Why did everyone ignore how bad KOvalev looked vs Chilemba

[Derranged]

Try to keep the bias out of it, I believe OP was asking why people didn't talk more about it BEFORE he LOST to Ward.

My point was that considering he arguably beat someone as good as Ward (first time around) the Chilemba fight was merely written off as an off night.

[New England]

ward was the favorite to win both fights. was certainly the favorite to win the first one, i bet money in vegas for him to win on points.



chilemba hadn't been stopped before the kovalev fight and had aquitted himself pretty well at the top 10 level. i didn't expect kovlev to look great against a guy that has a style built around trying to make you look bad. nobody did, really. all that figh twas designed to do was to get kovalev paid, build some fanfare in russia, and tune up for a much trickier fighter. it wouldn't do a ton ton to help him prepare if you just put him in there with a come forward fighter who would get stopped early.


he also hardly trained from all accounts, and doesn't appear to be a hard worker. i'm always shocked at how quickly he looks lout of shape after his fights. probably likes his vodka.

[Metho_4u]

My point was that considering he arguably beat someone as good as Ward (first time around) the Chilemba fight was merely written off as an off night.

That could be, or maybe chilemba is just more tricky than we realized.

[BlakBread904]

I don't think it was overlooked, Kovalev was just given the benefit of the doubt. People thought he wasn't at his best that night, an off night. It happens.

this right here.

can't be right all the time!