Sergey Kovalev (2014) vs Bivol/Beterbiev (2024)

[EdwardRevolver1993]

"Krusher" Kovalev from the Hopkins fight against Bivol and Beterbiev of yesterday.

How do you think he fares against them?

[goose 5]

Kovalev loses to both-I think he's a little overrated.

[DrDuke]

Both are better than Kovalev. Technically all of them are sound, but both Bivol and Beter are tougher, with better punch resistance.

[margaret thatcher]

kov was a technically very sound boxer, despite early in his career being labelled a slugger. very good with his straight punches, with some wicked, effortless power. he could scramble guys even with jabs, didnt have to put anything into the shots. good timing as well.

but his chin and stamina werent great. both losses to ward and to both alvarezes he was ahead but then faded or got caught. he often admitted to tiring early in bouts and perhaps this was due to his notorious drinking issues. i think he would get ahead of artur early, but artur is simply too hard and would break him eventually

bivol is a smoother boxer, but doesnt really have the pressure /power to counter kov's biggest flaws, and this could allow kov to stay in the fight longer. i think it would be close, probably bivol decision, as he's slick enough to avoid getting hit with too many hurtful fight changing shots

another interesting one woulda been kov-gvodzyk......there is one where i think kov could end up levelling the dude

[gilgamesh]

kov was a technically very sound boxer, despite early in his career being labelled a slugger. very good with his straight punches, with some wicked, effortless power. he could scramble guys even with jabs, didnt have to put anything into the shots. good timing as well.

but his chin and stamina werent great. both losses to ward and to both alvarezes he was ahead but then faded or got caught. he often admitted to tiring early in bouts and perhaps this was due to his notorious drinking issues. i think he would get ahead of artur early, but artur is simply too hard and would break him eventually

bivol is a smoother boxer, but doesnt really have the pressure /power to counter kov's biggest flaws, and this could allow kov to stay in the fight longer. i think it would be close, probably bivol decision, as he's slick enough to avoid getting hit with too many hurtful fight changing shots

another interesting one woulda been kov-gvodzyk......there is one where i think kov could end up levelling the dude

He was never really beaten by Ward. He deserved the decision in the 1st fight, and was stopped on low blows in the 2nd fight. He was fading, but was stopped with illegal blows so who's to say what would've happened if the referee had done a proper job. Both of those fights are tainted.

I could see Kovalev giving Bivol a lot of hell. Bivol is a superior boxer, but wouldn't have the pop to make Kovalev scared of him so Kovalev would be steadily on the attack, and would probably do no worse than fight on even terms with Bivol.

Beterbiev I think would be too strong for Kovalev, and would knock him out in the 6th or 7th round or thereabouts.

[margaret thatcher]

ya i agree he shoulda got the first decision, for me it was 115-112, but still he defo did slow in the second half.

[gilgamesh]

ya i agree he shoulda got the first decision, for me it was 115-112, but still he defo did slow in the second half.

This is true, and yes he was noticeably fading the 2nd bout as well. We're both not wrong on this one.

It's kinda a shame for Ward in that 2nd fight just as much as it is for Kovalev because I don't doubt at all that he could've legitimately beaten Kovalev, he just didn't get to because Tony Weeks doesn't recognize a punch square on the balls as a low blow.

[Jeff_lacy_ko]

Betwrbiev

Is you cant take wards power you arent beating artur