Cleverly has a high work rate but Kovalev also has a high work rate and hits very very hard.
I think the main difference is that Kovalev is a little bit more proven that Cleverly. Beating White and especially Campillo really made me believe that he could be a world champion, while Cleverly has wins over Murat and Bellew, who while aren't completely terrible fighters I still don't think they're on the level of Campillo.
Also Cleverly has been fighting absolutely terrible opposition for over 2 years while Kovalev beat Campillo and White in the last 6 months, so I think Kovalev has a lot more momentum right now.
If I have to make a prediction I'll say Kovalev takes Cleverly out between rounds 8-10.
Clev was wobbled by feather fisted Kuziemski and needed a british stoppage on Kuziemski's cut to ensure he didn't get into anymore trouble.
I remember Clev being caught by some good clean shots and thinking if his opponent had any kind of pop whatsoever then Clev would have been in serious trouble. His defense looked terrible too against a guy who was a last minute replacement.
I remember Clev being caught by some good clean shots and thinking if his opponent had any kind of pop whatsoever then Clev would have been in serious trouble. His defense looked terrible too against a guy who was a last minute replacement.
He'll have to box smart and stick to a gameplan, if he can, then he'll have a good chance IMO.
He'll have to box smart and stick to a gameplan, if he can, then he'll have a good chance IMO.
White and Campillo also reportedly had game plans. Kovalevs barrages tend to send people reflexively scurrying for cover, however, with their plans dribbling out of their ears.
Actually while I definitely favour Kovalev, I'm not writing Clev off. I'm guessing he'll be on his bike for the early rounds, hoping that Kovalev will start to gas. Clevs stamina is pretty good, and probably his best asset in this fight. In the end it'll be a question of how good Clevs whiskers are, and how much Kovs got in the tank. If Kovs got it in him to fight at pace for 12, I think Clevs got next to no chance.
That said, Kovalevs been pretty damn persuasive. Every time I doubt he just rolls out another TKO3. - there, said it, though I think 5 or 6 is more likely.
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