Beterbiev v Kovalev - Who wins?

[Roars Like Me]

This has been discussed before I'm sure. I 'think' the consensus was that Beterbiev would be the winner in this fight.??

Considering the outcome of Kov/Alvarez I, that further underlined if for me. However Beterbiev proved that he wasn't as indestructible as I first thought, when Johnson put him on his arse, in his last fight. So throw Kov's latest outing to the mix, how does this pan out now do you all think? Have your views changed at all, or still the same?

[DrDuke]

Koval can outbox Beter in a similar way he outboxed Alvarez. And I've always considered Alvarez as a better competitor, than Beter. Beter is special only in the terms of punching power, that's his single chance to win. Koval can KO Beter too actually. Beter has already been dropped and we all know, how big Koval's power is. So I won't be surprised, if Koval sends Beter to school and then catches him at some point.

[boxing_rocks]

It is a 50/50 fight. Whoever manages to hurt his opponent first wins.

[jamamb]

this has to happen, russian rival unification with a big ko

[greg]

..whoever I'll watch it..

[gilgamesh]

..whoever I'll watch it..

Yeah. Regardless of outcome it's hard to imagine this one wouldn't be an exciting fight.

[victor-romeo]

Kovaelv wins, and I am familiar with the narrative that Beterbiev beat Kovalev in Amateurs. Beterbiev never developed as a professional properly due to management , inactivity and injury, he looks stiff and robotic in there, Kovalev has had many big fights and learned from those fights.

I would love to see this fight though to clear up this issue of those who think Beterbiev would win. I think Beterbiev has a belt too all the better for Kovalev.
Bivol is by far the most dangerous fight for Kovalev.

[boxing_rocks]

Mental toughness, much better inside boxing skills and likely a better chin are Beterbiev's advantages, so I think it is 50/50 fight.

[Onetimeonly]

Kovalev by ko. 75/25, beterbiev obviously can ko him. Sergey will need to go after him, the Alvarez plan will get him iced.

[jamamb]

berts not proven his chin. i dont think kov would struggle to hurt him if kovs landing

[oogiebe]

Not sure that Kov can take same approach as with Alvarez as Beterbiev would be way more active and hits so much harder. Not sure if Kov has it in him to not get into an exchange, which IMHO Beterbiev would come away with a KO.

[boxing_rocks]

Exchange at mid distance would be a lottery. Exchange inside would be fatal for Kova.

[jamamb]

beterbiev swings wildly if not inside, could be open to straighter shots. he should bang the body too and punch and be rough in clinches

[oogiebe]

Exchange at mid distance would be a lottery. Exchange inside would be fatal for Kova.

Maybe. Although the shorter fighter, Beterbiev has the longer reach and seems to me to be the tougher fighter. I just don't see the "new" kov beating him. And the old Kov would be open to blows that he couldn't endure.

[jamamb]

kov is vastly better then bert outside, kov having boxing skills isnt new btw, he outboxed ward many rounds, outboxed pascal, outboxed hopkins, was winning first alv fight widely...

[oogiebe]

kov is vastly better then bert outside, kov having boxing skills isnt new btw

I don't see this fight being anything other than Beterbiev being able to deal with Kov like Duran did vs Leonard in their first meeting.

[jamamb]

why so sure? bert got dropped hurt and in trouble last fight vs cal johnson and has no top level experience

[boxing_rocks]

why so sure? bert got dropped hurt and in trouble last fight vs cal johnson and has no top level experience

Johnson has a good pop and he tagged Beterbiev with a clean left hook after which Beterbiev immediately got up and showed no weakness in his legs. Kovalev was hurt by Ward and Alvarez who are both not punchers.

[Cent0089]

Beterbiev is all bad for Kovalev. IMO more dangerous for him than Gvozdyk and Bivol.

[oogiebe]

why so sure? bert got dropped hurt and in trouble last fight vs cal johnson and has no top level experience

Johnson has a good pop and he tagged Beterbiev with a clean left hook after which Beterbiev immediately got up and showed no weakness in his legs. Kovalev was hurt by Ward and Alvarez who are both not punchers.

Yup.

[Onetimeonly]

kov is vastly better then bert outside, kov having boxing skills isnt new btw

I don't see this fight being anything other than Beterbiev being able to deal with Kov like Duran did vs Leonard in their first meeting.

beterbiev is almost clumsy. I don't see that at all, he seems chinny too.

[oogiebe]

kov is vastly better then bert outside, kov having boxing skills isnt new btw

I don't see this fight being anything other than Beterbiev being able to deal with Kov like Duran did vs Leonard in their first meeting.

beterbiev is almost clumsy. I don't see that at all, he seems chinny too.

Eh, I disagree. Hopefully we'll get to see.

[Onetimeonly]

kov is vastly better then bert outside, kov having boxing skills isnt new btw

I don't see this fight being anything other than Beterbiev being able to deal with Kov like Duran did vs Leonard in their first meeting.

beterbiev is almost clumsy. I don't see that at all, he seems chinny too.

Eh, I disagree. Hopefully we'll get to see.

Yeah, hopefully beterbiev steps up before he retires. If not, I'll claim victory.

[oogiebe]

kov is vastly better then bert outside, kov having boxing skills isnt new btw

I don't see this fight being anything other than Beterbiev being able to deal with Kov like Duran did vs Leonard in their first meeting.

beterbiev is almost clumsy. I don't see that at all, he seems chinny too.

Eh, I disagree. Hopefully we'll get to see.

Yeah, hopefully beterbiev steps up before he retires. If not, I'll claim victory.

LOL! You usually do!

[Onetimeonly]

I'm usually right.