Sergey Alexandrovich Kovalev vs. Bektemir Rozmatjon Ogli Meliqoziyev

He was KTFO by Clenelo though. You can't convince me that he has above average power at the weight even if it carries surprisingly well. Kovalev has been hurt by all 3 of his his last 3 opponents and stopped twice in that stretch. His durability is gone. I won't rule him out completely on account of this being a massive step up for Meliqoziyev and Kovalev obviously having shown exceptional form in the past. But this is a dangerous fight for him at this stage.

 

I don't usually buy into guys with power
because it takes more than power to succeed. However there is a reason he's getting thrown in with Kovalev. His team probably knows bek can take whatever Kovalev throws (not much power these days) and Kovalev can not take beks shots. This guy might not be RJJ but one thing he is, is a heavy handed puncher.

 

That is true, Canelo knew this.. he was picking on the low hanging fruit. I don’t rate this win highly, Kovalev was a mere name at that point.
But I’m happy for Kovalev, at least he got the pay day, not a bad career to retire on.
As for this match up, as a Kovalev fan, I want him to win. I hope he can turn it on one last time. But mainly I was speaking on league prediction point of view.

 

Kovalev is a huge underdog for this fight.

 

Well a lot of people couldn't read between the lines when the fight was signed that Kovalev was done and Canelo would stop him.

 

Kovalev on points Beketemir is good but Kovalev is too much at this point even though he appears to have slowed down quite a bit recently he's just too much right not for Beketemir IMO he will have some moments of success against Kovalev and probably stun him at least once but Kovalev will win on points.

 

I honestly don't think Kov ever had a good chin, in his prime he wrecked dudes so easily, they just never got any good shots off.

 

Meliqoziyev by brutal KTFO in the fourth round. Kovalev's chin is beyond glass nowdays (tough it always was bad)

I wouldn't actually be even slightly surprised if Meliqoziyev demolishes Kovalev in the first round

 

Yes, his chin was always bad. Even back in his amateurs days when he was knocked out cold by Abbos Atoev. I honestly can't remember him taking good shots from the desent punchers in his prime. Ward was great boxer but not a hard puncher at all and he hurt Kovalev badly with just one right hand in the seconds fight. And when Kovalev became shot... Well, his punch resistance has gone completely

 

This. Kovalev has stamina in the first 3, but after 4rth he is already tired, after 6th Melikoziev will play with him. If Sergey is still there.
Anyway, he has no punch resistance left (like David Price) and he is fighting a puncher.

 

Of course and hometown fight too does matters a lot. away corner de facto etc.

 

Melikuziev is a super middleweight. I don't understand why he moves up to fight at 180 which is above the LHW limit. Will move down to 168 pounds after the fight? Doesn't sound like a good idea.