I think picking Chilemba for this fight was a bad idea all round. I just never liked it and I thought Kovalev was going to struggle in it.
Ditto, but I think that's part of the reason he made the fight, Chilemba to a certain extent will prepare him for Ward, at least a hell of a lot better than Brand will prepare ward for Kovalev.
Possibly so. Kovalev doesn't really throw many left hooks these days he's more jab, straight right. Golovkin has more variety to him and he throws mean lefts, rights, uppercuts, body shots etc. He's more compact too and he has great balance.
Round 1 Kovalev shooting his straight left to Chilemba's midsection, Chilemba retreating flicking out his jab, Kovalev tags him while cornered Chilemba ducks low and holds, Kovaelv get him along the ropes and lands a few glancing hooks, Chilemba being very evasive, Kovalev lands two left jabs to his stomach, he spins off along the ropes, Kovalev feints him twice and lands his right cross, Chilemba grabs and holds, Chilemba dips down Kovalev gets him in a headlock, Sergey coming forward flicking out his jab lands flush Chilemba tries to hold but is sent scrambling, Kovalev didn't land a lot but he landed more. Kovalev 10-9
Yeah that was definitely the reason they picked him. Kovalev did say beforehand that he really wanted to put on a good show for his home fans. Much more easily said than done against the likes of Chilemba. Brand is awful. He fights like a disjointed puppet being operated by a blind and drunk puppeteer
People underestimate Chilemba, the guy is good. Still does not change the fact that Kovalev is not Froch, Kovalev Knocks out ward round 6, you heard it first from me!
Round 2 Kovalv tries the jab to the midsection Chilemba pivots out of the way, Chilemba successfully lands his jab a few times, Kovalev corners Chilemba sticks a 2 lazy right crosses, Kovalev clips Isaac with two hard right crosses while trapped aong the ropes Isaac takes them well, Chilemba's feints are keeping the Krusher at bay somewhat, but Chilemba not landing anything of note, Chilemba lands a one two to Kovalev's ribs, Kovalev pushes him off and lands straight left that rocks Isaac's head back, Kovalev ands two hard rights, Chilmva lands partially blocked shot to Kovalev's waist, Kovalev stuffs 3 jabs in his face. Kovalev 10-9 Closer
Round 3 Kovalev comes out more aggressive lands hard jab to Isaac's stomach and two up top, Kovalev pins him on ropes and lands 2 more Chilemba catches him on the belt line again, Kovalev feinting his way in Chilemba retreating, and lands a looping left to Kovalev's shoulder, Kovalev landing his jab in Cholemba's chest, Kovalev slightly frustrated lands left and a cuffing right Chilemba wriggles away, Kovalev overreaches a few times, Chilemba catches him with flush straight right, Kovalev lands hard one two, Chilemba retreats, he follows it up with hard right cross, followed by stiff left jab to his chin and looping right, kovalev drives a shot into his gut before the bell. Kovalev 10-9 Close
Round 4 Both men feinting not landing anything, Kovalev lands straight right avoids looping Chilemba counter, Kovalev lands partially blocked 3 punch combination, Chiemba counters him with check left hook, Chilemba being very evasive in the second minute, but not landing a lot, Chilemba snaps Kovalev's head back slightly Kovalev walks through it, lands a few jabs on Isaac, Kovalev lands cuffing right hook, Chilemba fires back and misses, Kovalev lands one two to Chilemba's ribs, Kovalev lands jab right hook and flurry before the bell. Kovalev 10-9 Close
Round 5 Kovalev comes out very aggressive looking for the KO winging wild shots and landing half of them, Kovalev back on his jab ramming Chilemba's head back with it, Chillemba hooks him 3 times to the left ribcage and holds Kovalev lands a few shots up top while in hold, Chilemba lunges in wildly lands nothing and holds, a one two from kovalev hurts Chilemba, Chilemba retreating Kovalev lands overhand right and left hook, they tie up Kovalev lands several jabs and right cross before the bell. Kovalev 10-9