Who beats Kovalev at 175?

Kovalev's win over Hopkins was instrumental in indicating that Kovalev isn't just some Russian/European stiff...remarkable or no. The Russkii is a work in progress and stands to improve even more as he continues to win and refine his approach....thus gaining more confidence and polish.

 

Too early in his run and we havent seen him against enough high quality opponents and a variety of styles.

From what we do have i'd love to see him against some genuine bangers who are physically stronger than him and will bring it like Beterbiev and Gonzalez. Some powerful taller boxer/puncher types similar to him like Gvozdyk/Mekhontsev, an althetic puncher like Adnois and of course a guy like Ward. If he starts racking up title defenses for the next couple years with the talent coming through the division i think he'll prove himself to be excellent, the oppertunity is there.

 

The following 175lbers beat Kovalev

Ezzard Charles
Archie Moore
Bob Foster
billy conn
Sam Langford
Gene Tunney
Harry Greb
Harold Johnson
Michael Spinks
Roy Jones Jr
Bob Fitzsimmons
Dwight Muhammad Qawi

That's 12 names

 

^ good post all those names have a case against Kovalev. However I would not be surprised if he was able to pick off a few of those names. His power is very real.

 

Agreed. I wouldn't be surprised if he went .500 against them.

 

Michael Spinks for one.

 

LOL. Good one.

 

I like the Soviet invasion into boxing, it's good fresh new blood for the sport, however as with Pac****s, the Kovalubes/Golovkunts I could live without.

We are judging him against all-time greats when his best victory was against A 50-YEAR OLD MAN AND A GUY WHO LOST TO HIM TWICE.

Let's just let that sink in.

 

I'll add
Maxie Rosenbloom
Jack Delaney
John Henry Lewis
Mathew Saad Muhammad
Tommy Loughran


Id give :
John Conteh
Victor Galindez
Marvin Johnson
Eddie Muhammad
Shots too

We don't even know if Kovalev can beat Adonis Stevenson.:think

 

No I would look at his record and say his best win is over a 50 years old man, his second best is over a boxer that the 50year old beat and who was also beat by Carl Froch.

To date he has had 29 fights for a total of 95 rounds ,all but a couple against journeymen
.IF, and its a big if , Kovalev beats Ward and Stevenson it will be time to evaluate him.

 

I said top ten based on talent. Your reply suggests not even close.

Can you name 15 light heavies who had more talent?

I think 15 is a good benchmark for elite as over 125 years of gloved history has passed. In that sense Kovalev is elite already.

In my opinion Kovalev would defeat a few names on that list and would have a good chance to upset the rest. Hopefully Stevenson or Ward will meet him. If he beats either as I suspect, then you might need to trim it to 10.

 

His opposition has been neither stellar nor lackluster. He's basically beating decent yet middle of the road light heavyweights, and looking very dominant against them. There's also something to be said about his activity and willingness to defend at a prolific rate. He's kind of like Golovkin in all these respects. Given that he has under 30 fights and hasn't beaten a serious threat of an opponent yet, I can't readily pick him over a proven great, but nor would I doubt his chances against one either. For the relative low number of fights he's had and regardless of his comp level he's looked like the best 175 pounder we've seen in a very long time.

 

Same here.

Kovlaev fits the old Joe Louis quote, " "He can run, but he can't hide. “

Kovalev's foot speed is better than Louis’ so running by itself is not an option. Excellent survival skills are needed as well.

 

A lot of guys had faster feet than Louis ,it didn't seem to do them much good.

 

Kovlaev fits the old Joe Louis quote, " "He can run, but he can't hide. “

Kovalev's foot speed is better than Louis’ so running by itself is not an option. Excellent survival skills are needed as well.

No it did not, but some made him look bad. I think Kovalev has comparable two-fisted power in a pound for pound sense, faster feet and better defense.

Kovalev has tracked down and taken out very fast fighters. Speed and movement does not befuddle him as it could for rounds with Joe Louis. Even Hopkins best tricks and defense amounted for zero.