Re: Sergey Kovalev vs. Cedric Agnew
Houston fighter Agnew eyes light heavyweight title - Houston Chronicle
Cedric Agnew eyes light heavyweight title
By Peter Lim | March 25, 2014
Cedric Agnew (26-0, 13 KOs) challenges Russian Sergey Kovalev (23-0, 21 KOs) for the WBO light heavyweight title on Saturday at the Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City on Saturday. The fight, scheduled for 12 rounds, will be aired on HBO.
Kovalev will enter the bout a heavy favorite. Agnew, 27, has more fights on his dossier but Kovalev, 30, has fought higher caliber opponents. And as his knockout percentage suggests, Kovalev has a huge advantage in punching power.
"I don't see myself as an underdog," Agnew said. "He's undefeated but so am I. I'm coming to this fight like I do each and every fight - looking to beat the man."
Agnew said he was not be intimidated by Kovalev's punching power despite his 91 percent knockout rate.
"I've fought guys with all kinds of power since the amateurs," Agnew said. "It doesn't bother me at all if you're strong."
A native of Chicago, Agnew relocated to Houston's Northside to train at the Main Boxing Gym in 2009. He became a regular fixture on the Texas fight scene but rarely received much worldwide exposure.
Kovalev, on the other hand, quickly captured the spotlight on the world stage courtesy of his propensity to render opponents horizontal. He won the title via fourth-round TKO over Nathan Cleverly of Wales last year.
"I don't feel no pressure and I'm taking it one day at a time and concentrating on this fight as just another fight," Agnew said.
Standing six feet tall, both boxers are the mirror images of each other, but are as different as fire and ice style wise. An aggressive boxer-puncher, Kovalev fights at a torrid pace using a busy jab to set up power punches. Agnew, by contrast, patiently counter punches from a defensive shell and is equally adept at fighting from a southpaw or right-handed stance.
"I'm going to win by using my brain and outthinking him," Agnew said. "The smarter fighter wins every time. I always find a way to win a fight."
In preparation for Kovalev, trainer Bobby Benton enlisted Medzhid Bektemirov (13-0, 10 KOs), Quantis Graves (9-0-1, 4 KOs) and Larry Pryor (7-9, 3 KOs) as sparring partners.
"They've emulated (Kovalev's) style like I wanted," Benton said.
Kovalev's vaunted power is overrated, Benton added, and Agnew, unlike Kovalev's previous opponents, will be unfazed by it.
"Everyone can punch," Benton said. "Cedric's not afraid of this guy. Everybody he's fought was scared to death before they stepped in the ring."
However, Cornelius White, who has traded punches with both fighters, describes Kovalev's power as "remarkable." A former sparring partner and stable-mate of Agnew, White (21-3, 16 KOs) was stopped in three rounds by Kovalev in June.
Nevertheless, White said Agnew has the style and skill set to defeat Kovalev as long as Agnew utilizes them strategically and avoids the same mistakes he made against the hard-hitting Russian.
"He pretty much just has to be Cedric," White said. "His defense is what's going to save him."
The longer the fight progresses, the better it will be for Agnew, White added, since Agnew has gone the 12-round distance twice before while Kovalev's longest fight lasted eight rounds.
"The first four to five rounds, he needs to be defensive - just jab and move and not be a stationary target like I was," White said.
A victory for Agnew would mark an end to a world title drought that has afflicted Houston since Juan Diaz lost his three lightweight belts in 2008. Junior middleweight Jermall Charlo (17-0, 13 KOs) was scheduled to fight for a world title earlier this month but the bout was cancelled after his opponent was arrested two days prior to fight night.
"When I win it's going to mean everything to me," Agnew said. "It's been a long time coming and I'd like everybody in the world to know who I am."
Re: Sergey Kovalev vs. Cedric Agnew
Re: Sergey Kovalev vs. Cedric Agnew
Live stream for the weigh-in:
MainEventsBoxing, Ustream.TV
Re: Sergey Kovalev vs. Cedric Agnew
Re: Sergey Kovalev vs. Cedric Agnew
On paper at least, the fight with Agnew is a mismatch. Kovalev has beat better fighters in Campillo, Sillakh and Cleverly. This was supposed to be a prelude to the fight with Stevenson. It's not a great match-up on its own. Now that Stevenson has decided he does not want to face Kovalev, Duva needs to secure another big fight like Pascal because it'll look poorly on Kovalev if he continues to face mid-level opponents. At this point in his career, he needs a stand-out win.
Re: Sergey Kovalev vs. Cedric Agnew
Quote:
Originally Posted by
FinitoElDinamita
This is going to be short and brutal.. agnew doesnt know what he's getting into but I respect his willingness to step up.
Every time I see your avatar, I just want to see the nips man.........
Re: Sergey Kovalev vs. Cedric Agnew
Anyone think Kovalev can be seriously over looking Agnew and mental deflation with Stevenson fight gone?
Re: Sergey Kovalev vs. Cedric Agnew
Always possible, what I'm wondering if anyone has actually seen Agnew fight:confused:. If he's not really good it probably won't matter what Kovalev is looking towards. This card starts pretty soon I'm guessing, how many fights are televised other than the main event and Mayfield-Dulorme?
Re: Sergey Kovalev vs. Cedric Agnew
I'm watching an advert for Skil ratchet lock and thinking they look really useful, I could use a pair of them. I feel like a real man.
Re: Sergey Kovalev vs. Cedric Agnew
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Spicoli
Anyone think Kovalev can be seriously over looking Agnew and mental deflation with Stevenson fight gone?
I think Kovalev is going to be pissed off and out to make a statement. I hope to see him feint another hip thrust.
Re: Sergey Kovalev vs. Cedric Agnew
If anybody needs a stream, PM me.
Re: Sergey Kovalev vs. Cedric Agnew
So Mayfield and Dulorme were both fined 20% of their purses for that weigh in jazz. I'm sure that was well worth all the training, it's probably about the same amount they will end up with after all expenses:-X Much as I dislike those antics, you'd hope they were warned beforehand that could happen, somehow I doubt it. What a tough business:D
Re: Sergey Kovalev vs. Cedric Agnew
The mini William joppy lookalike being timed a bit.
Re: Sergey Kovalev vs. Cedric Agnew
He does look a lot like Joppy! Except apparently without the ability, he's looking pretty bad to me.
