Where did Kovalevs power go?

[Earl-Hickey]

I was watching the Nathan cleverly fight earlier, cleverly wasn't elite but he was a huge 175lb'r and he had a good chin especially for a brit, but Kovalev murked him, he was hurting him with every punch.

The last time I really saw Kovalevs power was in Ward 1 when Ward walked onto a Kovalev right hand that was nowhere near full extension and went down and looked like he was done. Obviously ward got through and got a (robbery) win.

But ever since that his power just became non existent.

[Marcodian]

I think a large part of it is mental, with the fights you are talking about kovalev was trying to hurt the opponent/get a ko, or just sat down on his shots more, I think after the ward fight, and the Eleider Alvarez ko, he became aware of his own fragility/ability to get hurt, and had fought with that in mind since, the more he throws heavy shots the more open he is himself to getting countered

As I was typing I had a thought that his stamina also looked to be a weakness in his most recent fights, he may also be throwing less power shots as a way to not tire out down the stretch of a fight?

[b Murphington]

I think a large part of it is mental, with the fights you are talking about kovalev was trying to hurt the opponent/get a ko, or just sat down on his shots more, I think after the ward fight, and the Eleider Alvarez ko, he became aware of his own fragility/ability to get hurt, and had fought with that in mind since, the more he throws heavy shots the more open he is himself to getting countered

As I was typing I had a thought that his stamina also looked to be a weakness in his most recent fights, he may also be throwing less power shots as a way to not tire out down the stretch of a fight?

This is a good assessment. I would say age too, but as they say, punching power is usually the last to go.

But regardless, he’s way past his best.

[War Room]

He never had real power. His resume is filled with mostly bums and fighters with *'s. Stopping Pascal and Cleverly doesn't give you top tier pro power.

[Earl-Hickey]

He never had real power. His resume is filled with mostly bums and fighters with *'s. Stopping Pascal and Cleverly doesn't give you top tier pro power.

He seriously hurt ward with a punch that wasn't even thrown at full extension, it was like a short right hand and put ward down and you could see in wards eyes he was like holy ****.

[PRINCEKOOL]

He had power because, Bellew was a fairly big puncher and could not do Cleverly.

I think once Ward stood up to his power, it did something to Kovalev's

Pretty much like the way Fury stood up to Wilder's power in their first fight.

When you are a big puncher, and you are used to witnessing fighters crumble. Then they don't quite crumble, you understand that you need to work on other area's of your game.

Pauli Malignaggi described that first fight between Ward & Kovalev.

I think Kovalev was not prepared for Alvarez, he had only 5-6 weeks recovery time from the Yarde fight.

[Madison Boxing]

power was probably exaggerated a bit cause division was trash, then he started drinking a lot and to me against canelo it looked like he was paid to take a dive so dont think he was putting full weight on the shots

[War Room]

He seriously hurt ward with a punch that wasn't even thrown at full extension, it was like a short right hand and put ward down and you could see in wards eyes he was like holy ****.

I had to go back and look because I forgot the punch. Ward got caught in the middle of a punch which is always a bad place to get caught ---> it was a palm, not a punch. Not really a power shot as much as perfectly timed.



Definitely a flash knockdown, he was up at 2. Also, different weight classes. Ward fought as low as 160, Kovalev has always been in the same class.

I'm not saying he can't hurt people, just I don't see the big power.

[QueensburyRules]

I was watching the Nathan cleverly fight earlier, cleverly wasn't elite but he was a huge 175lb'r and he had a good chin especially for a brit, but Kovalev murked him, he was hurting him with every punch.

The last time I really saw Kovalevs power was in Ward 1 when Ward walked onto a Kovalev right hand that was nowhere near full extension and went down and looked like he was done. Obviously ward got through and got a (robbery) win.

But ever since that his power just became non existent.

- - So if a power puncher can't KO everyone, he's done is it?

It's like U ain't never got out of U diapers.

[Rec28]

I think a large part of it is mental, with the fights you are talking about kovalev was trying to hurt the opponent/get a ko, or just sat down on his shots more, I think after the ward fight, and the Eleider Alvarez ko, he became aware of his own fragility/ability to get hurt, and had fought with that in mind since, the more he throws heavy shots the more open he is himself to getting countered

As I was typing I had a thought that his stamina also looked to be a weakness in his most recent fights, he may also be throwing less power shots as a way to not tire out down the stretch of a fight?

Good point's made, along with his drinking & being pissed with how the first Ward fight was scored along with then losing the rematch by tko perhaps made him more vary of his condition.