Why Kovalev? Is Kovalev a fight Canelo can Afford to Lose?

Canelo is getting the same pay per fight; so he wants a faded LHW in Kovalev instead of a prime Beterbiev or Bivol (who's willing to fight at 168). Legacy, my ass.

Do you REALLY think if Kovalev had ANY Chance of beating Canelo, the fight would have been made?(not done yet but may as well be)

What up boxing enthusiasts! Quick question and this is a thought that came to mind. I want to see what you all think. In regards to Canelo seeking a fight with Kovalev, I ask myself, "Why?" We all know that there's a plethora of middleweights and even super middleweights that are willing to face the Mexican superstar. Yet, Canelo is dodging them in hopes of moving up to 175 pounds, a weight he's never fought at, to face the veteran Sergey Kovalev. I know that he doesn't like GGG which could very well be the reason he's avoiding him OR maybe he sees him as a legitimate threat along with the other available options at 160 and 168. With this being said, Canelo would be moving up to 175 for the first time. I know that Kovalev isn't the threat he once was, but regardless, he's still a threat because he's the naturally bigger man, a hard puncher, experienced, and has fought at light heavy for his entire career. I know that Canelo and team wouldn't enter a fight thinking they're going to lose. BUT! Do you think there's any chance that Canelo and team look at Kovalev and say, "This is potentially a fight we wouldn't suffer as much if we lost." We look at the recent cases where fighters moved up and "dared to be great." Amir Khan, Mikey Garcia, Kell Brook. And everyone knew coming in that a win would be massive, but a loss wouldn't hurt them as much because they were the ones moving up to challenge the bigger guy. Does anyone here think that maybe this is the mentality in Canelo's camp? - -Juniors can never know. Need to be a senior so you don't need to ask such a dumb question.

Hey, if Ward beat him why cant he? That’s what everyone is banking on like Ward is some run of the mill guy. The man arguably beat Ward. Been a bit since but Kovalev is no Fielding. If Canelo pulls it off he deserves a lot of credit. It’s a fair sized if though. Cant write off Kovalev like that as if he forgot to box or like he has zero power.

But that’s Ward who was also not a small man. The thing is Canelo’a resume and skill level is such that no matter who it is, they look almost inadequate in comparison. Callum? “Who’s he fought?” Bivol? Same. Benavidez? Same. Andrade? Same. Charlo? Even worse. Outside of GGG (and even with him) there’s already a built in excuse in the event Canelo wins. All of these fighters will be labeled “exposed” if Canelo wins. Kovalev is indeed an older fighter but he’s a fine champion. Maybe some of the other champs have more to offer than Kovalev does at this point but he’s still a rightful champion. Hey, if Ward beat him why cant he?

They say maintaining hunger is the hardest part after one gets rich. Canelo is already set for life, part of me doesn't feel like he sees that contract all the way through. I have a feeling he walks away in the next three years with maybe a return a few years later but I could be wrong.

Because he is ripe for the picking! All the other Lt. Heavy's are way younger, faster and just as strong if not stronger, BUT, they are undefeated and havent been stopped or ktfo before.

Nope. He will derail his career if he loses. He’ll probably be a lesser fighter and forced to move back down. Which rarely works out.

Ginger sees the easiest opponent in light heavyweight to get one more belt. However I don't think he will win Kovalev without catch-weight and judges help. I bet they will fight in Vegas with rehydration clause in place.

Canelo could have fought either Dervy or Andrade in September if he wanted to. DAZN would not have stopped him from fighting either of them. You have no doubt Canelo will eventually unify at 168. He is nowhere close to unifying 160. I have no doubt he will never unify 168. I would pick Smith to beat him at 168. Time will tell if he ever unifies 168.When do you think he starts to unify 168 and does he leave 160? There were leaks from Chris Mannix that DAZN had dwindled his choices to either Kovalev or GGG. He was one title away from unifying at 160, he was visibly angry on social media when he was stripped. I don't think he will fight GGG again, so I don't see him unifying at 160. He will probably move up to fight the champions at 168 next fall starting with Callum Smith or Billy Joe Saunders.

He’s already a 4 division Champ. Destroyed Fielding at 168 who at the time was a belt holder. He’s chasing 5 and he should. He looked real good at 168 and as opposed Mikey and Rigondesx claiming to have seen holes in either Spence or Loma, everybody knows that Kovalev is flawed. Very winnable fight for Canelo as well as for Kovalev. Outside of Spence-Crawford, I’d argue that’s the best fight in boxing. Kovalev- Canelo I’d pick it over Fury vs Wilder rematch.Get your facts right. Canelo is a 3 weight champ not a 4 weight champ. He won world titles at 154, 160 and 168. His win at 168 was over a jr, champion. The real champ was Callum Smith who had KOed Fielding in two rounds before Canelo fought Fielding. Canelo was a 12 to 1 betting favorite to beat Fielding so it was no big deal. Kovalev vs Canelo is a great fight I look forward to.

Callum Smith was not even given as an option for September. His list of choices got dwindled to two by DAZN. Kovalev or GGG. Canelo is obviously now fixated on Kovalev since he really wants to be a four division champion... I've heard those words before when Canelo took the GGG fight, that he would get KO before the 6th round. That was the narrative around this forum. We just have to wait and see, because I have no doubt Canelo will eventually unify at 168 before he retires.Canelo could have fought either Dervy or Andrade in September if he wanted to. DAZN would not have stopped him from fighting either of them. You have no doubt Canelo will eventually unify at 168. He is nowhere close to unifying 160. I have no doubt he will never unify 168. I would pick Smith to beat him at 168. Time will tell if he ever unifies 168.When do you think he starts to unify 168 and does he leave 160?

He's been champion in three weight classes - Light Middleweight, Middleweight, and Super Middleweight. He's chasing his fourth. I assumed he was champ at welter.

It's a real smart fight for Alvarez Canelo sees a weak champ and a chance to win a 4th belt. Kovalev's a big name and he's catching him at the right time. Most fans will give him a pass on ducking GGG if he fights the LHW champ. I don't think the idea of "not that bad if I lose" comes into it.

I don't think Canelo thinks there is much chance of losing because he only wanted to fight Kovalev and nobody else. He expects to win. A loss won't hurt him money wise because he has a contract for 35 million a fight as far as I know.A loss to Kovalev on points in Vegas where Canelo gets the generous scoring would hurt his image of being unbeatable that many of his fans have of him. A KO loss to Kovalev would hurt his reputation. Canelo would hate to lose and does not think he has any chance of losing. He might be underestimating Kovalev.

then why not fight callum smith??? canelo has the wba regular and smith has super. callum is ready to fight he has no other fight lined up. u know why???? because callum smith most certainly will KO canelo. and u can't rrig scorecards when ur KO'ed cold. facts. Callum Smith was not even given as an option for September. His list of choices got dwindled to two by DAZN. Kovalev or GGG. Canelo is obviously now fixated on Kovalev since he really wants to be a four division champion... I've heard those words before when Canelo took the GGG fight, that he would get KO before the 6th round. That was the narrative around this forum. We just have to wait and see, because I have no doubt Canelo will eventually unify at 168 before he retires.

Because they see him as an easy mark due to his being hurt to the body several times. Plus, maybe he wants a measure of revenge for B-Hop.

Good points, but Ward in the second fight stole Kovalev's soul, and that's why we saw him almost get knocked out against Yarde, who's a nobody. Kovalev is old and broken, Canelo is the perfect picture of athletic youth. But that’s Ward who was also not a small man. The thing is Canelo’a resume and skill level is such that no matter who it is, they look almost inadequate in comparison. Callum? “Who’s he fought?” Bivol? Same. Benavidez? Same. Andrade? Same. Charlo? Even worse. Outside of GGG (and even with him) there’s already a built in excuse in the event Canelo wins. All of these fighters will be labeled “exposed” if Canelo wins. Kovalev is indeed an older fighter but he’s a fine champion. Maybe some of the other champs have more to offer than Kovalev does at this point but he’s still a rightful champion.

If he is the betting favourite and he loses it will hurt him imo The thing is no one really thought Mikey, Khan, Brook etc. We're going to win. Its all about perception

Canelo never ducks anyone, he has taken tough fights against his promoters wishes. He only won the title 8 months ago... he has fought the best at 154 and at 160. In due time he will fight the best at 168. Canelo is more of a delay strategy than a duck strategy. It's worked with Golovkin, and continues to work. His real expertise is winning with judges regardless of what happens in the ring. Why duck if you've got that on your side?