Comments Thread For: Nathan Cleverly Planning To Overwhelm, Outclass Kovalev

[VatoMulatto]

Boxers like Kovalev always gets hyped up and will be the heavy favorite but I like Cleverly's chances. Cleverly won't be intimidated and when Kovalev fails to take him out early then it's going to be fun to see what the bully is made of. If Kovalev has stamina issues Cleverly will stop him late.

Cleverly will win but I don't think this is a big upset...but people gonna act like Cleverly just shocked the world.

[Ray*]

Big fight for clev, I think he has all the tools to win this fight. The only problem is he gets hit too much for my liking. But he has a good chin though and we have to see if he can take Kov punches because clev is easy to find.

[Ray*]

Am going with clev if he can take Kov punches without too much problems.

[daggum]

kovalev ko 1. easiest prediction ever. if cleverly survives more than 1 round hes better than joe calzaghe.

[Dirk Diggler UK]

Boxers like Kovalev always gets hyped up and will be the heavy favorite but I like Cleverly's chances. Cleverly won't be intimidated and when Kovalev fails to take him out early then it's going to be fun to see what the bully is made of. If Kovalev has stamina issues Cleverly will stop him late.

Cleverly will win but I don't think this is a big upset...but people gonna act like Cleverly just shocked the world.

No they won't. The same dweebs who said he'd duck Kovalev and get KOd will then say Kovalev was overrated.

[MDPopescu]

Cleverly is the only fighter to acquire a university degree in pure math...
Why did he take this fight?

[richardt]

Kovalev will put hands on him......in the ring.

That will not happen.....the hands will be covered with gloves.

[Body_Snatcher]

I have a hard time seeing Cleverly win

[hitman smax]

Boxers like Kovalev always gets hyped up and will be the heavy favorite but I like Cleverly's chances. Cleverly won't be intimidated and when Kovalev fails to take him out early then it's going to be fun to see what the bully is made of. If Kovalev has stamina issues Cleverly will stop him late.

Cleverly will win but I don't think this is a big upset...but people gonna act like Cleverly just shocked the world.

Don't see it going down like that at all.

First of all, if Cleverly is intent on overwhelming Kovalev, and does manage to survive the early pressure of Kovalev, he's going to be very tired himself, and hardly in a position to score a late knockout.

If we are being realistic, however, there isn't much chance that Cleverly will survive the early pressure.

Kovalev, unlike most pressure fighters, isn't simply a cut of the ring and try and land power shots kind of guy. No, Kovalev literally shadows the opponents movements, aggressively stalking them with his own fast footwork and relentless and powerful combinations.

I admire Cleverly's confidence, but I think the approach he's indicating is the wrong one.

As I see it, there are only two logical ways to possibly defeat Kovalev at this point:

#1. Time him with power shots and hope you get lucky and get him out of there. This is anything but foolproof, and doesn't, at all, play to Cleverly strength, which is skill and conditioning.

#2. Try and weather the early storm by interrupting Kovalev's pursuit by holding, clinching, and limiting his punching space. Don't expend too much energy and try and take him into the later rounds, hoping he slows down and loses some of his power after all of the wrestling. Then turn it into a boxing match.

Either way, anyone who steps in the rings with Kovalev will be at a significant disadvantage, as Kovalev is simply superior to any light heavyweight in boxing right now.

However, he's not invincible. No one is.