BoxRec

if he fights smaller heavyweights like Adamek or Cunningham who are really Cruiserweights, do you think he can beat them?

Probably, since they're both small HWs and far removed from their primes. Neither of them have a title for him to cherry pick though.

Just as would be the case in virtually any other time in history, the best Light Heavyweight would be a top ten-ish Heavyweight. Kovalev is no different, but obviously he wouldn't last against Wlad.

How would Rigondeaux fare against a small welter like Pacquiao ? ... or how would Golovkin fare against Lebedev or Huck ?

What about him fighting at CW first against the like of Huck.

Imagine him fighting Haye he wouldn’t get past the first round.

Adamek seems like a comparable fighter. Kovalev may do marginally better...

JCS wrote:Adamek seems like a comparable fighter. Kovalev may do marginally better...

I'm not buying into Kovalev beating Adamek or Cunningham either what Amir Mansour??

JCS wrote:Adamek seems like a comparable fighter. Kovalev may do marginally better...

Marginally? Adamek wasn't the killer Kovalev is at light heavy. Sergey is a lot better IMO. If Krusher wants to move up he doesn't have too much time. Wait for Klit to retire and move up IMO, maybe stopping at cruiser for a couple of fights on the way.

Riddick Blowe wrote:

JCS wrote:Adamek seems like a comparable fighter. Kovalev may do marginally better...

Marginally? Adamek wasn't the killer Kovalev is at light heavy. Sergey is a lot better IMO. If Krusher wants to move up he doesn't have too much time. Wait for Klit to retire and move up IMO, maybe stopping at cruiser for a couple of fights on the way.

I think you're getting ahead of yourself there mate. Sergey was asked about moving up to cruiserweight and he said he walks around at 190 naturally and whilst he might do ok for 4 or 5 rounds against cruiserweights that down the stretch they would start to push him around because they're naturally bigger men. This came from his own mouth and this was in regards to cruiserweights not heavyweights.

lefty wrote:

Riddick Blowe wrote:

JCS wrote:Adamek seems like a comparable fighter. Kovalev may do marginally better...

Marginally? Adamek wasn't the killer Kovalev is at light heavy. Sergey is a lot better IMO. If Krusher wants to move up he doesn't have too much time. Wait for Klit to retire and move up IMO, maybe stopping at cruiser for a couple of fights on the way.

I think you're getting ahead of yourself there mate. Sergey was asked about moving up to cruiserweight and he said he walks around at 190 naturally and whilst he might do ok for 4 or 5 rounds against cruiserweights that down the stretch they would start to push him around because they're naturally bigger men. This came from his own mouth and this was in regards to cruiserweights not heavyweights.

Fair do's I didn't know he said that.

lefty wrote:

Riddick Blowe wrote:

JCS wrote:Adamek seems like a comparable fighter. Kovalev may do marginally better...

Marginally? Adamek wasn't the killer Kovalev is at light heavy. Sergey is a lot better IMO. If Krusher wants to move up he doesn't have too much time. Wait for Klit to retire and move up IMO, maybe stopping at cruiser for a couple of fights on the way.

I think you're getting ahead of yourself there mate. Sergey was asked about moving up to cruiserweight and he said he walks around at 190 naturally and whilst he might do ok for 4 or 5 rounds against cruiserweights that down the stretch they would start to push him around because they're naturally bigger men. This came from his own mouth and this was in regards to cruiserweights not heavyweights.

Stuff like this convinces me even more that another weight division's needed. For a start, look at the gaps between weights, starting at strawweight, it goes 3, 4, 3, 3, 4, 4, 4, 5, 5, 7, 7, 6, 8, 7, 25. The difference between light heavyweight and cruiserweight is ridiculous, for a fighter to move up they either have to be a huge light heavyweight or incredibly skilled to make up the weight difference. Then there's the small heavyweights who struggle to compete physically with the big boys, but can't make cruiserweight. They should move the cruiserweight limit back down to 13st 8lbs and create a new division at 15st to balance things out a bit. Otherwise fighters like Kovalev, who's fast running out of opponents at light heavy, will end up stuck in a difficult position, without credible opponents at their current weight, but unable to move up, or in the case of the small heavies, down, to find new opponents.

Modern nutrition, supplements (both legal and illegal) make rising in weight to be easier than ever.

The problem is; there is no limit in the heavies, and today's heavies are bloody enormous.

I mean the average heavy must be 240-250 lbs easy; a little different from going moving up 2 divisions in any other category.

Cruiser? i think he would kill it.

Heavy? He would compete a la Adamek / Cunningham, but ultimately just too small IMO

expe wrote:

lefty wrote:

Riddick Blowe wrote: Marginally? Adamek wasn't the killer Kovalev is at light heavy. Sergey is a lot better IMO. If Krusher wants to move up he doesn't have too much time. Wait for Klit to retire and move up IMO, maybe stopping at cruiser for a couple of fights on the way.

I think you're getting ahead of yourself there mate. Sergey was asked about moving up to cruiserweight and he said he walks around at 190 naturally and whilst he might do ok for 4 or 5 rounds against cruiserweights that down the stretch they would start to push him around because they're naturally bigger men. This came from his own mouth and this was in regards to cruiserweights not heavyweights.

Stuff like this convinces me even more that another weight division's needed. For a start, look at the gaps between weights, starting at strawweight, it goes 3, 4, 3, 3, 4, 4, 4, 5, 5, 7, 7, 6, 8, 7, 25. The difference between light heavyweight and cruiserweight is ridiculous, for a fighter to move up they either have to be a huge light heavyweight or incredibly skilled to make up the weight difference. Then there's the small heavyweights who struggle to compete physically with the big boys, but can't make cruiserweight. They should move the cruiserweight limit back down to 13st 8lbs and create a new division at 15st to balance things out a bit. Otherwise fighters like Kovalev, who's fast running out of opponents at light heavy, will end up stuck in a difficult position, without credible opponents at their current weight, but unable to move up, or in the case of the small heavies, down, to find new opponents.

Yeah. Bellew seems stuck between the light heavy and cruiserweight limit himself. Not big enough for cruiser really but too big for 175.

lefty wrote:

expe wrote:

lefty wrote: I think you're getting ahead of yourself there mate. Sergey was asked about moving up to cruiserweight and he said he walks around at 190 naturally and whilst he might do ok for 4 or 5 rounds against cruiserweights that down the stretch they would start to push him around because they're naturally bigger men. This came from his own mouth and this was in regards to cruiserweights not heavyweights.

Stuff like this convinces me even more that another weight division's needed. For a start, look at the gaps between weights, starting at strawweight, it goes 3, 4, 3, 3, 4, 4, 4, 5, 5, 7, 7, 6, 8, 7, 25. The difference between light heavyweight and cruiserweight is ridiculous, for a fighter to move up they either have to be a huge light heavyweight or incredibly skilled to make up the weight difference. Then there's the small heavyweights who struggle to compete physically with the big boys, but can't make cruiserweight. They should move the cruiserweight limit back down to 13st 8lbs and create a new division at 15st to balance things out a bit. Otherwise fighters like Kovalev, who's fast running out of opponents at light heavy, will end up stuck in a difficult position, without credible opponents at their current weight, but unable to move up, or in the case of the small heavies, down, to find new opponents.

Yeah. Bellew seems stuck between the light heavy and cruiserweight limit himself. Not big enough for cruiser really but too big for 175.

Yes, good point about weight. Problem is that when boxing weights were drawn up, man was a lot smaller. Now, the MMA weights reflect modern weights better. But without an agreed change throughout the big 4, not sure much will change.

It would probably be more fair and mathematically correct to have a set increment of weight increase throughout the divisions. Eg 8 or 10% or whatever (I have not actually tested those estimates, just pulled them out my head!)

He's too small, and his chin isn't steel. Someone like Mike Perez would beat him up badly.

Riddick Blowe wrote:

JCS wrote:Adamek seems like a comparable fighter. Kovalev may do marginally better...

Marginally? Adamek wasn't the killer Kovalev is at light heavy. Sergey is a lot better IMO. If Krusher wants to move up he doesn't have too much time. Wait for Klit to retire and move up IMO, maybe stopping at cruiser for a couple of fights on the way.

Size matters...

OMFG.... people get your heads out of your asses.... was a month or so ago everyone asked "How would Hopkins fair against Klitschko?" and now that BHop has lost you have the same mindless idiots asking how Kovalev would fair at heavyweight.

This isn't the era of Billy Conn where there is only twenty-thirty pounds difference... this is an era where there is sixty to eighty pounds of difference... I wouldnt even bother asking whether Marco Huck and others at Cruiserweight could pull it off... Its that monumental of a difference, and besides Klitschko is far too skilled.

lefty wrote: Stuff like this convinces me even more that another weight division's needed. For a start, look at the gaps between weights, starting at strawweight, it goes 3, 4, 3, 3, 4, 4, 4, 5, 5, 7, 7, 6, 8, 7, 25. The difference between light heavyweight and cruiserweight is ridiculous, for a fighter to move up they either have to be a huge light heavyweight or incredibly skilled to make up the weight difference. Then there's the small heavyweights who struggle to compete physically with the big boys, but can't make cruiserweight. They should move the cruiserweight limit back down to 13st 8lbs and create a new division at 15st to balance things out a bit. Otherwise fighters like Kovalev, who's fast running out of opponents at light heavy, will end up stuck in a difficult position, without credible opponents at their current weight, but unable to move up, or in the case of the small heavies, down, to find new opponents.

Very good point. Shows how little I care about cruiserweight that I assumed it was 190, had to check a few days ago and it is indeed 200. Never thought about it before but 25 lb is ridiculous.

Kovalev/Briggs might be fun. I'd watch that.

I might be having a memory lapse, but I thought Cruiser was expanded to 200 for two reasons:

1 - People are getting bigger.
2 - The division sucked.


Would it help if we lowered it back to 190 and added a 215 in between that and Heavy.. or does it make things even more watered down?

JCS wrote:Kovalev/Briggs might be fun. I'd watch that.

I might be having a memory lapse, but I thought Cruiser was expanded to 200 for two reasons:

1 - People are getting bigger.
2 - The division sucked.


Would it help if we lowered it back to 190 and added a 215 in between that and Heavy.. or does it make things even more watered down?

In certain states, its still 195 pound limit (like Oklahoma, Arkansas, Louisiana, etc).

HomicideHenry wrote:

JCS wrote:Kovalev/Briggs might be fun. I'd watch that.

I might be having a memory lapse, but I thought Cruiser was expanded to 200 for two reasons:

1 - People are getting bigger.
2 - The division sucked.


Would it help if we lowered it back to 190 and added a 215 in between that and Heavy.. or does it make things even more watered down?

In certain states, its still 195 pound limit (like Oklahoma, Arkansas, Louisiana, etc).

Not necessarily trendsetting states as it pertains to... well... anything.

JCS wrote:Kovalev/Briggs might be fun. I'd watch that.

I might be having a memory lapse, but I thought Cruiser was expanded to 200 for two reasons:

1 - People are getting bigger.
2 - The division sucked.


Would it help if we lowered it back to 190 and added a 215 in between that and Heavy.. or does it make things even more watered down?

For the love of God please no more weight divisions.

tiny_acres wrote:

JCS wrote:Kovalev/Briggs might be fun. I'd watch that.

I might be having a memory lapse, but I thought Cruiser was expanded to 200 for two reasons:

1 - People are getting bigger.
2 - The division sucked.


Would it help if we lowered it back to 190 and added a 215 in between that and Heavy.. or does it make things even more watered down?

For the love of God please no more weight divisions.

It SOUNDS like a good idea before actually thinking about it.

JCS wrote:

tiny_acres wrote:

JCS wrote:Kovalev/Briggs might be fun. I'd watch that.

I might be having a memory lapse, but I thought Cruiser was expanded to 200 for two reasons:

1 - People are getting bigger.
2 - The division sucked.


Would it help if we lowered it back to 190 and added a 215 in between that and Heavy.. or does it make things even more watered down?

For the love of God please no more weight divisions.

It SOUNDS like a good idea before actually thinking about it.

I used to think a superheavy division was a good idea.But then I sobered up

hulkmaniac wrote:if he fights smaller heavyweights like Adamek or Cunningham who are really Cruiserweights, do you think he can beat them?

Adamek is trash and not a top 20 heavyweight anymore. Anyone would beat him, and that includes Kovalev. Cunningham appears to still be a somewhat quality operator, and would probably get a narrow win. Although, by the time of 38-year-old Cunningham's next fight, he will be 6 months older, and probably completely phased out of his prime.

IMO, there seems to actually be a bigger gap between CW and HW than there is between LHW and CW. I say this because Antonio Tarver, who seemed absolutely 100% finished at LHW, was able to move-up to CW and promptly thrash Danny Green. Big LHW's seem like they can almost move right up to CW without a hiccup. We have seen a ton of CW's move-up to HW, but it seems that a lot is often lost in translation, apart from David Haye's success. Fighters like Adamek, Cunningham, Banks, Mormeck, etc. were all moderately less effective at HW than they were at CW.