Comments Thread For: Fight Day Weights: Sergey Kovalev 181.6, Isaac Chilemba 182.6

[Boxing Logic]

Kovalev is definitely a big LHW, and that's one of his skills, being as coordinated as he is at that size.

That's what biased boxing commentators like Dwyer didn't want to admit to themselves when they were looking for ways the black fighter could win when he picked BHop over Kovalev. When it got announced he picked Kovalev, but then he went back over the tape looking for ways to convince himself BHop could win, and big surprise, he eventually found some.

He called Kovalev "just a mid-range hooker." What an idiot lol. And people also call Kovalev slow. They don't realize, speed is time over distance, and Kovalev is one of the longest light heavyweights. You had power punchers like Matthysse who were small, with shorter arms, who could be negated by longer guys like Postol. But what happens when the power guy is also the long guy? That's Kovalev. And he wears these long, ugly trunks that make him look like a total scrub. He's like Woody Harrelson in White Men Can't Jump. Just the way he looks makes everyone underestimate him and think he's slower than he is. But when you ignore those subjective things and just measure time over distance, he's a little faster than you think, and longer than you think, and very good punch output stamina for a light heavyweight, and better accuracy than you think. And of course the power.

So there's nothing mid-range about him. Unlike some other power punches, he doesn't have a lot of weaknesses. Really fast light heavies will be faster than him, and like anyone who is human, if you hold him and beat him up to the body enough, you can tire him and make his punches lag, and of course you can chin check him like anyone else. His defense is really his weakness, although it's gotten better. If Ward sets him up with the right shot that he's not expecting, Ward has the speed and snap to hurt him.

But offensively, man, Kovalev is no "just a mid-range hooker." Offensively he has as much range, speed, accuracy, and stamina as you will ever see in a light heavyweight with that much power. I think for Ward to win he will either have to hurt him, make him gunshy, or tire him out with body work and holding. Otherwise, on pure arsenal alone, Kovalev is coming to the fight with the better weapons.

Can't wait for the fight! Hopefully Ward doesn't fake an injury, and hopefully neither suffer real injuries.

[Shpacman]

Kovalev is definitely a big LHW

I don't think so. Beterbiev is a big LHW. Silakh was a big LHW. Kovalev isn't big, he just has large bones, though he doesn't have big muscles on them.

[Citizen Koba]

181.6? That's roughly comparable to the weights Kovalev was coming to the ring in 2013 I think- it climbed to a peak of around 186-188 as far as I recall for the Hopkins and Pascal fights, but in the the main has probably averaged around 184-5, pretty much middle of the road for a LHW. Kovalev is also listed at 6'0" - which is again pretty much average or just slightly below for a top LHW but he does tend to fight quite tall and long which may give a deceptive impression of size relative to his opponents, many of whom have been both taller and heavier than him in the ring.

[bojangles1987]

Kovalev is coming into the ring noticeably lighter lately, if the unofficial weights speak the truth. He credits advice Hopkins gave him for that.

I don't think he's the huge 190 pound LHW he was at one point.

[j0zef]

This is really weird. Look at the history of his weights.

2015 vs. Pascal = 189
2014 vs Hopkins = 188
2014 vs. Caparello = 185
2014 vs. Agnew = 187
2013 vs. Sillakh = 181.

181 is real light for him. I mean, it's possible he didn't start rehydration for the fight yet as it's hours away.. but still real light.

[Redd Foxx]

This is really weird. Look at the history of his weights.

2015 vs. Pascal = 189
2014 vs Hopkins = 188
2014 vs. Caparello = 185
2014 vs. Agnew = 187
2013 vs. Sillakh = 181.

181 is real light for him. I mean, it's possible he didn't start rehydration for the fight yet as it's hours away.. but still real light.

Thx for that. Very interesting to say the least. He's high enough level and consistent enough in performance that I'm inclined to think there's something intentional going on. Maybe wants to be light and quick against Ward, knowing that power isn't going to be enough if he can't catch him. 8lbs is significant.

[deanrw]

Thx for that. Very interesting to say the least. He's high enough level and consistent enough in performance that I'm inclined to think there's something intentional going on. Maybe wants to be light and quick against Ward, knowing that power isn't going to be enough if he can't catch him. 8lbs is significant.

I doubt it. Those weights were from at least 12 hours before the fight. He will gain a few more pounds till the fight happens.

[j0zef]

Thx for that. Very interesting to say the least. He's high enough level and consistent enough in performance that I'm inclined to think there's something intentional going on. Maybe wants to be light and quick against Ward, knowing that power isn't going to be enough if he can't catch him. 8lbs is significant.

This is exactly what I was thinking. That he's either coming lighter intentionally to prepare for Ward.. but Chilemba is pretty light as well.

It's worth it to keep in mind that these not fight night weights. There's still several hrs before the fight. I'd guess he's gonna be 185 by the fight night.

[Redd Foxx]

I doubt it. Those weights were from at least 12 hours before the fight. He will gain a few more pounds till the fight happens.

But the disparity between that and the previous weights is big. I'm pretty sure the others were taken several hours before the fight as well. 8lbs is quite a bit to be down overnight. Most rehydration is done before a second weigh in. Otherwise, the fighter will be in bad shape if he's that dehydrated overnight.

Either way, we'll soon find out. Even 6lbs should be noticeable in his physique.

[Eastcoast]

But the disparity between that and the previous weights is big. I'm pretty sure the others were taken several hours before the fight as well. 8lbs is quite a bit to be down overnight. Most rehydration is done before a second weigh in. Otherwise, the fighter will be in bad shape if he's that dehydrated overnight.

Either way, we'll soon find out. Even 6lbs should be noticeable in his physique.

I think the fight night weights like HBO often does, allow the fighters to be fully dressed with shoes, cell phone, ect. The official 'day of' weigh-ins like the IBF require, are typically down to the shorts as the fighter has to be below a certain limit (10%).