Aren't there questions about the Russian's chin ? While not relevant against a non puncher like Clev, it's definitely relevant against the Haitian Hammer.
Meh, I'm probably in the minority but I'm just not sold on Stevenson. You're right about Kovalev's chin not being tested yet (was he down vs Boone? Not sure, but Boone has dropped Adonis and Ward too).
I just don't see Stevenson managing to cope in a brutal war and I think Kovalev has better skills. I would be pretty confident backing Sergei in this one. I think Kovalev is going to take some beating.
Looking forward to seeing just how good Tony is. I wouldn't count him out, he has lots of heart. I'm buzzing for British boxing though, Froch Groves, Bellew Stephenson and Barker Sturm 3 weeks in a row!
palooka wrote:I also think that Tony is up against it but styles make fights they say and just because Chad is a very good boxer - he got caught hard and early; it doesn't mean that Bellew is in for the same. I would like Tony to try some pre fight tricks and mind games and see how Stevenson reacts; I reckon it'll be a decent bout but that away from home and with the crowd behind him Adonis will power to a mid round stoppage, maybe controversial and with Bellew at the very least hitting Stevenson hard and going for it.
But we don't know that anymore. Making weight and getting battered by Ward took a lot out of Chad plus he walked on to one last time, he may have completely lost it
the question with kovalev has to be what he's like late in a fight?
stevenson looked like an '80s kronk fighter though his former world champ victims had both been softened up, pyhsically or mentally. but the signs are good, moving in such tight circles (no waste) and being aggressive - at the right time.
Aren't there questions about the Russian's chin ? While not relevant against a non puncher like Clev, it's definitely relevant against the Haitian Hammer.
Meh, I'm probably in the minority but I'm just not sold on Stevenson. You're right about Kovalev's chin not being tested yet (was he down vs Boone? Not sure, but Boone has dropped Adonis and Ward too).
I just don't see Stevenson managing to cope in a brutal war and I think Kovalev has better skills. I would be pretty confident backing Sergei in this one. I think Kovalev is going to take some beating.
It's funny you say that as I remember going into the Cloud fight you saying he was going to get knocked out and then when he done a number on Cloud you said in a thread he had beaten him better than Hopkins did. You talk about Kovalev's skill's but I havent seen anything that special about his boxing ability. He just comes forward aggresively. He puts thought into it I give him that but I havent seen anything so far that says he's a better boxer than Stevenson.
if Stevenson takes care of things vs bellew (and good luck to tony, he's taking on a brilliant talent who holds the real title), he'll have his hands full with kovalev. if he can get by this dangerous fight, just look at the matchups out there:
Hopkins, oldest ever guy to defend a title. that will get some headlines, retiring Hopkins (who also holds the record of most middleweight title defences, obviously).
andre ward, American Olympian & super 6 winner. ward for me looks a tad big for 168. his glamour fights seem to be drying up and he'll become another virgil hill peck and move type, combined with henry maske, jab and grab. he's doing the same thing every fight - even vs the sakio bika type maulers, inappropriately.
Stevenson has to be favoured to beat bellew, his deserved mandatory. an important fight in itself. I don't know if he gets by kovalev, who throws heavy, unpredictable shots. but i'm confident he'd get by Hopkins and ward. I like Stevenson's variety, timing, speed, versatility, defense. his offensive skills are hugely impressive and he varies his shots beautifully. if anyone's going to be able to tag Hopkins with consistency it's Stevenson. I also think Stevenson has the body shots & uppercuts to dissuade ward's mauling.
Kovalev was dropped but got up and won against the man who put Adonis to sleep.
I'm not as convinced by Adonis as others are here. Dawson has been down more times than a whore's knickers recently and often fell apart when pressed anyway.
Tavoris Cloud really has slipped a great deal from his Clinton Woods heyday. He got a gift against Campillo and routed by Hopkins.
Bellew is confident, fresh and keen with tools that can really bother Adonis.
You have to peg him as favorite , being champ in his back yard - but a Bellew win wouldn't shock me at all.
As long as Bellew doesn't go into his shell or get negative when its getting heated, and sticks it to him with plenty of work rate and a 'Im not going anywhere' attitude , then he can do this.
I don't think there will be a problem with bellew coming out of his shell, if anything he has to hold his emotions back! Bellews back is up for this fight he don't see himself as making up the numbers, the fact he is getting fed to Adonis riles him badly.bellew is a natural fighter who will stand his ground against anyone that's his make up.
I think everyone should get behind him as he intends to do himself & the nation proud.this could be a very entertaining fight!
Adonis has superb skills, defensive and offensive, and has come on since the defeat.
recently I started looking at his older fights and the man really is a beautiful boxer. not seen a better all round southpaw since pongsaklek wonjongkam. his last 2 foes did suffer defeats, but they're good scalps to destroy, and I think he's getting better and better, and ready for kovalev.
re Stevenson and kovalev. both destroyed 1 current and 1 former champ, in their previous two fights. both have HBO behind them, who seem dedicated to offensive minded fights. if Stevenson can get by kovalev, then it'll truly put the loss to boone - the big question mark - behind him. how will kovalev fare in the late rounds? will he be good or will he plod like we've seen denis lebedev, so impressive destroying alexeev and maccarinelli early, less so in blemishes that went into the late rounds vs huck and Guillermo jones.
This fight looks on, Bellew flying over for a press conf says that. Bookies will make Adonis a big fave, but they'll be very aware he's been flattened at a lower weight,
ppl are seeming to underestimate Stevenson because of a defeat 10 or 11 fights ago that he seems to have put well behind him. I can understand the UK scene context - Adonis was froch's top contender, was dismissed, moved up in weight, destroyed two top light heavies and now looks the proverbial banana skin that froch may have been fortunate not to have faced.
turn it around, and bellew lost (albeit narrowly) to cleverly five fights ago, who's become such a mr nobody at 175 after being flattened by kovalev, that he's moving up in weight 25 pounds seemingly to recapture some form of relevance on the world stage. I didn't want to say this, as I see bellew being a good mandatory going up against a potentially brilliant champion...
It's funny to think that at the time noone really cared to see Froch/Stevenson as Adonis wasn't really that well known. Might have been a better fight than anticipated in hindsight. Although I do think Froch would have walked through him. I still think Stevenson doesn't have the constitution for a brutal war.
It's funny to think that at the time noone really cared to see Froch/Stevenson as Adonis wasn't really that well known. Might have been a better fight than anticipated in hindsight. Although I do think Froch would have walked through him. I still think Stevenson doesn't have the constitution for a brutal war.
I dont think he would of walked through him. Id of seen it going a good few rounds even if Froch knocked him out. Froch whilst ending up in tear up more often than not does try to box and his boxing ability is somewhat underrated by some I think but anyway I think it would of been cagey for awhile because Carl wouldnt of wanted to walk into something big. Anyway, I think that fight could still happen! Stevenson has said that he can fight at either 175 or 168.
when Adonis knocked out dawson, it was put about that he wasn't much of a boxer. after seeing his subsequent, and couple of previous, fights, this clearly is not the case. Adonis appears to be just the kind of fighter to trouble froch.
maybe, just maybe, at 168, in Nottingham, before Adonis had fully developed into the champ he is, froch might've got him out of there. it wouldn't have been easy. i'm not so sure froch could do it now.
froch, credit to him, went for the (then) bigger fight: Kessler rematch.
but I did think, maybe froch was taking his IBF title & challengers for granted. the biggest test may not even have been Kessler and ward rematches, but his own top contender. you can't afford to overlook things like this, especially when you take so many clean shots.
It's funny to think that at the time noone really cared to see Froch/Stevenson as Adonis wasn't really that well known. Might have been a better fight than anticipated in hindsight. Although I do think Froch would have walked through him. I still think Stevenson doesn't have the constitution for a brutal war.
I dont think he would of walked through him. Id of seen it going a good few rounds even if Froch knocked him out. Froch whilst ending up in tear up more often than not does try to box and his boxing ability is somewhat underrated by some I think but anyway I think it would of been cagey for awhile because Carl wouldnt of wanted to walk into something big. Anyway, I think that fight could still happen! Stevenson has said that he can fight at either 175 or 168.
think Stevenson looks a tad dried out at 168, not as loose or agile. this is how he'll lose, going down in weight for the big fight, giving in too far to the terms of his opponent.
this is actually what I said'd be dawson's undoing, when ppl were high on him. obviously, going to Canada (pascal), going down to 168 (ward), awarding big advantages to the opponents. though I predicted it'd be someone like bute. thankfully Stevenson has way more pulling power than dawson, so he won't be making these kind of compromises, I shouldn't think.
Personally think Tony as a fantastic chance, and is possible one of the strongest opponent Stevenson will have faced (in terms of actually strength) so when they get in close I see the bomber tying up fairly effectively.
Jab is the key here, obviously underrated as a weapon by many, but I think Tony has the skills to outbox him and stay out of trouble - I am still not sold on Stevenson - and going 12 rounds (12th KO) against Don George not too long back gives me confidence in Tony.
jam100 wrote:Personally think Tony as a fantastic chance, and is possible one of the strongest opponent Stevenson will have faced (in terms of actually strength)
How do you come to that conclusion mate - the times I have seen Bellew box I have never thought "f_ck me he looks strong" - and that is at any level, never mind when dealing with a world level operator.
Its only based on opinion admiedtly and I may be totally wrong but I think his a lot more stronger then he looks - deceptively strong may be the best term.
Strong enough to tie up and spoil if the fight gets too close
He's not going to get a decision in Canada tying up the home fighter every chance he gets; he hits hard with his hook and right hand, he wants to get in a nd wallop him about a bit and try and take his confidence, once Adonis gets on a roll he'll be hard to beat, if he boxes negatively he'll likely get worn down and if he goes the distance will lose a landslide.
