BOXNATION - RED MIST - Cleverly v Kovalev Saturday Night Fight CHAT THREAD

http://http://www.dailypost.co.uk/sp...o-back-5748096

Just watched this fight now,and i could tell after round 1 Cleverly was going to get stopped.

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Originally Posted by Chomsky Acolyte

At first, I thought Cleverly had the right idea - pop the jab, keep the hands up high and move backwards. Unfortunately for him, he couldn't stay out of punching range. Even when he was on the defensive, Kovalev could always reach him.

Ideally, Cleverly would have concentrated on jabs and body shots, while staying away and forcing Kovalev to follow him around and expend some energy by missing his power-shots. Kovalev has never been dragged into deep waters and any success Cleverly could have would have been over the second half of the fight. He just wasn't capable though and even the shots he was blocking were having an effect.

I was surprised Cleverly took this fight because Kovalev looked like a monster and, truth be told, it looked like man vs boy in there.

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Very true. Just seemed Cleverly was damned if he did and damned if he didn't. Moving out Kovalev does these subtle half steps to close you down and no matter blocking or not Clev was being jarred. In another prediction thread I said 'Kovalev was going to punch holes through this kid', just didn't think it would be right outta the gate like that. Liked that Cleverly stepped to the plate and took him on though. His people and camp just got way ahead of themselves in chatting it up and honestly thought he was just a crude brawler.

Just watched the fight. Kovalev isn't very fast, but he has very good timing and he obviously hits very hard. He reminds me of a slower, more heavy-handed Kessler.

Cleverly still has no defense and he never has never shown any improvement in that area (probably because he has been fighting cab drivers to this point has never had to get work on anything). This was awful match-making. A guy with no power and no defense against a very hard puncher.

Kovalev is a badass and just proved it again. Awesome display. I was surprised a bit that he didn't have to walk Clev down like o thought he would have to, Clev was just there. I liked the fact that he stayed busy behind his jab, it's going to be hard to pitter pat and dance around him with his jab going like that. That said, when he mixed in that right hand lead, it was a like a bomb went off on Cleverly, and that's when he was able to attack smart. Hes got such heavy hands, not quite Golovkin like I don't think but peobably close. Him and Cloud would be awesome.

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Originally Posted by CFH

Just watched the fight. Kovalev is very fast, but he has very good timing and he obviously hits very hard. He reminds me of a slower, more heavy-handed Kessler.

Cleverly still has no defense and he never has never shown any improvement in that area (probably because he has been fighting cab drivers to this point has never had to get work on anything). This was awful match-making. A guy with no power and no defense against a very hard puncher.

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I like the Kessler comparison, but with Kessler being lighter on his feet.

Clev is no better defensively than he was in his 5th pro fight and you're right that it's in part because he has fought nobodies and so hasn't needed to learn/had learnt to trust his chin far too much. Also though I really really feel he needs a new trainer. A good trainer will be honing that defense as a top priority.

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Originally Posted by ryanman

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Originally Posted by CFH

Just watched the fight. Kovalev is very fast, but he has very good timing and he obviously hits very hard. He reminds me of a slower, more heavy-handed Kessler.

Cleverly still has no defense and he never has never shown any improvement in that area (probably because he has been fighting cab drivers to this point has never had to get work on anything). This was awful match-making. A guy with no power and no defense against a very hard puncher.

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I like the Kessler comparison, but with Kessler being lighter on his feet.

Clev is no better defensively than he was in his 5th pro fight and you're right that it's in part because he has fought nobodies and so hasn't needed to learn/had learnt to trust his chin far too much. Also though I really really feel he needs a new trainer. A good trainer will be honing that defense as a top priority.

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Yeah, I meant to say that Kovalev isn't very fast... in my original post.

I would be surprised if Cleverly ever beats a world class fighter, his style is completely unfitting of someone who can't take it.

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Originally Posted by p4pking

I would be surprised if Cleverly ever beats a world class fighter, his style is completely unfitting of someone who can't take it.

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He fights stupid. He's become habitual. I like the kid but as we have talked about before his greatest weakness is this almost subconscious need to please and excite the crowd rather then winning the dam fight. Cleverly fought the dumbest fight I have ever seen him fight against his most dangerous opponent. I actually believed foolishly that this fight would be when he put on a show. He never even tried to use the ring. He instead once again because of his bravado, arrogance and cockiness attempted to hook with a hooker and prove he could take his shots. He's been fighting that way since the first time I watched him on guru and it even seemed to increase post Murat. Not trying to take anything away from Kovalev as he is a much better technician then I thought he was especially his sneaky footwork.

Cleverly went into the fight thinking he could outbox Kovalev but found out Kovalev is a better boxer than he is. He felt Kovalev's power in the first minute and was just trying to survive after that. It wasn't that he didn't want to throw punches, he did, he was just terrified of leaving himself open for what was coming back the other way.

I liked Kovalev's reaction to getting his anthem booed after he won.

http://www.boxingscene.com/uploads/6...valev-flip.jpg

http://www.boxingscene.com/uploads/6...valev-flip.jpg

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Originally Posted by Kirkland Laing

Cleverly went into the fight thinking he could outbox Kovalev but found out Kovalev is a better boxer than he is. He felt Kovalev's power in the first minute and was just trying to survive after that. It wasn't that he didn't want to throw punches, he did, he was just terrified of leaving himself open for what was coming back the other way.

I liked Kovalev's reaction to getting his anthem booed after he won.

http://www.boxingscene.com/uploads/6...valev-flip.jpg

http://www.boxingscene.com/uploads/6...valev-flip.jpg

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I agree with that, cleverly thought Kolalev would slow down and then Cleverly would start outboxing him. But I honestly think seconds into the fight, the first few punches that landed actually did hurt cleverly and then we know what happened next.

I was wondering why Cleverly was not his usual busy self and now I know the punch power of Kovalev is unreal.