Comments Thread For: Kovalev-Caparello Early Fight Results

[the secret]

During his rise, Pavlik was considered one of the hardest punchers in the middleweight division. A lot of people expected him to knock Bernard out.

Those who forget the past are doomed to repeat it.

You are correct, Vassily Jirov and kostya tszyu are in that same category.

[Levity]

In a league of weak opponents, Kelly Pavlik's record was more impressive prior to facing Hopkins. Look what Hopkins did to Pavlik, the same will happen to Kovalev. He has yet to face a slick boxer.

Kovlaev is not Pavlik and Hopkins is nearly 50, and the fact that Kovalev hasn't faced a slick boxer (though Sillakh is very fast on his feet and Agnew has a tight guard) doesn't mean he can't beat one.

Kovalev has a significantly different set of abilities than Pavlik does and Hopkins is probably less equipped to deal with them now than he has been at any point over the past several years. Two fights ago he had some problems with Murat, being hit plenty and losing up to 4 rounds on many cards, even though Murat was battered into a stoppage loss by the often criticized Nathan Cleverly and is significantly worse than Pavlik was.

[pacific2]

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[Levity]

Yep, the step on Kovalev's left foot is clear as day. It's a common occurrence in southpaw vs orthodox bouts.

[the secret]

Kovlaev is not Pavlik and Hopkins is nearly 50, and the fact that Kovalev hasn't faced a slick boxer (though Sillakh is very fast on his feet and Agnew has a tight guard) doesn't mean he can't beat one.

Kovalev has a significantly different set of abilities than Pavlik does and Hopkins is probably less equipped to deal with them now than he has been at any point over the past several years. Two fights ago he had some problems with Murat, being hit plenty and losing up to 4 rounds on many cards, even though Murat was battered into a stoppage loss by the often criticized Nathan Cleverly and is significantly worse than Pavlik was.

Pavlik's record is far more impressive he was also considered a BIG PUNCHER, there is no denying that. Either way, Kovalev is in a lose-lose situation. He beats Hopkins, so what he beat a 50 year old man. He loses to Hopkins, He got beat by a 50 year old man.

[Ravens Fan]

I bet BHop was having flashbaccs of "ODLH Sturm" will history repeat itself? kovalev looked shaky as ***! Imagine when the REAL bright lights come on when he fights BHop. FUUUUK! can't wait

Sometimes I truly truly wonder what some of you are watching????

[King_]

Pavlik's record is far more impressive he was also considered a BIG PUNCHER, there is no denying that. Either way, Kovalev is in a lose-lose situation. He beats Hopkins, so what he beat a 50 year old man. He loses to Hopkins, He got beat by a 50 year old man.

Not really. He beats Hopkins and he holds 3 titles. Only one he wouldn't hold is the one that the guy who ducked him to a lawsuit holds


Sounds like a win to me.

[Levity]

Pavlik's record is far more impressive he was also considered a BIG PUNCHER, there is no denying that. Either way, Kovalev is in a lose-lose situation. He beats Hopkins, so what he beat a 50 year old man. He loses to Hopkins, He got beat by a 50 year old man.

Pavlik's record was better based on one opponent and records don't = ability anyway. Heading into Pavlik-Taylor the latter also has a superior record, beating someone (Hopkins) that was far better than anyone Pavlik had faced, yet looked what happened there. Going by some of the logic I've seen here Pavlik should've lost the bout because he had never beaten a very good fighter and Taylor had. Same goes for Taylor-Hopkins.

[lets rumble]

This is the same rios that fought pac and all the PAC fans defended saying it was a legit fight .

[BoxingFan82]

Kovlaev is not Pavlik and Hopkins is nearly 50, and the fact that Kovalev hasn't faced a slick boxer (though Sillakh is very fast on his feet and Agnew has a tight guard) doesn't mean he can't beat one.

Kovalev has a significantly different set of abilities than Pavlik does and Hopkins is probably less equipped to deal with them now than he has been at any point over the past several years. Two fights ago he had some problems with Murat, being hit plenty and losing up to 4 rounds on many cards, even though Murat was battered into a stoppage loss by the often criticized Nathan Cleverly and is significantly worse than Pavlik was.

When Pavlik fought Hopkins, Pavlik had a 34-0 record with 30 knockouts. He had gone the distance a number of times and had faced off against a higher level of opposition.

Most notably, Pavlik had two victories against Jermaine Taylor (one by knockout), the same Jermaine Taylor who won two decisions over Bernard. It's convenient to play the triangulation game, but your Murat-Cleverly-Hopkins triangulation has as much predictive value as Taylor-Pavlik-Hopkins (read: none). Styles make fights.

Kovalev is obviously not Pavlik. But here's what you ignore: Kovalev has never gone more than eighth rounds and has faced fairly limited opposition. I like Kovalev, believe he has a promising future and don't think there's any doubt that he has legitimate power. But going into a fight with a living legend, the Kovalev unknowns still far outnumber the knowns.

For Kovalev to beat Bernard, he's going to have to knock him out. He's not going to be able to figure out how to outbox a master boxer in the first 12 round fight of his entire career. Yet interestingly, when interviewed with The Alien standing right next to him tonight, Kovalev couldn't answer how he planned to beat Hopkins other than to suggest he would box and not focus on the knockout.

Kovalev needs a Plan A, B and C for November. The problem is that nothing in his professional experience has required him to make significant adjustments in the middle of a fight and his quick knockouts have given him few real learning opportunities. You can be sure this isn't lost on Bernard.