What was Cleverly's game plan?

I think his plan was to have Kovalev fighting going backwards. Takes some of the steam out of his punches and also it would sap his stamina faster. Cleverly must have truly believed he could overwhelm Kovalev and slowly break him down and take over the 2nd half of the fight.

And even if his punches are blocked, they hurt like hell I saw some punches that looked like Clev blocked, but you could tell that they were gonna start hurting sooner than later.

Better to let the fire chase you than walking in to it. I "advised" Clev to take a dive in the 3rd... But the kid chose to go to hospital instead.

One can't simply run away from Kovalev -- he cuts the ring easily and connects monster punches into the process. Better to let the fire chase you than walking in to it.

Whatever it was...LOL!:lol1:

Why is weathering the storm and come on late always the plan for most euro fighters stepping up? They saw Froch doing this...

Why is weathering the storm and come on late always the plan for most euro fighters stepping up?

He hit Kovalev with the jab pretty easily. I guess the plan was to slip and block punches, land the jab and wait for Kovalev to gas. Right from the start it was clear that he was in over his head. He needed to use the ring and hope to frustrate and tire Kovalev, but I don't think that's in Cleverly. He's like Khan in his lack of discipline. Clev was scared like shit... They all are -- since Kovalev killed Simakov.

it was obviously to get kovalev to open up early and survive, hoping for a late round surge when kovalev tires.

He hit Kovalev with the jab pretty easily. I guess the plan was to slip and block punches, land the jab and wait for Kovalev to gas. Right from the start it was clear that he was in over his head. He needed to use the ring and hope to frustrate and tire Kovalev, but I don't think that's in Cleverly. He's like Khan in his lack of discipline.

One can't simply run away from Kovalev -- he cuts the ring easily and connects monster punches into the process. And even if his punches are blocked, they hurt like hell

I didn't understand why Cleverly was walking towards him. You don't walk down a puncher, especially not a murderous puncher. He should've been boxing off the backfoot to survive until the mid-rounds where maybe, maybe his fitness would take over. One can't simply run away from Kovalev -- he cuts the ring easily and connects monster punches into the process.

cover up, slip punches and hope he gasses.And he forgot to throw punches too lol...

As Calzache told Box Nation: Boxing... Drag Kovalev into the late rounds -- as he never fought more than 8 rounds.

Yea that was probably the guy he killed, that the last time he went over 3 rounds in many years. Its hard to know how he would last 12 rounds at the world level tho That was the guy, but time will tell.

I didn't understand why Cleverly was walking towards him. You don't walk down a puncher, especially not a murderous puncher. He should've been boxing off the backfoot to survive until the mid-rounds where maybe, maybe his fitness would take over.

Cleverly must've been reading NSB posts on how to be exciting. Don't move laterally or slip punches and block as many with your head as possible. You may get knocked out, but the fans will love you....... won't they?

try to jab and get countered every single time. stand in front of kovalev and take punches to the head. fall down multiple times. win!

Pressure Kovalev, let him unload and throw nothing back. :rofl: Worst plan he could have had vs a power puncher.

Kovalev, I watched him fight another russian, and his work rate is great. Yea that was probably the guy he killed, that the last time he went over 3 rounds in many years. Its hard to know how he would last 12 rounds at the world level tho