Sergey Kovalev vs. Anthony Yarde - 24 August 2019

[kbackup408]

One of the most intriguing match ups of the year, I rate Yarde a lot, despite the lack of amateur pedigree he's a well schooled boxer, relaxed, patient, good punch variety and he can bang, I think he carries serious power, there's different types of hard punchers, they can be explosive like Tyson or Benn or they can put you to sleep without loading up like Julian Jackson or even Donaire, I'm obviously not making direct comparisons but I think Yarde is in the latter category, the big thing is though he hasn't fought anyone of note let alone knocked them out, Sjekloca and Averlant were alright I suppose but all in all you have to say his match makings been atrocious, he hasn't had that step by step building through domestic to European/fringe World class

I still give Yarde a serious chance here as crazy as it seems, I thought Kovalev was first class in the Alvarez rematch, barely lost a round and showed he's still an elite Light Heavyweight, he has that vulnrabilty though, I know a lot of people were infuriated with the stoppage and low blows in the Ward rematch but truth is Kovalev was fvcked big time and Alvarez showed in the 1st fight even if Kovalev can still outbox guys he is fragile around the whiskers

I think its gonna be interesting to see how Yarde copes with someone in his face jabbing and letting the right hands and left hooks go, Kovalev can still whack a bit and Yarde is leaping up about 5 levels here, still I'm gonna go for Yarde nailing him at some point, might be early or it might be out of nowhere, big ask going to Russia, Yarde's always been confident but he's always had the cards stacked in his favour, I think Kovalev will outbox him before getting hurt and stopped, as I say with Yarde's raw power could be in 1 but likely middle to late rounds, Yarde's a terrific body puncher and Kovalev cant take it downstairs

Great break down mate - can really relate with the body punching analysis, I can picture Yarde hurting Kovalev to the body and as a result stopping him to the head late on.

Looking forward to this bout the lack of digital content online (interviews, breakdowns etc) isn't dimming my excitement !

[kbackup408]

..if won't hurt British boxing in general if the Brits start proving their worth elsewhere in Europe, scoring a victory against Kovalev in his backyard will certainly boost Yarde's reputation..

Agreed, honestly depends on the opponent Fielding did a number on Zeuge away from home which enhanced his rep and landed him that big Canelo bout!

[Noxy]

You can’t accuse him of staying in his own back yard anyway. Plus, this fight will give us a yardstick of what he’s really got.

[polecateddy]

Has there actually ever been a British fighter who went from knocking over tomato cans to winning a world title? Even Jason Matthews, quite a similar fighter perhaps in a lot of ways to Yarde, had beaten the likes of Darren Dorrington, Sven Hamer and Paul Wright before he got stepped up against Paul 'Silky' Jones and Ryan Rhodes. He's surely got next to no chance against Kovalev in Russia of all places. They must be almost entirely banking on Kovalev being drunk and out of shape ...but even then!?

[ewenhay]

I think it all makes for a really intriguing fight.

I hope it catches fire, if it does we could be in for a cracker

[Bard of Boxrec]

I think whatever happens the stage is set for a war, I just can’t see it being cagey.

I still can’t pick a winner so I’m probably going to have to bet on Yarde if he remains around 2/1.

[black panther]

That’s odd I can’t see any mention of them being there on his page ..

Starting to get a bad feeling for Anthony Yarde on this one, Kov just looks too experienced: he’s just done it all, a vicious SOB who will be super relaxed using all his experience and slotting home hard hard punches.

Ok I doubt Andre Ward might not know much about Yarde, but I think his take on the fight could be sound - how you can have a nice shiny record and be knocking people over and have a great mindset, but when you get in with someone like the Russian, it’s a whole new world.

The weigh in and press conferences are going to be interesting for sure, Because I would ideally like to put a bet down on Anthony here, as assume he’s going to be a pretty big outsider...

There’s a lot of questions about this fight - I mean why is someone as cautious as Frank W*rren taking this fight for his young prospect ...a man who is well known for putting huge value on getting home advantage for his fighters.

And why are they paying so much money for this fight in Russia, when no one there will have heard of Anthony Yarde ?

And is Tunde just a bullshitter or is he genuinely deluded ? I mean okay big up your fighter, but comparing him to Sugar Ray Robinson Mike Tyson and Roy Jones ???

This could come down to how good their respective chins are: is Anthony yarde’s sound ? And has Kov’s cracked a bit ?

Re : W*rren taking the risk. Sure in the past he wouldn’t risk a big ticket seller like Hatton or Calzaghe. But I feel Yarde isn’t a big star & despite his fan friendly style won’t ever be a huge crossover star in the UK. So in that sense he’s worth taking a gamble with not to mention the cut of the alleged huge purse Yarde is getting.

[NoScoutingReports]

Just checked the BT Sport TV Guide and this show is starting at 5pm on BT Sport 2

[Kilburn]

I wonder if we'll see shades of Brook v Golovkin here, with Yarde making a bright start and showing he has the speed and combos to give Kovalev problems stylistically but ultimately running out of steam.

Surely in 2019 Kovalev isn't as beastly as he was though? He only just scrapes under the age bracket whereby his scalp would come with an automatic asterisk.

I'm going to be hyped on Saturday though, which doesn't seem to happen all that often with boxing matches these days.

[kbackup408]

Just had a quick peak on Mr Yarde's social media looks like he is on his way to Russia

[Bard of Boxrec]

I wonder if we'll see shades of Brook v Golovkin here, with Yarde making a bright start and showing he has the speed and combos to give Kovalev problems stylistically but ultimately running out of steam.

Surely in 2019 Kovalev isn't as beastly as he was though? He only just scrapes under the age bracket whereby his scalp would come with an automatic asterisk.

I'm going to be hyped on Saturday though, which doesn't seem to happen all that often with boxing matches these days.

Indeed, I am so up for this one. Real tense feeling about it that comes from all the big puncher vs puncher matchups. Probably made more nervy by my impending plan to bet on Yarde. And for once I can watch a big fight on a channel I actually have from the comfort of my living room

[MightyWarrior]

You’d think one thing is for certain, and that is Anthony is going to need a cast iron chin to get through this one. And I guess we’ve got no idea about that other than (grasping at straws) he’s got an extra thick neck, as a shock absorber at least.

Kov may not be nearly as far gone as we think: he was giving Alvarez an absolute shellhacking in the 1st fight before the last round, I’m not sure an untested novice like Yarde would stand up to pressure like that. The big right hand that Alvarez landed literally knocked the Russian off his feet, but it took a peach of a left hook that Kov didn’t see to finish the fight.

Yarde is getting that chin tested early, I’d forgotten that Kov dropped a fighter the quality of André Ward very early too.... and when you think that Anthony has been fighting for something like... five years? Kov has probably been fighting for 25 years ...

Yarde is really going to have to hold his nerve, especially when he touches down in Russia, whenever that is, and realises the task that lies ahead.

[Kilburn]

Dammit MW don't piddle on our bonfires this is fight week, we're just getting started

To be fair I just had a look at the highlights from Alvarez II, and I can certainly see why Yarde would be written off. Kovalev looked very enthusiastic to say the least.

Has the Yarde camp given any indication on what the approach might be? I almost hope he goes for an early night rather than potentially squandering his best chance of victory by holding back, never getting any kind of grip on the fight.

I certainly don't want this to go the way of Michalczewski v Prince a few years back. That was the kind of disappointing away trip we were used to seeing. Although in terms of the spectacle on Saturday it should be far better; Anthony has a greater shot selection, more flair and footwork than Mark, while Sergey is a bigger hitter than Darius was.

Ah yes that's more like it Kilburn. Back into fight mode!

[MightyWarrior]

Ha ha I don’t mean to do that mate just thinking aloud & truth is I have no real idea who wins for sure, but Yarde has the punch to do it and that makes it a hugely Intriguing fight.

This is the type of fight that makes boxing like no other sport, and I am seriously looking forward to Saturday night right now !

[Bard of Boxrec]

Has the Yarde camp given any indication on what the approach might be?

From what I’ve heard so far, yarde has promised to be cautious early on, but then again he’s never going to go out reckless against kovalev. for all the people saying he’s easy to find, of late he’s looked a lot more measured in defence. He barely got hit in the Sek fight for instance. Ok Sek wasn’t the best fighter but Yarde has shown glimpses that he might be up to the task defensively, he rolls and blocks well, he has excellent reflexes and good upper body movement and decent head movement.

Of course the big problem for him is Kovalev is such a beast offensively that no fighter is going to be able to evade that arsenal all night, as MW touches upon above. Alvarez did well in part because he has that scary level of toughness reminiscent of a McCallum or Guillermo Jones, guys that seemed impenetrable in their pomp. Brits aren’t usually cut from that sort of cloth...could it be that Yarde needs to take some major chances early to get there before kovalev does? Maybe...

[tony1234]

Just checked the BT Sport TV Guide and this show is starting at 5pm on BT Sport 2

Main event about 8 ish I hope

[Kilburn]

could it be that Yarde needs to take some major chances early to get there before kovalev does? Maybe...

That's surely the only way you're going to take some of the nightmare out of the Kovalev experience. Sting the guy with something early on, if it's within your capabilities.

[NoScoutingReports]

Just checked the BT Sport TV Guide and this show is starting at 5pm on BT Sport 2

Main event about 8 ish I hope

That would be spot on.

[margaret thatcher]

So did Yarde get to Russia today?

[MightyWarrior]

Yep looks like he’s just arrived at his hotel Салавата Юлаева Chelyabinsk, Russia.

Time for a double whiskey at the bar

[forcefraser]

Yep looks like he’s just arrived at his hotel Салавата Юлаева Chelyabinsk, Russia.

Time for a double whiskey at the bar

Imagine the filth in Chelyabinsk. They'd root you just to keep warm

Bet Tunde is upto his nuts in guts.

Looks like an awful place. Imagine waking up in one of the housing projects Sunday morning with a stinking hangover and a Chelyabinskien slapper. Now that would be a rough walk of shame back to some semblance of civilisation

[TheLeprechaun]

It's a case of a fighter coming out as World level or getting brutally exposed and starched. I don't think we have another cleverly situation but at the same time yarde has the David price look as far as his punch resistance goes to me. He also has got away with poncing around and taking it easy in fights. He will get clobbered to the floor if he isn't 100% switched on at all times and even if he is, for my money he will get battered to the canvas in this one and I'm pretty certain we will see muppet tunde throwing in a towel

[margaret thatcher]

Yarde by KO is my final prediction

[Steveh583]

I watched a BT vid of yarde training, and he was moving about with that fat guy who looks like a bouncer at Yates wine lodge. The bloke was throwing shots at him with the pads on....hardly the greatest idea on the eve of a big fight...and it was basically a mutual appreciation society. His coach said they don't need any sparring because the two of them are so competitive. I couldn't believe what I was hearing. Delusional.

[margaret thatcher]

I agree his training looked like a joke. Maybe just for the cameras?