How come Kovalev wasn’t “Old” for Eleider or Ward?

[TonyGe]

And yet if you look at Ward and how he was breathing after the low blow stoppage, you would see that Ward had emptied his tank. And besides the low shots, his punches were not landing flush on Kovalev at all.

Whatever. I can just say what I observed and it didn't look good for Kovalev.

[ruedboy]

Also I think Mario Lopez ended this debate on the three knockdown rule podcast a few days ago. He said he talked to Oscar for 30 mins at a party about Canelo vs Kovalev, and Oscar told him Canelo believes Kovalev's legs are totally shot and that once Canelo cuts off the ring and lands body punches it will be over. So you're hearing from Canelo's own team that Kovalev is old, just like Canelo never fought GGG until Canelo's own team, Bernard Hopkins, said that GGG looked old like the snap was gone from his punches when he fought Kell Brook, just like Andre Ward's team Virgil Hunter told us before the first fight that Kovalev had drinking problems and Ward would stop Kovalev.

Word gets around. These protected American or Mexican stars don't just fight guys for no reason. When you're that protected, why would you? They may take risks on paper but there is usually something they know that the public doesn't so that it's actually not much of a risk, just an opportunistic "advanced cherry pick" is the term.

I'm not saying Canelo isn't who you think he is. If he fights Bivol in the next few years, then Canelo is everything you think he is. If he fights the Beterbiev-Gvozdyk winner immediately, before they get old (cuz they are already at that crossroads so it has to be now), he is everything you think he is. But 36 year old Kovalev who has gotten badly gassed or hurt in about 6 of his last 9 fights? Come on bro. I'll say this, Kovalev is sort of a glass cannon, but a glass cannon that still shoots pretty good cannon balls. In some ways, especially early, it may be the hardest fight of Canelo's career, but it's still one that is set up for him to win.

Think of Canelo-Kovalev as another version of Crawford vs Gamboa, except with age and decline substituted into the equation instead of size. Gamboa and Kovalev will both have some success early, both make it a firefight, potentially a fight of the year, but as the fight goes on, it's designed to only have one winner, so that the American or Mexican star, whether Crawford or Canelo, can make it look like they "came back" and "overcame adversity" to score a "spectacular win in a fight of the year."

Zab Judah used to be like this. For 3 or 4 rounds he would look like Sugar Ray Robinson, then his opponent would come back and make it look like his opponent just had such heart that he was able to turn the tide against this monster from the first 3-4 rounds. When in reality, it wasn't his opponent turning the tide, it was Zab fading badly after the early rounds. This type of fighter is the perfect kind of fighter to make you look like an exciting superstar. Because of how exciting but declined Kovalev is, this fight could take Canelo to a totally new level of stardom, just like Crawford vs Gamboa.

Just don't get it twisted. It's designed for Canelo to win. It is not a dare to be great move. It is not a "if he wins, he is P4P #1 move, he is an all time great."

Also remember, Kovalev is coming off a short layoff after a beating. At least when Ward and Chilemba fought Kovalev, it was rested Kovalev even if he was past prime. Now he's not just past prime with more wear and tear, he's being given no time to recover after the most grueling fight of his career. At 36 years old.

Just add it all up bro. Don't you see what I'm saying? Anyway even if you don't trust what I'm saying, just listen to what Canelo's own team is saying.

Great post. Most fans have a superficial knowledge of boxing and are usually emotional, close minded and biased, so a reasonable comment like yours goes right over there heads. Fans with a bias towards a fighter, have this idea of him in their heads and any facts that don't conform to that idea just can't be tolerated.
You've backed your opinions with facts but you won't get too many facts from the guys who disagree with you.

[M Bison]

Well If you think that you must obviously think the Eleider fight was a fluke and that Kovalev beat Ward twice. Kovalev has had a long career, he has obviously shown signs of wear and tear, If Yarde can hurt him I think that is all we need to really know.

Now with Canelo a known drug cheat, what more can be said... Daring to be great isn't what it use to be. Floyd dared to be great fighting guys without PED advantage and he fought the A-side on their terms Dela Rentboy. That is daring to be great, Canelo is a silver spoon fed asswipe who has had a lot of 'generous' decisions go his way.

[Sun_Tzu]

Its pretty clear Kovalev is on the slide. There is a reason Canelo is fighting Kovalev instead one of the other three, he is ripe for the picking and anyone who can view it with out fan boy bias can see it. Im not saying Kovalev cant win this fight and win it big because he can but ask yourself if this was the 32 year old undefeated wrecking ball Kovalev would Canelo be fighting him. I dont think so. Its still a dangerous fight for Canelo and if there are no bs catchweights or rehydration clauses Ill give Canelo full credit if he wins.

[MulaKO]

DAZN?

Canelo was already a made man in Showtime and HBO. Haven’t talked about DAZN in a hot minute. There’s no need to! DAZN growth is inevitable, said long ago.

Ok , maybe I went a little overboard lol
Just used to seeing your posts that some way or somehow all roads lead to Dazn

Wtv , just in my eyes this is not a competitive fight at this moment
Now if Canelo went after one of the aforementioned players , I would be the first one praising him

[IceTrayDaGang]

maybe because when he first fought ward, that was back in 2016???!!! mofos not suppose to age or what?

[soul_survivor]

He wasn’t.

This is a great fight, if there’s no catchweight and/or rehydration clause

Either of them makes it a completely different affair

Agreed.

I have zero complaints if the fight is at 175 and no weight clauses. Full credit for canelo if he wins it fair and square which I believe is impossible. Kov is taller, longer reach, hits harder and has a better jab.

Weight clauses and canelo wins against a drained fighter .

[Thuglife Nelo]

I tell you guys how to make a mean tuna sammich!

Half minced small onion
Half slice lemon
1/4 spoon of salt
Hot pepper of choice/ minced
Tuna
Sliced tomato
Minced parsley
1 table spoon Mayo
Oven bread

And that’s all she ate!

[MASTERBX]

Kova has several sexual assault charges hanging over his head! He's cashing out!

[Thuglife Nelo]

Kova has several sexual assault charges hanging over his head! He's cashing out!

What if Kovalev’s victim is cheering for the Krusher front row, “hurry up and get that bag!”