Bernard Hopkins vs Kovalev (November)
- Thread starter 2-0-Sixx
- Start date
Yeah probably not. Kovalev did his hip thrust feint the round before and kept circling with his hand sugar ray Leonard style couple rounds before as well so he was clowning himself but in the end they both showed each other a lot of respect which I was glad to see. I think Kovalev gained a ton of experience tonight, hopefully Stevenson grows a pair eventually and they can unify all the belts.
Bhop got his ass whooped, don't even know how he survived that. Kovalev had respect for him until he stuck his tongue out. He went for the KO after that, but before that, he let go of the gas out of respect IMO...
Props:
CZAR and CZAR
You can tell Kovalev really studied BHOP thoroughly. His gameplanreally made it impossible for BHOP to win. In his prime it would be different obviously and he'd be favored, but Hopkins wouldn't have had a chance in the last 10+ years, imo. Credit to him for battling for 12, though. Kovalev is one of the best fighters around currently. Anything can happen, but I don't see anyone who can compete with him unless he drops a weight class to fight Ward like Dawson did foolishly did.
Well, even in the loss bhop earna respect. How many people have gone 12 with one of thw top five punchers today? And Kovalev had some antics to but like I said a page or so ago, he didn't want to hurt bhop. Take the belts? Yep. Cripple him? Nah. He totally respected his legacy so he earns props for the win and how he won it.
I know Hopkins got outclassed (by age) but damn Kovalev looked like a controled cerebral fighter. This fight will teach him his brain is stronger than his KO. I'm impressed and glad to see he outboxed Hopkins. Lol Jackson (trainer) was nervous as hell the whole fight, outta breath and jittery. He prolly was havin flashes of when B Hop knocked him out.
I think this performance changes my perception of a fight w/ stevenson. I think Kovalevs ability to stick to a gameplan and be okay with a decision takes him to the a-level.
I think this performance changes my perception of a fight w/ stevenson. I think Kovalevs ability to stick to a gameplan and be okay with a decision takes him to the a-level.
Yeah man Kovalev showed he's not one dimensional and he's a smart fighter. He had a game plan and stuck to it for a full 12 rounds.
Props:
CZAR and CZAR
his chin won't hold. I think Hopkins is the only guy at 175 with the defense and chin and smarts to go the distance against Kovalev. Stevenson getting dropped and hurt againstythe Polish kid in his tune up fight wasn't a good sign for me. Krusher has real power, even his jab to the body knocks guys down which is insane.
Props:
heyzel and heyzel
The fact Kovalev was hit and rattled by bhop is telling. Stevenson, if he caught Kovalev with those same shots would ko him. Some times tune up fights dont go as planned but its nothing now. They already exposed Duva and Kovalev for being liars. All eyes are on you now. This can be a big fight and will sell on PPV. Make it happen. Stevenson by KO in the 10th.
Im just saying he's been knocked out cold and that I seriously doubt he can handle Kovalev’s power. But he's over there in Showtime with Al Haymon so the fight probably won't happenaanytime soon. I think Artur Beterbiev has a legit chance of beating both Kovalev and Stevenson, he's another killer rapidly on the rise. I think he may be mandatory to one of Kovalev’s titles in fact.
Kind of funny how history repeats itself. I think after tonight Kovalev is clearly viewed as the best 175 fighter, is the unified champion, yet one guy in Stevenson is the lineal champ, similar to when Roy Jones was dominating 175 yet Michalczewski was the true lineal champ.
Kind of funny how history repeats itself. I think after tonight Kovalev is clearly viewed as the best 175 fighter, is the unified champion, yet one guy in Stevenson is the lineal champ, similar to when Roy Jones was dominating 175 yet Michalczewski was the true lineal champ.