This content is protected Kovalev is a direct guy, so direct he doesn't seem to know how to lie, so his interviews are always interesting. He flatly said here that he wasn't listening to JDJ between rounds in the first fight, that he wasn't telling him good tactics. He chose to listen to some friend with no training credentials. And he said JDJ only holds the mitts for him in training camp. Just, wow. He said he 'does everything himself'. He doesn't have a teacher, someone who encourages him to look for ways to deal with his weaknesses and difficult situations in the ring. In camp JDJ works on technique with Kovalev but doesn't build a gameplan with him. I don't think this is a problem he has with JDJ in particular, it's just how Sergey temperamentally likes to do things. How significant do you guys think this is? I sure don't think it can be good. This is the big reason why in a close fight, when Ward begins to have success I don't have confidence in Kovalev turning it back around. I only see Kovalev winning as a front runner, when even if he loses a couple rounds he's boxing his fight and in control.
Don Turner said as much. He said Kovalev is undisciplined and doesn't listen to anybody. But, he said, if he did listen to his coaches he'd be the best fighter in the world. Look, it got him this far.
I don't think it has anything to do with JDJ as a coach, he did the same thing with Abel Sanchez. It's probably just an integral part of his character that will never change no matter which trainer is in his corner. Who is to say he's wrong either? It's worked out well so far in his career.
Floyd Mayweather said that Virgin Hunter is not a good trainer. He said Khan would beat El Pollo, but he was wrong.................Kovalev beat SOB in the first fight, but SOB had his personal judges and referee...................Kovalev should know that you can't trust the judges, esp. not in Vegas................also Robert Tyrd was a criminal referee..................look how much Hunter helped Fonfara....................Fonfara did must better in the first fight with Adonis Chickenson......... Why is SOB playing mind games? If he is so confident? Why all the trash talk?
Kovalev hired a conditioning coach, and you bet you @ss he is listing to him and admitted this the HBO interview. DJD just seems like he's along for the ride, and Kovalev's friend often does most of the talking. Maybe Kovalev's friend can listen to DJD in the seats and just parrot his words in the corner.
