BoxRec

Lebedev should win this fight decisively. Probably by mid round stoppage. If he doesn't dominate, I don't see him keeping the title very long.

What are people's thoughts on Lebedev? I don't think Janik is the guy to test him but will Lebedev keep his belt for long. He is strong and hits hard.

Lebedev is a good boxer puncher. Nice power, toughness and offensive arsenal. His flaws are lack of speed, only works at that one speed, isn't great at cutting the ring off and can't make adjustments. He should have his way with Janik. As ffor keeping the title, it depends. The CW division has slowed down dramatically as far as championship fights are concerned in the last year or two. With this pace, Lebedev could keep his portion of the title till he's 40, but if the champs all fought each other, he doesn't go undefeated. Even now, Usyk's speed would give him fits. Good, strong fighter but not unbeatable.

Obviously he's not unbeatable since he's already lost twice albeit to very good opponents. Lebedev is 35.5 years old. His issues with speed and movement aren't likely to improve with age. I see a bunch of guys being able to beat him but Janik isn't one of them

Lebedev must surely have been ruined by that Guillermo Jones fight. Kovalev/Lebedev would have been fun if that wasn't the case.

Dennis wrote:Obviously he's not unbeatable since he's already lost twice albeit to very good opponents. Lebedev is 35.5 years old. His issues with speed and movement aren't likely to improve with age. I see a bunch of guys being able to beat him but Janik isn't one of them

So you don't think Lebedev is much good then. Maybe a fight with Jordan in the future? ...

Lebedev was a fairly good boxer at one point but I haven't caught up with him for awhile.
I remember Janik fighting Ofalobi in a good contest, Janik was a bit outgunned in the power department but was very determined in a close fight.

Blodhemn wrote:

Dennis wrote:Obviously he's not unbeatable since he's already lost twice albeit to very good opponents. Lebedev is 35.5 years old. His issues with speed and movement aren't likely to improve with age. I see a bunch of guys being able to beat him but Janik isn't one of them

So you don't think Lebedev is much good then. Maybe a fight with Jordan in the future? ...

I don't think I said he wasn't good. I said he's beatable and there are a bunch of guys able to beat him and that Janik isn't one of them. Yes, I would love a fight between Jordan and Lebedev. Another clarification, just because I think there are a bunch (probably 5 to 10) of guys who are able to beat him it won't be a walk in the park for any of them. Lebedev is a tough customer and hits hard. Some of his flaws are he is too stationary and isn't that difficult to hit. Lebedev will give any cruiserweight a battle, but I just see at least a handful of guys being able to win a decision or late round stoppage over him.

Saying an upwards of 10 guys in a division can beat a title holder is pretty damning I think. You best make that fight fast before Lebedev loses it.

According to an article on Fightnews a letter was sent to the WBA demanding that they order a purse bid for the fight between Youri Kalenga, challenger and Denis Lebedev, champion. Kalenga is the mandatory challenger and Lebedev hasn't had a mandatory defense since May 2013. He is required to do so in 9 months and its been 21 months. I didn't like the Lebedev vs Janik fight but a Lebedev vs Kalenga fight is a lot better. I'm not sure Kalenga is the guy to beat Lebedev but I give him a fair chance unlike Janik.

Dennis wrote:According to an article on Fightnews a letter was sent to the WBA demanding that they order a purse bid for the fight between Youri Kalenga, challenger and Denis Lebedev, champion. Kalenga is the mandatory challenger and Lebedev hasn't had a mandatory defense since May 2013. He is required to do so in 9 months and its been 21 months. I didn't like the Lebedev vs Janik fight but a Lebedev vs Kalenga fight is a lot better. I'm not sure Kalenga is the guy to beat Lebedev but I give him a fair chance unlike Janik.

WBA is so corrupt, so that letter will have no effect unless it had cash enclosed

Not as interesting as a Kalenga fight but Janik is decent; his fight with Afolabi was very competitive and I think the 114-114 card is defensible.

crusader wrote:Not as interesting as a Kalenga fight but Janik is decent; his fight with Afolabi was very competitive and I think the 114-114 card is defensible.

The problem is that his best performance is a MD loss to Afolabi.