Pascal & Kovalev get fruity at presser

[whiskey]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YA9O_V0o5uk

Looking forward to this fight in a big way. I forecast maybe a few knockdowns at the least.

[crusader]

Looking forward to it.

[Boxerbeetle]

This is a very interesting fight. I gave Hopkins no chance of upsetting Kovalev, but Pascal has a much better shot imo. Glad Sky have picked it up.

[black panther]

Yes Pascal is very athletic and for a few rounds at least I envisage him giving Kovalev something to think about. Pascal is also a bigger puncher than his record would suggest but his stamina is just so effing shite he can't keep the punches coming to finish off opponents.

[Benelio]

Sorry but I don't see the upset. Kovalev to break him down from the early rounds - and probably stopping him by the halfway stage.

[dalcumly]

Totally agree with Benelio. If Pascal fights as normal it'll be over within 2 rounds. If he tries to box clever ( which he should do ) it'll be a very painful 7 or 8 rounds. I see much the same type of fight as Murray v Golovkin with Pascal landing less than Murray did.

[ajwesty13]

Sorry but I don't see the upset. Kovalev to break him down from the early rounds - and probably stopping him by the halfway stage.

[MightyWarrior]

Good reaction from Pascal there. He showed in the Froch fight he's not easily intimidated, I really hope he plants a good shot on Kov's jaw early, see what the Russian crusher is made of...

[Datsue]

Yes Pascal is very athletic and for a few rounds at least I envisage him giving Kovalev something to think about. Pascal is also a bigger puncher than his record would suggest but his stamina is just so effing shite he can't keep the punches coming to finish off opponents.

This. Pascal might even drop Kovalev. But if he doesn't take out the Russian before about round six, he's gonna be blowing out of his arse & getting beaten up.

He better hope there's some repeat of the Tarver lungey-headbutt happenstance to save his musclebound arse...

PS: Tell you what though, it's nice not having any suspicions about PED usage when talking about a heavily built fighter. I mean, if Pascal is on the gear, FFS get him some better stuff 'cos he appears to use oxygen like a normal muscular individual (i.e. fvcking rapidly).

[handsofstone]

I'm expecting Kovalev to be pushed as hard as I've seen before,I can't see Pascal winning but I do think he'll see the end,be interesting if Jean lands one of his lunging shots to stun Sergey,its also good to see Pascal look confident

I still have Kovalev winning comfy on points but Pascal definitely shows more ambition than Hopkins,impressive stuff if Sergey scores a KO though

[TheLeprechaun]

Kovalev was well and truely starched as an amateur

If Pascal lands a clean bomb im pretty sure he can put Kovalev away. He has to get Kovalevs respect early. If he does, I can see him coasting to a decision win over a tentative Kovalev.

[Maxsplit]

Kovalev has been down a few times as a pro to journeymen hasn't he?

That Spanish guy knocked him down in the fight before Hopkins and Darnell Boone knocked him down and was jobbed via a contentious split decision, if I recall correctly.

Add to that Kovalev getting KOd as an amateur and it doesn't take a huge leap of faith to think Pascal could put Kovalev on his backside once again tbh.

I think it will be an exciting fight in the first half and Kovalev to pull clear to win on points for his 2nd fight in a row.

Definitely worth a flutter on Pascal knocking him down though. Can't see him stopping him though - but I guess stranger things have happened, Pascal is a tough guy who went the distance with Froch.

[crusader]

Kovalev has been down a few times as a pro to journeymen hasn't he?

That Spanish guy knocked him down in the fight before Hopkins and Darnell Boone knocked him down and was jobbed via a draw, if I recall correctly.

Add to that Kovalev getting KOd as an amateur and it doesn't take a huge leap of faith to think Pascal could put Kovalev on his backside once again tbh.

I think it will be an exciting fight in the first half and Kovalev to pull clear to win on points for his 2nd fight in a row.

Definitely worth a flutter on Pascal knocking him down though. Can't see him stopping him though - but I guess stranger things have happened, Pascal is a tough guy who went the distance with Froch.

Kovalev has been down twice professionally and he didn't seem remotely hurt when Caparello, who is Australian, stepped on his foot and sent him down. I haven't seen any part of the Boone fight so I can't say much about that, but I'm not aware of the consensus being that Boone was robbed.

It wouldn't surprise me if Kovalev is dropped by a quick shot (his chin is the biggest question mark about him in my opinion), but I think he'll pull through for the win.

[hurlock]

I fancy kovalev in mid rds 6-8

[lillywhite14]

Always liked Pascal. Shame for him you can't have championship fights over 6-8 rounds!

He's tough. I will be very impressed if Kovalev can do a number on him.

[closer]

Pascal is pretty terrible compared to Kovalev, i'd be suprised if it went past 6.

[ScottDetonator]

It depends how Kovalev approaches this fight. Will he show respect to Pascal, having never been stopped, and fight in a similar vein to the Hopkins fight? Or will he go in full guns blazing? I think we'll see the first option.

He showed in round 12 with B-Hop that he could've stopped him any time he wanted to be honest, if he'd put his foot down. Although, the couple of times B-Hop did catch Kovalev, he did seem to look slightly unsteady, even shocked for a split second, the same look you see in a fighters eyes when they are concerned about their chin(as the amateurs show).

I think Pascal will be tricky, staying on the outside, firing shots from many different angles and possibly landing a few decent power shots here and there, enough to get Kovalev's attention and maybe test that Russian stubble. Both fighters will be cagey first couple of rounds with so much on the line. Obviously, Kovalev will be the aggressor and will be pushing forwards once it heats up.

Prediction - Kovalev via KO 7-12 after coming through a few shaky moments or Pascal to look for a way out late on, possibly feigning injury. Let's face it, it wouldn't be the first time that Pascal has stunk the place out.

[ScottDetonator]

Good quote from B-Hop -

"When you get hit by Pascal you hear two bells. When you get hit by Kovalev you hear five."

[Monte Fisto]

pascal to wobble kovs legs before kov dispatches him by round 6. Think this will be great entertainment!!

[handsofstone]

Good quote from B-Hop -

"When you get hit by Pascal you hear two bells. When you get hit by Kovalev you hear five."

Hopkins is always good for a quote,hopefully Pascal's unorthodox style will make Kovalev fight more erratic than he did against Bernard,I'd be surprised if Sergey KO's Jean though,I think he will box a smart fight again though and win widely on points

[reggaereggae]

Pascal is pretty terrible compared to Kovalev, i'd be suprised if it went past 6.

Pascal is strong but isn't really a puncher. I don't think he's stopped anyone for years, despite all the posts about him stopping Kovalev. And sergey is a calculated puncher not reckless

[Teddy's Toupee]

He does look like a young Russ Abbot, though (Kovalev, not Pascal).

[Tomasino]

Sorry but I don't see the upset. Kovalev to break him down from the early rounds - and probably stopping him by the halfway stage.

Thanks

[ScottDetonator]

Good quote from B-Hop -

"When you get hit by Pascal you hear two bells. When you get hit by Kovalev you hear five."

Hopkins is always good for a quote,hopefully Pascal's unorthodox style will make Kovalev fight more erratic than he did against Bernard,I'd be surprised if Sergey KO's Jean though,I think he will box a smart fight again though and win widely on points

Brave prediction Hands mate! He's 3-1 for a decision.

I can make a case for Kovalev winning by any means so I couldn't disagree if it goes 12 tbh.

We often build these KO guys up, only to see a 12 round wrestling match, which could happen here. Add into that the amateur fights where Kovalev's chin looked to be his kryptonite and we might have a bit of a gunfight with a few twists, but the ending will remain the same I think.

I have to say though that Pascal doesn't like getting tagged and won't want to take a beating. I think he'll get tagged plenty tonight. Unless Kovalev is drawn into a hugging match, which he should still win, I think Pascal will be looking for a way out around the 8th round mark.

A good card tonight - take note Eddie!

[MightyWarrior]

Yes I thought Kovalev boxed Hopkins like he was very wary of the old mans punch, not sure if his chin is good, or maybe his weakness ( like big rival Adonis )

Was he ko'd as an amateur, or not ?