planted uppercuts to the balls.

 

Still ate a dozen clean ass jabs easy.

 

I hear ya. Fair enough...Your efforts to inject reason was recognized... but my goal wasn't to lambaste Kovalev, just point out how losing in that manner impacted him mentally more than what was inflicted upon him physically.

Pointing out that another opponent could test Kov's heart was more of an effort to highlight whatever remnants remained of the mental breakdown that took place in the loss to Ward. A more difficult opponent that could replicate the feeling of pressure Kovalev felt might trigger a relapse where he unraveles? I believe Kovalev has heart, but I also believe he could be compromised mentally.

Losing his "0" to Ward in the first fight I don't believe had the kind of impact losing to him the 2nd time did because of how everything seemed out of his control.

 

It wasn't hot anger, it was a dismissive sneer. Like he was insulted that a lesser guy dare hit him with a solid shot. The look said he's coming to one-up him and lay him out.

About future matchups, yes the inside is Kovalev's weakness, but Beterbiev does not have great ability to GET inside, at least against elite outside boxers. With Kovalev's additional firepower, no way can he walk him down. As slow-footed as he is it'll look more like a waddle, as he shells up and Kovalev soundly outboxes him. He's the least threatening of the top five challenges for him.

Gvozdyk, Stevenson, Barrera are all more compelling, but it would really take a perfect, intelligent gameplan from them without letup to pull off a win. I loved Barrera tonight but I see him as the least able to avoid the power. Stevenson is too left hand dependent, ultimately pretty one-dimensional, and certainly won't be able to find Kovalev's weak spots inside. I could see him getting mown down as he's backing up looking to land his left. Bivol is the wild card. I want to think he has the variety to trouble Kovalev, he's shown great ability to get inside against lesser foes, but we can't be sure yet he's got what it takes.

As a pure outside boxing match Kovalev's power should be the decider over Gvozdyk. But Gvozdyk looking to land out of traps as Kovalev comes in gives him an advantage no one else does. He wouldn't be trying to get inside, but looking to exploit Kovalev when Kovalev comes in. It wouldn't exactly be the inside fight Ward made it when he was at his most successful, but Gvozdyk has the ability to take advantage at a distance where others can't. I still favour Kovalev, because I'm not as confident as CST in his inside power, Gonzalez and Muhammedi being pretty basic and not bringing much power to worry him, and I simply doubt he can box like he has to and avoid the power for 12 rounds.

So bring on anyone else for Kov, but let's give Beterbiev to Gvozdyk!

 

Kov often looks off balance I've noticed that in plenty of his fights.

He also does finnish square with his chin in the air lots too. Unusually once he's taken the initiative to put it on someone it's enough.a d he gets away with it.

He did get wobbles in that fight a few times though.

Don't think he was angry his work looked pretty good. When he had his man in trouble he took his time and went to the body

Think he will go on to krush just Ward had his number. Mentally solid and very awkward and strong. That's hard for anyone to deal with .

 

Nah, disagree. He'd outboxed Ward in the rematch quite convincingly up the the last round, through sheer dint of output. But his conditioning wasn't up to the task of carrying the pace through all 12 rounds, it seems. The nutshots finished him, but he'd lost the battle in training camp long before that by not having his cardio up to scratch. There's little to do when your entire body feels drained of energy and everything seems slomo. Mentally he was fine, imho.

 

I was concerned with how he reacted in looking too much to the ref for help. Obviously the third man in the ring wasn't seeing the low blows or completely ignored them....at some point Kov should have stopped seeking for the ref to step in and took matters into his own hands. He never did that...instead he looked as though he was defeated even before Ward landed that shot that rocked Kov after some of the low blows and before the ref stepped in to call the fight. To me that was an indication he was mentally, a beaten man. He didn't look as though he had any lingering effects tonight, but he also wasn't really tested either.

 

Kovalev was rocked to his boots by a jab in this fight. He's a broken man these days.

 

That's a fair post.

 

I think Ward is suckingly boring and is a dirty fighter ... but even I have to admit that he's got no surrender in him. He's one of those guys that will go home with the win or on a stretcher, but if he loses it isn't from giving up.

 

Kovalev will always look like 'Krusher' against this type of over matched opponent.

Lets see him step up and see what happens.

Fanboys, put the Vaseline away for now.

 

Well it wasn't just Ward in his eye's...I guess if you relaise that the ref is against you as well as the judges ,I can imagine it would feel a bit daunting...