Prime Kovalev vs Bivol

Need to see more from Bivol. Krusher by ko.

 

Kovalev was basically getting on by the time of the Chilemba fight, probably just past his best, also against Ward. I mean, what was he 34 or something, not prime.

The one who fought Cleverly was more of a prime Kovalev and that one I would pick against Bivol.
Now Bivol might have boxing skills as good as Kovalev, but he doesn't have the power as we all know.

So Kov will eventually land and likely change the fight.
He also dropped Chilemba and Ward, so even though he didn't get the KOs, he still caught them.

Now with Cleverly, he tried to box him and claimed the power was overwhelming. Then eventually got caught and finished.

I expect that's what would happen to Bivol. Bivol even got caught by Smith, which tells me Kovalev is definitely landing big on him eventually.

Also Bivol had the reach against Canelo but he wouldn't have that against Kovalev.

Lastly, Kovalev wasn't a safety-first jab machine until McGirt, he was more fearless earlier and would take more shots and I don't think Bivol would deter him that much.

 

Bivol.

Kovalev was always overrated.

Best win a prime Cleverly who lost against Fonfara. Dropped against Caparello. Looked terrible against Chilemba. Neither Pascal nor Agnew were even close to elite. Couldn't knock out Hopkins who was punched out of the ring against Smith Jr.

He still beat Ward but this speaks rather against Ward than for Kovalev.

Bivol beat Canelo in his 20th fight and made it look easy. At the same stage in his career, Kovalev fought against the likes of Lionell Thompson.

 

Bivol doesn't have enough power or strength to compete with a prime Kovalev. He'd get physically overwhelmed.

 

Lol, beating Ward and the word overrated doesn't make sense. Oxymoron there bud.

 

I never liked Ward. More as a person than a boxer, so my view is probably biased. He still fought dirty and boring. But have to admit at this point Ward's prime was at least 4 years over and he stepped up in weight.

So Kovalev beat him in the first fight, second fight Ward used dirty tactics and low blows. Not sure who would have won in Ward's prime, if he was really so good like everyone says, he should have beaten Koalev easily around 2012. Athletes do get better though and SMW was always a weak division back then. I don't think Kessler, Froch or Abraham would be top fighters nowadays or even late during the last decade.

Fact is, Ward looked terrible in both Kovalev fights. Corruption and illegal tactics helped him win.

 

Of course. It's self-preservation. It's one thing to take a decision loss, it's another entirely to get a physical beating. People want to protect themslves from bodily hard, it's an instinct.

 

Why do you think Canelo wouldn't fight prime Kovalev? Canelo hasn't ducked anyone, went up many weight classes. He's a true warrior.

He even wants to fight Usyk.

 

Because if you duck a prime GGG then you will definitely duck a prime Kovalev.

 

Kovalev from the first Ward fight was as good as he ever was in his whole career. He beats Bivol that night.