Kovalev interview with Russian boxing site

Translated: About Ward fight Mike Tyson said, that I will destroy Ward. And I would but something interfered. Those are the mistakes I made preparing. And today I'm at ease with how it went, at ease with my defeat. If I got the W I would remain everything as it were thinking I did all the things correctly, but I didn't. If you look at my fights with Chilemba and Ward, you will see that I looked the same, whilist in the first 4 rounds against Ward I looked myself. Since the round 5 I turned into the other me. The mistake I made during the training process was to stay up the mountains for too long. I needed three weeks, but stayed five. The first time I barely made it into the ring, I'd caught cold twice, did anthibiotics. Before the Ward fight I wasn't ill or anything, though it didn't help much. In the middle of the fifth round it was like my tyres were punctured and went flat - I lost my speed, I lost every aspect of my skills. It hit me psychologically, but what could I do? I fought with nothing but my willpower. About how to change Filter everything that I need and dump everything that I don't need. Maybe add someone into my team. I've already started the talks with some of the specialists whom give me advice, whom might be useful for me and the career ahead. It's gonna be like a second breath. I'm really not happy nor even satisfied with how the year went for me. I started good destroying Pascal but then I've had two horrible fights. Though I beat Chilemba I didn't feel like a winner, I was upset, I felt like I've lost. About training and coaches I've never used practics and tactics of US coaches; if I gotta be honest, they're all zeroes over there. Some think about them like they're the best. These some are wrong. They take a towel, put it over the shoulder and think they're trainers. You got to be a teacher. Maybe I didn't go to college all that long but I learned some about teaching there and I learned some while having my boxing career. You got to understand what amount of training can one sustain up the mountains or after the time zone change. Not everyone is a terminator but every other condition coach thinks they are and they train them the same way not even thinking about one's limits and possibilities or any other factors affecting the training. About possible work with Khromov I would love to talk to him, listen to his opinion, maybe have his advice. Or maybe he could agree to being one my coaches. I wouldn't mind. He's a great trainer even though he trains amateurs. If I got to be honest, he is a really good coach. Source: https://www.reddit.com/r/Boxing/comments/5i8xtl/kovalev_gave_an_honest_interview/

Comments (20)

Looks like he's not a fan of American trainers: "I've never used practics and tactics of US coaches; if I gotta be honest, they're all zeroes over there. Some think about them like they're the best. These some are wrong. They take a towel, put it over the shoulder and think they're trainers." he has always been known as an excuse maker

9y ago

ruedboy

"Failure's a chance to start again with more information." T Edison If Kovalev really sees his loss as a wake up call and a time to reevaluate what he's been doing, than that's a good thing. As far as saying all American trainers are zeros, that's a bit harsh (it's only about 90%) lol. Training methods are only good if a fighter is willing to give them a try (Ariza had some good ideas and how many times was he fired? lol) Maybe Russian trainers utilize more scientific techniques than the Yanks bit it's hard to generalize.

9y ago

Dr_Rumack

Good interview. Hope he gets a chance for a rematch to see if it's all empty talk or not. He speaks very poorly of US trainers.. what does that mean for JDJ? It would seem that he and JDJ are finished.

9y ago

New_England

Watching Ann Wolfe make Kirkland roll tires around a field after another knockout loss makes me tend to believe him. ann wolfe had kirkland ready to fight when he was in his prime. teh guy was in great shape. not saying it's good for al ong career, that she could teach head movement and technical aspects of boxing, but kirkland was well prepared when he trained with her, and a much better fighter.

9y ago

j0zef

Good interview. Hope he gets a chance for a rematch to see if it's all empty talk or not. He speaks very poorly of US trainers.. what does that mean for JDJ?

9y ago

John_Locke

Easy to see why Sanchez got rid of Kovalev. Guy has a horrible attitude.

9y ago

vman075

Kovalev is blaming his conditioning on training in high altitude? LMAO really? High altitude is the best possible training for a fighter's stamina. Think of all the high altitude fighters. They never gas. GGG. Oscar. Everyone from Greg Jackson's training camp. Diego Sanchez. Holly holm. Jon Jones. Carlos Condit. Donald Cerrone. if it's one thing high altitude fighters are known for it's their stamina. if he wants to make his career a priority. he needs to move there like GGG did. lol going there and catching a cold is his own dedication problem. Not necessarily. Cotto hated high altitude training. After he left his trainer, he spoke about not believing in it. If you look at his fights when he was doing it (Margarito II, Mayweather and Trout) he was very gassed late in all of those fights.

9y ago

Citizen_Koba

Ahhh and it finally shows. Time to stop taking you seriously. So, PROFESSIONAL BOXERS who are actually involved in the game and for MANY YEARS are 'lesser boxing minds' because they scored it for Ward? I find it comical that you think you're above anyone who scored it for Ward. Get off your high horse. Carry on, mate. My metaphysical humour passed you by mate, I see. S'Alright Mrs Koba doesn't think I'm funny either. What I was alluding to was that I gave 5 rounds definitely to Kovalev (1, 2, 4, 6 and 10) 4 to Ward (7, 8 , 9 and 11) and struggled with 3, 5 and 12. In the event I gave 5 to Ward, 12 to Kovalev and scored 3 equal. I thought Kovalev won but I got no real problem with anyone who gave all 3 of my swing rounds to Ward for the 114 - 113. I just think they're wrong is all.:D

9y ago

_JSFD26_

He never denied the fact that the decision went to Ward though did he? Well that's all he is saying now. You seem to be blurring the lines between acknowledgement of the loss and acceptance that the loss was justified. Whatever though. I think you know what you're doing. As to the latter, simples. I scored the fight for Kovalev. 115 -113 hence anyone who scored it differently is making a poor decision because I am supreme arbiter in my own subjective judgement. Nonetheless I refuse to call it a robbery because I can see how lesser boxing minds could be foolish enough to give 7 rounds to Dre.It was pretty tight, after all. Ahhh and it finally shows. Time to stop taking you seriously. So, PROFESSIONAL BOXERS who are actually involved in the game and for MANY YEARS are 'lesser boxing minds' because they scored it for Ward? I find it comical that you think you're above anyone who scored it for Ward. Get off your high horse. Carry on, mate.

9y ago

mick1303

He never denied the fact that the decision went to Ward though did he? Well that's all he is saying now. You seem to be blurring the lines between acknowledgement of the loss and acceptance that the loss was justified. Whatever though. I think you know what you're doing. As to the latter, simples. I scored the fight for Kovalev. 115 -113 hence anyone who scored it differently is making a poor decision because I am supreme arbiter in my own subjective judgement. Nonetheless I refuse to call it a robbery because I can see how lesser boxing minds could be foolish enough to give 7 rounds to Dre. It was pretty tight, after all. Precisely. Not being happy with his own performance and agreeing that Ward won more rounds (with unbiased scoring) is two different things.

9y ago

BrometheusBob

The amount of disrespect JDJ takes from that guy for the money is a sad thing. For what JDJ is getting paid, I'd spar with Kovalev. lol shieeet

9y ago

Citizen_Koba

But that same night he said he was robbed and cried about American judges. So, he isn't just acknowledging the judges' decision. Also, you dont think it was a robbery but believe it was a poor decision, why? Because it was UD rather than SD or MD? Just curious. He never denied the fact that the decision went to Ward though did he? Well that's all he is saying now. You seem to be blurring the lines between acknowledgement of the loss and acceptance that the loss was justified. Whatever though. I think you know what you're doing. As to the latter, simples. I scored the fight for Kovalev. 115 -113 hence anyone who scored it differently is making a poor decision because I am supreme arbiter in my own subjective judgement. Nonetheless I refuse to call it a robbery because I can see how lesser boxing minds could be foolish enough to give 7 rounds to Dre. It was pretty tight, after all.:D

9y ago

deanrw

Kovalev has the right to go anywhere he wants, but he comes across as way too difficult to train. JDJ and Abel Sanchez said the same thing. You can only train who wants to be trained.

9y ago

_JSFD26_

Abel Sanchez kicked him out of big bear and the police were called. I don't know why people have been ignoring that side of Kovalev....well I do know why but whatever. I didn't know about the police part. Crazy. Lol

9y ago

_JSFD26_

Acknowledging the judges' decision is not the same thing as saying he doesn't believe he deserved to have his hand raised. Not that I am saying it's a robbery, it wasn't, even if I believe it was a poor decision. But that same night he said he was robbed and cried about American judges. So, he isn't just acknowledging the judges' decision. Also, you dont think it was a robbery but believe it was a poor decision, why? Because it was UD rather than SD or MD? Just curious.

9y ago

_Maxi

Well, there you have it folks. JDJ admitted defeat and now so did Kovalev. With an excuse but he's admitting defeat nonetheless. Now yall can stop crying robbery. I agree. It's been mentioned around here that he is not opened to listening to trainers. If you don't agree with their methods fine but dont go around trying to degrade them. Because there's a reason why America has had so many great fighters to this day. No, he was just not happy with his performance. He also said he felt like he lost against Chilemba. But he won. Understand the difference?

9y ago

anonymous20

I guess Pascal was right all along.

9y ago

Citizen_Koba

Well, there you have it folks. JDJ admitted defeat and now so did Kovalev. With an excuse but he's admitting defeat nonetheless. Now yall can stop crying robbery. I agree. It's been mentioned around here that he is not opened to listening to trainers. If you don't agree with their methods fine but dont go around trying to degrade them. Because there's a reason why America has had so many great fighters to this day. Acknowledging the judges' decision is not the same thing as saying he doesn't believe he deserved to have his hand raised. Not that I am saying it's a robbery, it wasn't, even if I believe it was a poor decision.

9y ago

_JSFD26_

Well, there you have it folks. JDJ admitted defeat and now so did Kovalev. With an excuse but he's admitting defeat nonetheless. Now yall can stop crying robbery. "I've never used practics and tactics of US coaches; if I gotta be honest, they're all zeroes over there" Kovalev is a good fighter but I don't like this type of attitude. He seems very closed minded. It's always good to be open to new ideas. I agree. It's been mentioned around here that he is not opened to listening to trainers. If you don't agree with their methods fine but dont go around trying to degrade them. Because there's a reason why America has had so many great fighters to this day.

9y ago

Weltschmerz

I'm pretty glad to hear him say that, because the way John David Jackson has been insisting that Kovalev clearly won the fight was making me concerned that he wouldn't be able to up his game for the rematch However, I don't agree that Kovalev got nothing from JDJ. He clearly looks an improved fighter in some aspects since they've been together. The Hopkins performance in particular was a masterclass and I think JDJ played a big role in that. But the fact that Kovalev is even having these thoughts means they need to split. The trust is clearly gone Having someone who speaks his language and who is on the same page culturally in his corner will probably do him some good ...........^^^^

9y ago