Could Crawford have beaten Kovalev?

[dannnnn]

Prime Kovalev? No.

Kovalev from the Canelo fight? No.

This is another weight class up against a power puncher. Kovalev outboxed Ward. In Canelo, Crawford had an opponent coming to him constantly. Against Kovalev it would be the opposite, Kovalev would control the fight from the outside with his longer jab and straight punches and it would be up to Crawford to take risks getting inside to try to break him down, which I don't think he would be willing (or able) to do.

[joseph5620]

I don't know, man.

Kov is too big, too strong.

Remember, Bud's taller with a longer reach than Canelo, so when Bud fought Canelo, he was physically the bigger man.

That wouldn't be the case with the 6ft tall Kovalev.

Being taller with a longer reach doesn't make him physically bigger then Canelo. There are other factors to size. If that was the case then Sebastian Fundora is bigger than Usyk. That's not how it works. Canelo was and is the bigger fighter.

Crawford just recently fought at 154 and had to strategically train to add muscle to fight at 168. Canelo would have had no chance of making 154 or 147 at the time Crawford did.

Claiming that Crawford was bigger than Canelo seriously diminishes what Crawford actually achieved.

[SUBZER0ED]

When Sergey Kovalev was known as "Killer Kovalev" He had people shaking in their boots. That's half the battle. He got that name from actually killing an opponent in the ring in Russia. They thought the name was too harsh for the US, so they renamed him "Krusher". Then JWW Crawford would have never dreamed of fighting him, and for good reason.

[elfag]

I don't know.. prime Kov wasn't all that. He beat an old Hopkins.. Aside from that, he aint really beat anyone with a big name.

he still had jab, reach and power.

crawford hasnt even went to 175 and even stated he went with canelo because he was a smaller super middle (and the money of course didnt hurt)

[MulaKO]

Lmfao
This reminds me of all the Canelo nuthuggers who were totally convinced that he was gonna go all the way to heavyweight and beat the champ
Surprise surprise , Bivol showed that was not gonna happen and imo Bud has hit the ceiling
Not sure if the poster is just trolling or not but don’t believe the hype brother
I picked Bud to beat THIS aversion of Canelo but that is as far as I’ll say

[dibzvincent143]

- - That why you so poor...

So crawford won’t beat the old and war torn version of Kovalev with 2 months worth of rest? Bahahah but he can beat the guy that beat Kov with ease? Wtf

[dibzvincent143]

- - That why you so poor...

People calling someone poor in the internet are usually the ones who are poor lol let alone in a boxing forum…

[dibzvincent143]

Triangle theory does not hold up so well, especially when weight differences are at play.
Crawford took a whole year to move up in weight three weight classes from his established weight, to what may have been the highest weight he could be near peak at. He then beat an older version of Canelo who himself is naturally bigger but was fighting closer to his prime weight.

A prime version of Canelo moved up one weight class to beat an older version of Kovalev. But keep in mind this was Canelo in his prime who was making 175 to beat a down version of Kov. There just is no prime version of Bud near that weight.

Essentially what is missing from the equation here is that it was Prime Canelo that beat Kov, but not the one who lost to Crawford. Thats not to say that Canelo is better than Crawford P4P, (Once again don't straw man me on this- Crawford is better than Canelo) thats just to say I don't know if this version of Crawford beats a prime Canelo. And, even if he does, can he move up in weight even more?

Everyone has their weight limits where they can still perform at or near their best

i think this version of nelo (the one crawford beat) is on a slight decline but still close to prime nelo… he still has the same style he always had and still fights the same way, and fades in the latter rounds the same way… i dont think his motor changed that much, nor his reflexes… 2-3 years ago he was just the same… he didn’t get suddenly flat footed he always approach the same way.

you can put scull who rans all night with prime nelo and prime nelo would still look the same. Like the way he look against lara

so it leaves little doubt to me that current version of Crawford would still be able to best a younger canelo.

while on Kovalev situation, kovalev was older and war torn and had like 2 months layoff… maybe he didn’t even get a rest and immediately for canelo lol

so yup… if crawford can beat a close to prime nelo with ease (i dont think he even went the extra gear) he can beat the version of Kovalev nelo fought…

[dan_cov]

Against a past it version Canelo fought? Probably not even.
Against a prime Kovalev? **** no!

[TheProudLunatic]

Lmfao
This reminds me of all the Canelo nuthuggers who were totally convinced that he was gonna go all the way to heavyweight and beat the champ

Bruh.............
That claim has the stench of a million sarcasm bombs
Or someone trolling you

I used to say the only way Nelo would get the respect he deserves was to beat Usyk.
Then, MAYBE, he'd get the respect.

Who knew that all he had to do was switch resumes with Benny

When Benny retires, chances of him being a HOFer is what % ?
Better odds than Nelo no doubt