What was Cleverly's game plan?

[MDPopescu]

As Calzache told Box Nation: Boxing... Drag Kovalev into the late rounds -- as he never fought more than 8 rounds.

[Frank Ducketts]

cover up, slip punches and hope he gasses.

And he forgot to throw punches too lol...

[MDPopescu]

I didn't understand why Cleverly was walking towards him. You don't walk down a puncher, especially not a murderous puncher. He should've been boxing off the backfoot to survive until the mid-rounds where maybe, maybe his fitness would take over.

One can't simply run away from Kovalev -- he cuts the ring easily and connects monster punches into the process.

[Russian Crushin]

One can't simply run away from Kovalev -- he cuts the ring easily and connects monster punches into the process.

And even if his punches are blocked, they hurt like hell

[Enzo Mc is SHIT]

He hit Kovalev with the jab pretty easily. I guess the plan was to slip and block punches, land the jab and wait for Kovalev to gas.

Right from the start it was clear that he was in over his head. He needed to use the ring and hope to frustrate and tire Kovalev, but I don't think that's in Cleverly. He's like Khan in his lack of discipline.

[New England]

it was obviously to get kovalev to open up early and survive, hoping for a late round surge when kovalev tires.

[MDPopescu]

He hit Kovalev with the jab pretty easily. I guess the plan was to slip and block punches, land the jab and wait for Kovalev to gas.

Right from the start it was clear that he was in over his head. He needed to use the ring and hope to frustrate and tire Kovalev, but I don't think that's in Cleverly. He's like Khan in his lack of discipline.

Clev was scared like shit... They all are -- since Kovalev killed Simakov.

[DoktorSleepless]

Why is weathering the storm and come on late always the plan for most euro fighters stepping up?

[MDPopescu]

Why is weathering the storm and come on late always the plan for most euro fighters stepping up?

They saw Froch doing this...

[-Huey-]

Whatever it was...LOL!