Comments Thread For: Duva: Kovalev-Fonfara Possible if No Adonis Stevenson

[giacomino]

If Kovalev were willing to fight in Braehmer's back yard in Germany, with Braehmer's parents and sister as judges and a guaranteed seven-round advantage to start, he still wouldn't fight Kovalev. Braehmer has spent his entire career avoiding opponents like Kovalev. Might as well suggest Shumenov.

I like Fonfara as an opponent for Kovalev. He is tough and has a really nice punch. No fancy dancing, just two real Pros going at. Certainly a worthy opponent if Stevenson doesn't want to play yet.

[parrish duke]

Someone on here said they don't know if hopkins can match his punch output? WtF are you talking about? When has Hopkins ever had to match his opponents punch output or when has that ever been an issue? Hopkins feasts off these guys - he is the remedy to aggression - Kovalev is not as good as Pavlik was when Hopkins beat him (do your research on both Kovalev's record now and Pavlik's record up to the hopkins fight) Pavlik was throwing like 1000 punches a fight . Now don't get me wrong Kovalev is good, but against a shaolin master like Hopkins you cannot afford to make mistakes - see when you throw all of those dam punches you leave yourself open for a master counter puncher - its give and take with the old man, as what a lot of people on here would probably call a snorefest because hopkins will turn into the Police handcuff and take away your boys weapons. Hopkins is the prospect killer, the boogeyman exposer - he would jump at this fight- oh yeah he is about to turn 49 next month, so carefully reread what I just posted before you hate on uncle Bernard...

[jov6388]

Someone on here said they don't know if hopkins can match his punch output? WtF are you talking about? When has Hopkins ever had to match his opponents punch output or when has that ever been an issue? Hopkins feasts off these guys - he is the remedy to aggression - Kovalev is not as good as Pavlik was when Hopkins beat him (do your research on both Kovalev's record now and Pavlik's record up to the hopkins fight) Pavlik was throwing like 1000 punches a fight . Now don't get me wrong Kovalev is good, but against a shaolin master like Hopkins you cannot afford to make mistakes - see when you throw all of those dam punches you leave yourself open for a master counter puncher - its give and take with the old man, as what a lot of people on here would probably call a snorefest because hopkins will turn into the Police handcuff and take away your boys weapons. Hopkins is the prospect killer, the boogeyman exposer - he would jump at this fight- oh yeah he is about to turn 49 next month, so carefully reread what I just posted before you hate on uncle Bernard...

lol 160 pavlik not better than 175 kovalev hahahaha man pavlik doesnt move actully much slower than kovalev .. kovalev explodes when he punches his half step back is smooth as hell not saying kovalev is all time or anything but he's much better than pavlik .. pavlik didnt have one punch ko power .. he has to beat down someone like miranda .. his best wins before hopkins were miranda which was a war and jermaine taylor great win come from behind wins thats all its not like he had muderous row oh and gary lockett lol ... kovalev at 175 different story

[kiaba360]

I'd prefer to see Kovalev fight some former titleholder like Cloud or Dawson rather than a less-established boxer such as Fonfara or Chilemba.

The winner of Pascal-Bute would be a good opponent for later in the year.

Of course, like everybody my first choice for Kovalev would be Stevenson.

Cloud is coming off two consecutive losses to top guys, and Dawson still needs to get back into the mix after getting laid the fuck out.

I've been asking for Kovalev/Fonfara for a while anyway.

[parrish duke]

lol 160 pavlik not better than 175 kovalev hahahaha man pavlik doesnt move actully much slower than kovalev .. kovalev explodes when he punches his half step back is smooth as hell not saying kovalev is all time or anything but he's much better than pavlik .. pavlik didnt have one punch ko power .. he has to beat down someone like miranda .. his best wins before hopkins were miranda which was a war and jermaine taylor great win come from behind wins thats all its not like he had muderous row oh and gary lockett lol ... kovalev at 175 different story

That's why I said reread before you comment - 1) pavilik before Hopkins - look at his resume - no one was gonna 1 punch ko Miranda back then period - Manny Steward was giving Pavlik praise after being the first to beat and KO a p4pder in Jermain Taylor at the time - wasn't that a foty candidate and wasn't he the fighter of the year"? One thing with fight fans are they quickly forget once there is a new boogey man on the block. There is no comparison because like you said Pavlik came from behind against Miranda and Taylor - who has Kovalev come from behind against? Until proven no argument - until the man fights someone that fights back, that can give and take then let's talk - how man yards has Kovalev gone - right - a cat like Hopkins will discourage and beat a Kovalev- can Kovalev make adjustments once his normal routine does not produce? We do not know. No comparison until there are things to compare. Pavlik was good period - his road to a title - he earned it - now I am not saying Kovalev is not good, but we really do not know how good he really is because we have yet to see him 1) go rounds 2) take a punch 3) make adjustments 4) go the distance with someone.

[Cuban Linx]

Fonfara is a worthy opponent, but he's also a tailor made opponent for Kovalev. Fonfara is a combination puncher with a leaky defense. He'll take a few big shots here and there. I expect Kovalev to KO him in 3 rounds.

[DoktorSleepless]

Fonfara was being badly outboxed by Campillo beore the knockout. I'm not even sure his power is that great. Probably more to do with Campillo's chin.

[jov6388]

That's why I said reread before you comment - 1) pavilik before Hopkins - look at his resume - no one was gonna 1 punch ko Miranda back then period - Manny Steward was giving Pavlik praise after being the first to beat and KO a p4pder in Jermain Taylor at the time - wasn't that a foty candidate and wasn't he the fighter of the year"? One thing with fight fans are they quickly forget once there is a new boogey man on the block. There is no comparison because like you said Pavlik came from behind against Miranda and Taylor - who has Kovalev come from behind against? Until proven no argument - until the man fights someone that fights back, that can give and take then let's talk - how man yards has Kovalev gone - right - a cat like Hopkins will discourage and beat a Kovalev- can Kovalev make adjustments once his normal routine does not produce? We do not know. No comparison until there are things to compare. Pavlik was good period - his road to a title - he earned it - now I am not saying Kovalev is not good, but we really do not know how good he really is because we have yet to see him 1) go rounds 2) take a punch 3) make adjustments 4) go the distance with someone.

i agree with everything you said but you saying pavlik who is at 160 and kovalev at 175 big difference kovalev snap punches quicker and at 175 take a punch better ... also add that bhop is much older and in his last fight against murat he was getting hit maybe he wasnt threaten but he looked alot slower ... murat loss and stopped by cleverly and campillo was robbed in a split descison im not doing triangle theories im just showing kovalev cleared both those dudes in 3 rounds .. kovalev throws in combinations as well .. bhop struggled against calzaghe taylor and dawson all due to them throwing punches in bunches .. bhop workrate wont bother kovalev .. pavlik wins aginst miranda and taylor is all he had going in to bhop great wins but he was getting tagged in both those fights like crazy .. you said "kovalev is not as good as pavlik" i said kovalev at 175 and slow no feetwork pavlik at 160 is big difference .. a example will be before bhop -taylor someone saying oh deloya is better than taylor because taylor dont have the resume as dhl hopkins will win ... but dhl is no damn elite 160 pounder! LOL now pavlik a 160 to kovalev at 175 its big as difference hopkins is big boy at 160 not at 175 just cant compare .. more to rant but whats the point not disrespecting bhop my dude he is all time great!

[daggum]

hopkins and froch aren't fighting stevenson so lets hope the pascal-bute winner injuries himself or goes on a long mayweather vacation so stevenson has to fight kovalev.

[parrish duke]

i agree with everything you said but you saying pavlik who is at 160 and kovalev at 175 big difference kovalev snap punches quicker and at 175 take a punch better ... also add that bhop is much older and in his last fight against murat he was getting hit maybe he wasnt threaten but he looked alot slower ... murat loss and stopped by cleverly and campillo was robbed in a split descison im not doing triangle theories im just showing kovalev cleared both those dudes in 3 rounds .. kovalev throws in combinations as well .. bhop struggled against calzaghe taylor and dawson all due to them throwing punches in bunches .. bhop workrate wont bother kovalev .. pavlik wins aginst miranda and taylor is all he had going in to bhop great wins but he was getting tagged in both those fights like crazy .. you said "kovalev is not as good as pavlik" i said kovalev at 175 and slow no feetwork pavlik at 160 is big difference .. a example will be before bhop -taylor someone saying oh deloya is better than taylor because taylor dont have the resume as dhl hopkins will win ... but dhl is no damn elite 160 pounder! LOL now pavlik a 160 to kovalev at 175 its big as difference hopkins is big boy at 160 not at 175 just cant compare .. more to rant but whats the point not disrespecting bhop my dude he is all time great!

Respect my dude!! - my argument was honestly about the level of comp by the time Pavlik faced Bhop as compared to where Kovalev is at this point in his career- and not going by what respective weight class - you gave good points and not just jibber jabber like a lot of cats on here. Kovalev offensively is sound, but I follow this sport seriously and there are too many intangibles that make fighters great instead of just good - I have my eye on Kovalev, good trainer, good killer attitude / instinct but there is more to it before I anoint him the king of 175 - and it kills me to why people are so quick to dismiss Bhop when he is proven and he is fighting at the elite level at 49 years of age ( remarkable) - I think Kovalev can beat Stevenson, after Bhop it will take a Andre Ward to put Kovalev in his place. You have to beat Kovalev mentally, physically it's not going to happen - and by mentally I mean either 1) James Kirkland him (wait for him in the center of the ring before each bell sounds and smother and grind him out - lol 2) Muhammad Ali him - rope a dope while talking to him, pot shot him, take him to deep waters and drown him, 3) mind games, get him angry as *** then defensively take him apart by making him pay with his mistakes - Bhop can do all of the above to him except for James Kirkland him (too old for that one - lol)