Comments Thread For: Sergey Kovalev Punishes, Beats Down Pascal Over Seven For TKO

[TaurusJ27]

I'm surprised the ref didn't stop the fight in the fifth

[SweetPbfAli]

Staying glued to Kovalev is the only way Ward doesn't get KO'd. He can't handle that kind of fire at range. What may surprise Ward though is that Sergey has been wrestling since his amateur days, but I think Sergey will like to keep it as a surprise.

Not the only way, but the smartest way. Pascal for all of his awful footwork, range control, lack of jab and defense made Kov miss a lot and lunge in off balance quite a bit. There's more there but if you're a Kovalev fan, those small bad habits might not be a apparent.

[creekrat77]

Pascal just has never learned the skills to make himself vulnerable against a solid, lengthy, multi-dimensional puncher-boxer like Kovalev. He needs to study Tim Bradley and learn to use his high center of gravity to his advantage (they both have skinny, light legs). For instance don't sit and sharp shoot, Berto has the same problem. Pascal's only chance is to move, move and move. But simultaneously using his upper body strength to rip shots hurting Kovalev's constant forward movement. Desperately needed the over hand right in his tool box if he ever wanted to have a chance to stay competitive tonight

[Foreign Soil]

Not the only way, but the smartest way. Pascal for all of his awful footwork, range control, lack of jab and defense made Kov miss a lot and lunge in off balance quite a bit. There's more there but if you're a Kovalev fan, those small bad habits might not be a apparent.

Same can be said of Ward. You've already demonstrated you'll overlook Ward's flaws. I don't think anybody has labeled Kovalev with great defense though he has some underrated movement. Pascal made Sergey miss a lot? Not really... is he supposed to land 100% of his shots? I guess I missed this defensive mastery, being a Kovalev fan and all..

[turnedup]

Understand why Roach felt like he needed to give Pascal an extra round but man oh man did he get his face beaten on.

[SweetPbfAli]

Same can be said of Ward. You've already demonstrated you'll overlook Ward's flaws. I don't think anybody has labeled Kovalev with great defense though he has some underrated movement. Pascal made Sergey miss a lot? Not really... is he supposed to land 100% of his shots? I guess I missed this defensive mastery, being a Kovalev fan and all..

Never said the same couldn't be said of Ward. Just pointing out Kov's shortcomings as there are a lot of people on here that see a nasty power puncher and deems him invincible. Ward has flaws just like every other fighter a live. It's a matter of who has the skill set, game plan and ability to carry out that plan versus said fighter. Both fighters are each other's toughest opponent. That's why they fight the fights.

[NearHypnos]

Pascal is athletic but doesn't know how to use it. Him being quick is an overstatement, he's herky jerky who wings all his shots.

If an unbalanced, falling forward Pascal was able to initiate clinches you don't think Ward can and will if needed.

Kov is going to be coming forward most of the fight, so watch when Ward steps off the line and close the distance with his feet. You can look at any of his previous fights.

Ward has seen Kovalev's style before (maybe not the power) but has Kovalev seen a style like Ward's. (And if you say a 50 year old Hopkins, I won't respond).

Watch the frustration set in from Sergey if the fight happens.

Where did Ward see as prolific a puncher as Kovalev? Pascal wasn't really "initiating" clinches. He was beaten into desperation clinches. You aren't incorrect about Pascal's herky jerkyness but there's still a lot to be said of how quick he can be on his feet or getting a sneaky punch in with raw athleticism. Ward is infinitely more schooled and a MUCH better athlete than he is ever given credit for. I don't disagree with much of what you say but Kov's jab is the BIG issue at hand. It's quick and he throws it to the body/chest to keep you at range and with it's power people can't muscle past it. He's probably going to miss the big right hands but Ward can't do his little hop into a left hook into clinch move past that jab. If he runs into that jab he could go down. Ward has always been a big 168. Froch wasn't anywhere near schooled enough to be used as a comparison. He's more of an instinctual fighter with led feet (how hes so effective Ill never know). If Ward takes away the jab he's not necessarily in the clear but it'll go a long way into making it an easier night. If he doesnt take the jab away he's in huge trouble. Hopkins may be old but his tactics are still world class and even he was helpless to that jab. That classic educated jab is what's making these eastern european fighters so successful. They're no longer robotic, upright herky jerky type fighters with simple 1-2s into high guards. It's why we're seeing them beat a lot of these "athletic" type fighters. Just good old fashioned boxing. Ward is special,no denying it and I think he can beat Kov but only if he takes that jab away.

[daggum]

Never said the same couldn't be said of Ward. Just pointing out Kov's shortcomings as there are a lot of people on here that see a nasty power puncher and deems him invincible. Ward has flaws just like every other fighter a live. It's a matter of who has the skill set, game plan and ability to carry out that plan versus said fighter. Both fighters are each other's toughest opponent. That's why they fight the fights.

kovalev is a nasty boxer who just happens to have huge power. ward is a boring boxer who just happens to fight in oakland every time with refs that let him cheat. they just have different skill-sets like you said.

[Foreign Soil]

Never said the same couldn't be said of Ward. Just pointing out Kov's shortcomings as there are a lot of people on here that see a nasty power puncher and deems him invincible. Ward has flaws just like every other fighter a live. It's a matter of who has the skill set, game plan and ability to carry out that plan versus said fighter. Both fighters are each other's toughest opponent. That's why they fight the fights.

Of course he has flaws, but there's still plenty of goofs out there who like to pretend that power is all Kovalev has. It's like power makes people ****** both ways - the people who fall in love with it, and the people who can't see past it to see there's more to it than just power. Kovalev is a "special fighter", as Max likes to say about his brothers.

[BlackSoul]

why was this even a rematched fight there was no contest in the first fight worthy of a rematch. pascal is NOT who he was 5 years ago and he lost the fight with gonzalez so the gonzalez dude shouldve got the fight with kovalev
with that said pascal COULDVE made it to the the end of the fight by playin' it safe but roach called a stop to it rightfully so pascal was tryin' to be TOO technical and thats not his style he WINGS shots ESP his power right hand which is telegraphed and gives ppl the time to duck under which kov did and step to pascals left and fire off with his right hand and the reflexes of pascal are ERODED to damn near the point of bein' a SHOT fighter HORRIBLE performance by pascal his best round was in round 3 but he ALWAYS GASSES and stamina is his major problem.
there are 34 fights i wanna see with kovalev:
gonzalez
beterbiev
Adonis Stevenson
Andre Ward
kov has two NAMES on his resume IF he can get through all of these he will be #1 p4p BUT his management wont let the beterbiev or stevenson fight happen so we gon have to settle for the gonzalez fight and the BEST ONE OF ALL ANDRE WARD.