The Andre Ward chapter of his career is closed but I hope these 2 losses don't make fans lose interest in Kovalev. Reasons being:
1. He's still a top p4p fighter that just lacks an inside game. But it takes an elite inside fighter such as Ward to expose that.
2. We can't dismiss fighters because of losses. We demand that the best fight the best but when they do, somebody has to lose.
With that said, I still think Kovalev has a lot of fight left in him. Here are my options:
1. Adonis Stevenson
2. Artur Beterbiev
3. Move to cruiserweight to win a title in his second weight class
I think he is DONE! The Blueprint is out on him, he is WEAK TO THE BODY and that will be a target for all who fight him. Get INSIDE, go to the body and DRAIN HIM!
The Winner of Barrera vs Joe Smith would be great for him!
I'd like to see him make a dedication to his career, he's done well, but it seems he's plateaued, he looked especially slower this fight, Maybe a change in trainers; if he truly doesn't heed Jackson as rumored then it's not going to get any better. I'd like to see him with a trainer that can push his conditioning and add to his offense some and tighten his guard to the body.
Otherwise Barrera/Smith
Beterbiev would be the best fight I think, but it's a lose-lose for Kovalev. He either beats a guy who was "all hype" and hasn't beaten anyone, or he loses to a guy with 12 fights.
I think Barrera-Smith Jr winner is the most realistic option (especially if it's Barrera)
doesn't matter who he gets in with next, i see him being a shadow of the fighter he once was. Will he be able to get over it mentally? Also, Ward has laid the blueprint to beat him. Anyone watching both fights(including Kov fans) can clearly see that he hates it to the body and tires quickly when you go down there
He's not a top P4P fighter. Hopefully now people see he doesn't deserve to be in the top 5 with his lacking resume and inability to adapt this past fight.
I want to see him fight Beterbiev or Gzovdyj. Ward can face Stevenson.
I think Gvo (not even trying to learn that name) is an impressive up and comer and it would be a great fight.
Barrera would probably be a smarter fight for Kovalev. Or Smith, if he gets through Barrera.
Beterbeiv would be good but I'd hate to see Beterbeiv get derailed before he even beats a live body so I'd like it to happen early next year.
175 is really getting stacked right now.
He should move up to Cruiserweight and fight a couple of light touches to get acclimated and then go for a world title shot.
At 34 going on 35 he doesn't need to put his body through the strain and weight draining of making 175. So it's in his best interest to finish his career at Cruiserweight.