This guy Kovalev looks damn good is he for real ????????

he destroyed White the same way he did Campillo, he is the real deal at LHW

 

I would say absolutely for real. His power is just scary and his combos devastating, great handspeed and the skills of a good amateur pedigree.

His 1 Draw was a Tech foul against Grover Young in 2nd round which in most jurisdictions would have been made a NC. Only 2 of his 22 fights has gone the distance, and he's only boxed 57 Rounds in 22 fights.

My only questionmarks are his stamina and chin. I've no reason at all to doubt them, but his fights are generally over so quickly they never get tested. I would sorta like to see how he copes under pressure or on the back foot for once. What I can say is that the few times I've seen him tagged he's seemed completely untroubled and he can show a tight guard if he has to.

The only strange thing about Kovalev is his lack, until recently, of name recognition. He's without a doubt one of the best in the world at 175, with an incredible KO record, but no-one seems to have heard of him (except perhaps in relation to the ring death of Roman Simakov RIP).

If you like a fighter that's gonna guarantee fireworks, you couldn't do much better. Along with GGG and Matthysse my current favourite.

 

Kovalev is great, cant wait to see him against some of known names (bhop, clev, pascal etc..)

he is brutal in offense, but i saw some holes in defense - right hand low, and when he is on backfoot he gets hit (even when that backfoot is for 5sec). That hits that he took were jabs, but we`ll see when he gets hit with real shots and how he will deal with it.

overall he is true presentation of russian boxing school, nice lateral movement, high tempo, nice combos and discipline. with all that he has great power

 

He throws some evil combinations but there's just something about him that doesn't ring right me. I just have a hunch that he's a candidate for a schooling somewhere close down the rose. It'll take a very special fighter to fight in the eye of the storm, but whether its Ward, Hopkins, or someone else, I'm guessing there's someone at or around the weight who has the forumla to take Kovalev appart.

 

I'm not sure Bhop wants any of that, but I guess we'll see won't we? Just finished agreeing on the poll thread that I might favour a Hopkins 10 years younger. Ward? Maybe, if he was willing to move up cos I don't think Kov could go down. I surely wouldn't wanna put a lot on it tho. Stevenson might have a punchers chance, but doesn't match Kovs skill and combos. Who else is there? - I wouldn't give Bute or Pascal much hope, Clev or Bellew even less. If Shumenov remembers where he put his gloves, it might be an OK fight but I can't see him winning.

 

Its good to see someone make noise at LHW, too bad he is already 30 years old

 

The only fighter at 175 I'd favor over him would be Ward if he moved up because Andre's proven over 12 rounds over the highest caliber competition and has the versatility to his game to cope. It would also be Andre's toughest fight at the weight, although one could argue for Stevenson if they believe Ward's got a shaky chin.

That's not to say Kovalev hasn't got versatility, but like his conditioning and chin, it's an unknown because he's been destroying everyone in devastating fashion following the status quo. If he shows he's got those things, he's got P4P potential. If not, he could be exposed, but still highly dangerous- like a smaller Corrie Sanders.

 

kovalev puts his punches together, places them well and hard however reminds me a bit of pavlik prior to the hopkins meltdown only due to his unproven opposition.

He does carries his left hand low and lundges forward at times. What will happen if he faces a powerfull right hand like kessler's or a counterpuncher/inside fighter like ward or a defensive master like hopkins?

He definitely is good and could reach the top however i wouldnt scratch his ballz like some of you seem u want to do

 

For Soviet Kovalev, ballz scratch you!

 

Indeed. I've gotta admit I'm high on him cos' he comes out bangin' and always gonna give an exciting fight, but I need to see him tested.

There's a strong suggestion of Cleverly, and soon - mid August, but I don't see Clev as that legit, though he's got that Calzaghe kinda style and it'd be intresting to see how Kov deals with it(TBH I see the 'style' being smashed to shards - plans and style don't stand up well to power delivered with poise at equal speed). The compubox warrior in me suggests that Kov lands about as many punches as Clev in the average round - a very high rate at LHW in either case, but mosta Kovs are power combos instead of Clevs pat-a-cake jabs and singles.

Then there's Bhop, the mando, whether Bhop takes the fight might tell us something about how Kovalevs judged within the profession. I see it as a big, big risk for Bhop, he's no spring chicken and despite his battle proven skills, sooner or later some young gun's gonna finish him. Kovs got the speed, power, skills and aggression to my mind.

In the best of all worlds Clev -Kov would be made in August and the winner go on for a unification with Bhop. It's nice to dream innit.

TBH I've got considerable doubts either will be made.


Incidentally a little digging has got me some info on Kovalev vs Boone 1 (which I can't find footage of anywhere), a split decision and 1 of only 2 Kovalev fights to go the distance. It was Sergeis 10th fight, an 8 rounder and considered a big step up. Apparently according to the article both fighters made a 'tentative start'. Boone put Kovalev down in 7th, but he got up for the SD win. Interestingly it was in Atlanta, and putting Boxrec to good use seems it's the only fight that Boone ever lost in his hometown (outta 5 I think). It was 76/75 76/75 and 75/76.

This says to me:

1 Probably Kovalev pretty comprehensively outboxed Boone if the KD and home advantage are taken into account.

2 Kovalevs style has changed somewhat. His more recent fights show the exact opposite of a 'tentative' start, though he may have been alerted to Boone's KO power.

edit. Listening to the Boone 2 fight commentary, apparently Kovalev had criticised his own performance in Boone 1 for not keeping the pressure on Boone when he had him hurt. I guess he learned his lesson then!

3 He can be KDed. Without any video or better reports it's hard to tell the circumstances.

4 He can stand up and win after being KDed. Again, hard to say how significant this is without seeing what the KD was like, but some guys are just finished after being put down by a hard puncher.

Winning after going the distance but getting KDed against Boone however is not unknown, as Mr Ward could attest. He won by UD in his 7th pro fight 59-55, 58-56, 57-56 - in Oregon, a year after becoming a national boxing icon. Too close for comfort if he'd been a Russian in Atlanta perhaps...
(OK, OK, I know I'm pushing it..)

Adonis Stevenson of course fared less well in his first outing against Darnell Boone, who can basically KD anyone if he can actually land that punch he spends the entire fight looking for.

To my knowledge Boone is Sergei Kovalevs only KD and (correct me if I'm wrong) Andre Wards too.

 

I admit I like punchers who comes to fight. Kovalev may bring some interesting fights to LH. But your right he has not been tested yet. Most of his fights are early KO's. What happens when he fights someone that can hit him back and go late in the fight??

 

I think you guys are going to far saying he can beat Ward. I've went back and watched a lot of his fight and he can bang will give you that. But lets see how he does stepping up. Why is he just now working his way up at 30? Fighting on NBC this past weekend was a good move on his part. Americans love knock out punchers. Maybe he will make for some interesting fights. Ward needs some people to fight.