Ward vs Kovalev - whos the favorite

Well, I'm smart enough to know that the Boxer-Puncher style doesn't usually present a problem for the Master Boxer. What's your excuse?

 

You don't think Kovalev is as skilled as Froch?

Don't you think, if that were the case, that Hopkins would have beaten Kovalev easily?

Of course. Hopkins had trouble with Kovalev because Kovalev is highly skilled and has more power than Froch.

Compare his fluidity to that of Froch, for example. Look at his feints. Look at his two-handed attack. Look at his footspeed and range. In all these departments he's better than Froch, who is somewhat crude.

 

Froch has the better resume.

Hopkins was *50* years old. Had Hopkins been 15 years younger, he would have schooled Kovalev...

Hopkins had trouble with Kovalev because he was *50* years old. Lets cut the sheet...

Look at his balance and defense. They're typical of Eastern European fighters, ie they don't exist. Kovalev's balance is sheet and his defense reminds me of Swiss Cheese. Froch, OTOH, doesn't have these same liabilities *and* has the better resume.

And BTW - "fluidity" isn't a word you should ever use to describe an Eastern European fighter [unless his name is Lomachenko]. Kovalev is not a very fluid fighter. He looks as robotic as the rest of the automatons cranked out by the Communist boxing machine...

 

It seems the conscious is:

This is going to be a good match.

Some favor Ward, skill, defense, boxing ability.

Others favor Kovalev, power, ring savy, relentless pursuit.

I tend to favor Koalev based on his power and tenacity.

I recall Stalin saying: " Quantity has a Quality all of it's own ".

This will be a good fight.

 

Resume doesn't really matter here. We're talking about skill. I agree that Hopkins age is a huge factor and has to be taken in to account. But even at 49, he was able to school Beibut Shumenov -- a fighter with low skill.

Kovalev is fluid. No, he's not Pernell Whitaker. But neither is he Mikkel Kessler -- a "straight up and down" fighter. And yes, he does occasionally get off balance.

Lets get concrete. Here is Kovalev versus Pascal.

[url]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l_fRcpOFB4o[/url]

Go to 10:56. Watch the ensuing right hand, left hand sequence.

He moves to his left, opens up, throws a right followed immediately by a straight left.

That looked pretty skillful to me. I don't know too many fighters that can do what he did there. Do you disagree? Is that run-of-the-mill European fighting?

 

Yes, resume does matter. Guys with superior skills tend to have superior resumes. Froch has the better resume because he's beaten the better fighters because he has the better skills. There is nothing Kovalev does better than Froch outside of punching harder.

Since when is schooling a guy like Shumenov some great feat? If Kovalev deserves high praise for beating a *50* year ole Hopkins then Chad Dawson has to be considered the GOAT.

That's probably because you've never spent time watching a true Master of the art at work. Go watch some prime James Toney or Tommy Hearns film then come back here and tell me exactly how "fluid" you think Kovalev is.

There is a LONG list of guys with skills that put Kovalev to SHAME.

 

Kov is gonna kill that diva.

 

What if he doesn't though?:think

 

That would be...good for boxing as a whole.

 

Yes. Kovalev has done more in the division than Chickenson.

 

Kovalev better hurry and get a fight before he gets too fat. Why what else did you mean by that? That he is just a big baboon that cant make any decisions of his own? Do Cathy and his manager have a cage for him at the office?:yep

 

Barrera's English is horrible.:verysad He looked like scared little boy at the post fight presser. It was like he never been to one or seen a table with a microphone and cameras. He seemed so unprepared and nervous. I watched closely. Barrera was calm in his locker room but when he came out you could tell he was nervous.

 

Kovalev is too big to be bouncing side to side all night. These guys are LHW that weigh 190 pounds by the time they get in the ring. Even Ward isn't moving around as much. Bigger men get tired faster. And they are both guys coming up on their mid 30's soon. Bouncing around a lot are for the little guys. Don't want to end up exhausted and all over the floor like Wlad vs Brewster I. :nut

 

Kovalev has a better jab and hits harder. 2 of the main essentials. He is better than Froch.

 

Ward is the more skilled fighter i think, but Kovalev is just a monster. You can't really compare him to any of Wards opponents so far. This man hits so hard, that he can hurt every boxer in the divison with his jab.

I rate Kovalev as the favorite, but i can see Ward winning on the scorecards, i just don't think he can last 12 rounds with Kovalev. But then again - if anyone can then it might be Ward.