Prime RJJ vs Tonight's Kovalev

Exactly!

:good

 

Neither do I.

A fully motivated Roy from his late 20's, fighting to his full capabilities, is a completely different fighter to the one who lost to Tarver and Johnson.

The Griffin II version of him, where he was pissed and hell-bent on retribution, would have taken some serious stopping.


:good

 

I would be surprised if Kovlalev took that left hook/uppercut Griffin got hit with... Man, that is one of the best punches I have ever seen, and it was so fast, from a totally unpredictable angle, at a distance against a very good defensive fighter.

Very few have had punches like that in their arsenal.

 

By prime RJJ I assume you mean the cheat referred to as Roid Jones Jr, if thats the case, I'd have to pick Roid.

 

I've never seen anyone else get knocked out with a lead uppercut.

Incredible!


:good

 

Its what you have said before about being able to land that shot. I doubt Jones would be able to land that shot on Kovalev who has shown he can compete well at LHW. Griffin was a small LHW who hadnt done much of note and was beaten by other LHWs

 

I just don't see Kovalev taking position away from Roy. Bernard's positioning is fundamentally rock-solid within the movement envelope where he widens and narrows his base methodically. It was slow enough that Sergey could follow him effectively without reaching too much and floating himself over the front foot. Sergey cut down Bernard's punch output by staying lined up so any exchanges might let him land something big. True to his character, Bernard declined the risk and thus avoided most exchanges throughout the match.

RJJ skipped or sprung in his transitions, and did clever things to hide the movement, like when he feinted with the upper body twisted out of alignment to the lower frame, his rear leg orientation hidden behind him. He popped into position for a hellacious hook or right hand, and was back outside before any exchange developed. He just seemed to somehow KNOW where he needed to be in a split second.

I just think that Sergey would either stay disciplined and eat the potshots, or overreach and walk himself into heavy counters.

 

It's not really that relevant what Kov and Griffin have done at the weight.

What's relevant, is the speed and accuracy of the shot, and if Kov has the reflexes and defence to have avoided it.

I think he would have been susceptible to Roy's left hooks.

 

Outstanding post!

Great analysis.


:good

 

That is simply amazing then

 

Griffin was a short LHW, I wouldn't really call him small though, he was built like a brick sh*t house.. He also had very good reflexes. He was holding his own against DM until he was caught, and lets not forget this was after Roy destroyed him.

But I do get your point that Kov is taller, and Roy would not likely have had the same leverage.. But I think Roy's quick lead left hooks would be a problem for Kovalev. Roy is a lot faster, and has great power himself, this is something that can't be overlooked.

 

Bailey,

Montell was a good defensive fighter.

Roy might not have tried throwing a lead uppercut, but I don't think he'd have trouble finding him with other shots.

 

:conf Fair enough. Do you not think Roy tried the uppercut with Griffin because he was defensive and not worried about what may come back, like he would have to be with Kovalev

 

Nobody ever saw Roy fight in the same manner in which he fought Griffin in the rematch.

He'd never fought like that before, and he hasn't done since.

According to Derick 'Smoke' Gainer who was Roy's best friend and stablemate, Roy was extremely moody after the first fight, and thought of nothing else apart from revenge.

When the fight started, he threw caution to the wind and just tried knock Griffin out. IMHO, he didn't care about what could have come back.

If he'd have fought Kov in the same mindset, who knows?

But I suspect he'd have been more cautious and would have respected his power.

Although he'd still have thrown lead shots like he always did.