Sergey Kovalev vs. Isaac Chilemba RBR.

I was very impressed by Chilemba. He was timing Kovalev with that piston-like Jab in a way that no one’s been able to neutralize Kovalev. It was a great game plan and I really like how Issac was able to stick to the jab consistently as a reaction to a puncher from getting into punching range. You rarely see that in boxing nowadays, a reactionary sort of jab to stop someone from trying to get inside.

Chilemba was able to just lean away, lean away, lean away, but get that jab over the top when Kovalev tried to do his normal stuff.

This guy really frustrated Kovalev and it was a good fight. I thought Chilemba won the 4th round clearly, and the 5th and 6th were close rounds that could have gone to Chilemba as well.

If it wasn’t for the 7th round KD, which really changed the fight, Chilemba had a realistic chance of winning this fight. Even after the 7th and the Kovalev dominated 8th, I thought Chilemba came back to win the 9th, 10th, and the 11th as well.

It was a real stiff test for Kovalev. Congratulations to Chilemba on a great performance.

 

Thanks :good

 

118-109 was my card, but some of the rounds were close.

Kovalev didn't look as sharp as usual. It was a B- type of performance for him.

Part of that had to do with Chilemba who has never been knocked out. Chilemba showed enough defense, mixed with an occasional offense to make it somewhat interesting. Chilemba's composure was rather good. He didn't panic.

This was a good test for Kovalev leading up to Ward, who is likely not as durable as Chilemba is.

I still don't think Ward throws enough punches to beat Kovalev on points. In 90% of scored fights that go the distance, the guy who throws and lands more wins.

 

You know as I watched the fight I didn't really see a lot of punch variation from Kov. It's mainly just jab, right cross....double jab, long right cross. Seemed like the only time he went to the body is when they clinched or something. As someone said Chilemba figured out that rhythm and started timing it to pretty good effect. That does worry me a bit when you think about the Ward ring IQ.

But otherwise yeah pretty solid, Kov really controls distance well and uses a lot of feints, all for the purpose of setting up the kill which is definitely his mindset (not trying to pun). It's not scoring points with this guy,

At the end of the day this is boxing and anything can happen, so on the surface what seems like an off night is exactly what he needed to put a fire under his ass heading into November

Still a 60-40 fight in my mind, so I guess KOV UD is my pick. It will be an ugly fight, difficult to score, but in the end Kov will be the aggressor pushing the action and that will win enough rounds on the cards. 7-5 decision with enough lingering questions to set up a rematch

 

Chilemba did awesome. That jab was totally interrupting Kovalev all night. He also landed some pretty good power shots as well. I feel the fight was a lot closer than some of the judges scored it. Had the sound off (baby sleeping) so I didn't get biased by commentators. Kovalev tried to blow Chilemba outta there for the first two rounds and it didn't work. Once he settled he did a little better. He didn't use that uppercut enough but when he did he got some solid looking connections. Other than that his right arm could have been cut off. All of Kov's success came from connecting with stiff jabs. Trouble was, for every one he landed he had to eat one of Chilemba's. Good fight!

 

Surprised people had this close. I watched the replay and pretty much agreed w/ Lederman. :conf

 

Ward KO8

 

:good

 

I watched it in slow motion though.

 

Kovalev dictated the fight and did what he wanted to 10-2 or 9-3 was the round allocation in his favor throw in the Kd and 117-110 or 118-109 are fair.

 

Not Kovalev's best performance but overall he looked good, probably give him a B.

I thought he won 9-10 rounds, scored the kd, and was in control of the whole fight against a good veteran top 10 fighter.

To me this fight changes nothing about Kovalev-Ward. It's still a 50/50 type of fight(slight favor towards Ward) and one of if not the best fight in boxing.

 

Proof haha you anti-white trolling Turd!