Why has Kovalev not fought a puncher?

[dan_cov]

I presume I will get a predictable answer of everyone is ducking him.

I like Kovalev but I can't help but wonder why he has yet to fight one guy who could punch? Sillakh has okay pop, Boone has deceiving power and did have him on the deck, but outside of that he has fought 23 LHW Paulie's.

Does his team know something we don't?

John David Jackson is a defensive minded trainer are they building him against pillow punchers whilst working on his defense?

I'm aware of the Stevenson situation but I still can't help but think something isn't right here with them fighting what are the weakest punching contenders.
Basically waiting for a guy with absolutely no power and durability issues to pop into the top 10.

Sukhotsky, Fonfara, Cloud, Savigne have expressed interest and whilst not great fights they are definitely much better fighters than Blake Caparello and they have good power.

Like I said I am a fan but something doesn't seem quite right to me.

[dan_cov]

Came across this too. I wonder if they've ever sparred together?

[Evil Abed]

Hearing Fonfara might be next.

Blake got the fight because of Lou Dibella. Kovalev's people did not want it and pushed back. But HBO insisted(Dibella 2) for some reason.

All I know of the situation.

[Daylyt]

While they did try to get stevenson argulby the one of the top guys in the division when it comes to power and stevenson decided he had better option on the other side so why not just keep building up the hype fighting the high reward less risk fighters? isnt that what every other boxers does now a days?

I wouldent read into it too much.

[Weebler I]

Darnell Boone is a puncher, he fought him twice. Boone KO'd Stevenson.

Stevenson's chin is jelly Dan, Bellew should have gone for it early instead of trying to box him, he would've had a shot at hurting and stopping him.

[dan_cov]

Thanks!
I like the Fonfara fight a lot. He'd definitely not be intimidated and is fairly heavy handed and has bags of heart.

And what is it with Dibella somehow getting these guys title shots who frankly don't deserve it.
I don't blame Kovalev and his team for not wanting it, it does nothing for him, its a wasted exercise but I suppose its another early K.O win to add to a long list of victims.

[dan_cov]

Yeah I probably am reading too much into it, its just something that has been in the back of my mind.

The Agnew fight didn't help, I recall him reacting a bit iffy when getting tagged with that right hook. He seemed to freeze and become hesitant. Seemed almost too respectful of Agnews counterpunching at times.

Probably overly thinking things but I am not totally convinced he has a great chin.

[jas]

Mate kovalev is the real deal

I think you are being biased towards boxers and against punchers

Punchers can have skills

And now you are looking to his chin . He would fight anybody. He wanted to fight Stevenson .............

[Weebler I]

Thanks!
I like the Fonfara fight a lot. He'd definitely not be intimidated and is fairly heavy handed and has bags of heart.

Fonfara's defence isn't good enough. He started slow against Stevenson too. That combination of slow start and poor defence will see him get Sillakh'd early.

[dan_cov]

Darnell Boone is a puncher, he fought him twice. Boone KO'd Stevenson.

Stevenson's chin is jelly Dan, Bellew should have gone for it early instead of trying to box him, he would've had a shot at hurting and stopping him.

Stevenson definitely doesn't have a great chin, I wouldn't say he was packing glass though.

Bellew must regret that he started way, way too cautiously. Not saying he would of won but he ruined any real chance he did have boxing very negatively off the backfoot. I've never really rated him but I've always felt he was a bit of a poor strategist, he always seems to fight the wrong fight. (Chilemba x2, McKenzie, Stevenson) He thinks he is a much better boxer than he is.