Comments Thread For: McGirt: Kovalev Stuck To The Game Plan More Than I Anticipated

Am I right in thinking that all the 4 titles are held by 4 different Russians? Is this a first time in history that all 4 titles in any weight division are held by 4 different Russians? Gvozdyk is Ukranian but Bivol, Kov and Beterbiev are all Ruskies. The eastern europeans are certainly running the divison, no doubt about that. Same with the cruisers.

Sounds a bit like circle jerking in here on how all these Eastern Euros would beat Ward and everyone else.

Kovalev looked much better last night. Many people forget he should have gotten the decision in the first fight with Ward because of the knockdown and he won the majority of Rounds. He would have never had to do the rematch with Ward if he got the right scoring in the first fight I was at the first fight and everyone around me was saying Kov won. People were in shock when they said Ward won. I agreed and there was no way I going back for a rematch. Pay all that cash to see that, no thanks.

McGirt deserves a lot of credit for getting Kovalev to stick to an effective game plan that nullified the biggest flaws Krusher has. He's still a little shopworn in my opinion but I think he can harness good performances in his next 2-3 fights.

Kovalev looked much better last night. Many people forget he should have gotten the decision in the first fight with Ward because of the knockdown and he won the majority of Rounds. He would have never had to do the rematch with Ward if he got the right scoring in the first fight

Ward is allowed to hold and billy goat ram his head into opponents because the boxing establishment in the USA cannot afford to have disqualified a guy they were trying to build up to give certain demographics a hero. Ward is a dirty fighter, and above average boxer with no power and Ok chin. But he would be getting beaten more often if the referee actually enforced the rules. Kovalev outboxed Ward has dropped him hard in the first fight and should have won a cheat decision. They robbed Kovalev, clearly corruption as all 3 judges had given Ward the 10th round which was dominated by Kovalev and was the round that gave Ward the fight. If the judges correctly scored that round for Kovalev he wins the fight. Great post

I think Kovalev needed to get knocked out so he would get out of those bad habits from HBO hyping him up as the indestructible Krusher and get back to basic boxing.

That's exactly what Kov did. This time his demeanour didn't change after 6 rounds when his man was still in front of him throwing away. A focused Kovalev is a handful for anyone. His workrate will always win him rounds, just a question of keeping switched on for the full 12. The LHW division IS ON. Where's Kalle? Let's do a WBSS. Am I right in thinking that all the 4 titles are held by 4 different Russians? Is this a first time in history that all 4 titles in any weight division are held by 4 different Russians?

Great performance by Kovalev but Alvarez made it easy. He never pushed the fight except for 10 or 15 seconds in the beginning of most of the rounds and the last round. He was winging that right that caught Kovalev before from the beginning of the fight. By the time that punch would have any effect Kovalev was expecting it. The reason that punch worked before was because Alvarez used it sporadically. Kovalev was tired and did not see the punch coming. Last night Kovalev never got fatigued because of the pacing set by himself and lack of effort from Alvarez. He was expecting the punch so it never caught him off guard. It still takes a great effort by Kovalev to realize his mistakes and make the necessary adjustments to correct it. Great points. Kudos to the still very tough Kovalev. Alvarez learned a tough lesson, it ain't easy being the champ. :boxing:

Well well the naysayers have feasted on crow all nite long😂😂😂 It’s obvious that Kovalev is a bone head but a smarter one than he,BUDDY MCGIRT, is harder headed in a good sense saving KOV from himself! Tim Bradley was spot on !!! I didn’t like Andre til NOW as he spoke his mind he admitted he was wrong and KOV was right giving him kudos!! KOV made Alvarez look like SHLT!!!!😂😂😂 How’s that crow tasting??😂Y’all like to dish it out so how ere ye taking it?😂😂😂😂😂

Also (unfortunately for the Ward stans) winning in this fashion takes away from the argument that the Ward fights took a lot out of him. He looked as good as ever in this fight and seems to have at least a few more good fights in him.

Nice win by Kov and nice gameplan as well. I think we all forgot a little bit of how good a boxer Kov is, and how the boxing always sets up the big shots anyways. After the first Ward fight I think he went into head-hunting mode in his next few fights and when he got KOd by Alvarez I think it probably gave him a good wake up call that he needs to really get back to boxing. And looks like hiring McGirt was a good decision so far, may have been McGirt's gameplan to get back to the boxing. Sticking with the boxing has the added advantage that he won't get down on himself mentally in the mid to late rounds if he hasn't got the KO yet. He can just keep focused on the boxing. But overall a really impressive win for Kov and exactly what he needed to justify keeping fighting. Should be some good fights at 175 soon. Browne Bivol Kov the Nail Beterbiev should all be fighting each other. If Kov can keep this up I think he is #1 now.

Where was Kovalev’s ram-rod jab to the midsection ? If he did throw it, it didn’t look half as powerful as it did when he was on his streak. To compensate, at least he’s starting to develop a left hook.

I thought Beterbiev and Bivol would beat Ward, and that he got out of the division at the right time. Nail probably beats him too TBH. ... Ward can't be beat by "clean fighters" like Kovalev or Bivol... Only Beterbiev ( I guess) had that chance... :)

Kovalev actually boxed and fought a smart fight. Seemed to have a better gas tank too.

Great performance by Kovalev but Alvarez made it easy. He never pushed the fight except for 10 or 15 seconds in the beginning of most of the rounds and the last round. He was winging that right that caught Kovalev before from the beginning of the fight. By the time that punch would have any effect Kovalev was expecting it. The reason that punch worked before was because Alvarez used it sporadically. Kovalev was tired and did not see the punch coming. Last night Kovalev never got fatigued because of the pacing set by himself and lack of effort from Alvarez. He was expecting the punch so it never caught him off guard. It still takes a great effort by Kovalev to realize his mistakes and make the necessary adjustments to correct it. Eh, let's give Kovalev credit. Alvarez knocked Kovalev out the first fight so we forget that Kovalev is the actual hard hitter in this fight. Alvarez was sort of tentative in the first fight before Kovalev got tired.

... I always thought that Beterbiev would beat Ward and Kovalev (back then and now)... I thought Beterbiev and Bivol would beat Ward, and that he got out of the division at the right time. Nail probably beats him too TBH.

No time like the present. Neither guy is getting younger. ... I always thought that Beterbiev would beat Ward and Kovalev (back then and now)...

I guess you remember that Beterbiev ducked a Kovalev fight offer in Russia!... No time like the present. Neither guy is getting younger.

Everyone has been wanting to see that fight since 2015 :lol1: I guess you remember that Beterbiev ducked a Kovalev fight offer in Russia!...