Kovalev vs Cleverly predictions august 17th

[Rantcatrat]

Guys, don't steal the thread to argue the merit of GGG's praise. He's got his own thread.

This is about Kovalev and Cleverly, which is a damn good match-up. Is it Cleverly's coming out party? Is Kovalev the beast that his last few fights have made him out to be? There are enough good story lines to keep boxing fans on this thread busy.

[Tam Seddon]

Boxing News | Cleverly trainer says Kovalev will be knocked-out

[Spicoli]

He sounds like way too much of the father and not the trainer talking there. Guarantee a KO...the pressure of Lateef f'n Kayode and guys like Chisora lead to that conclusion That's just goofy. I really think they might be focussing too much on what they think will be basic raw power and lose the fact Kovalev has boxing skill and killer set up.

[Fenster]

Any decent fighter Cleverly has ever faced, he's been quickly drawn into a punch-up. He's never used his size or range to his advantage.

Bloody good fight though. Either Cleverly gets exposed as the phoney champ or he gets a good win over a respected opponent (albeit one that's never fought for a "world" title like all Clev's other victims).

[Kirkland Laing]

Any decent fighter Cleverly has ever faced, he's been quickly drawn into a punch-up. He's never used his size or range to his advantage.

Bloody good fight though. Either Cleverly gets exposed as the phoney champ or he gets a good win over a respected opponent (albeit one that's never fought for a "world" title like all Clev's other victims).

I think sooner rather than later the fight becomes a war and Cleverley gets stopped or flattened. He might land more than Kovalev but Kovalev has the power and will land enough to do serious damage. Although I need to see more Kovalev, I've only seen his last fight.

[Master]

Any decent fighter Cleverly has ever faced, he's been quickly drawn into a punch-up. He's never used his size or range to his advantage.

Bloody good fight though. Either Cleverly gets exposed as the phoney champ or he gets a good win over a respected opponent (albeit one that's never fought for a "world" title like all Clev's other victims).

I think sooner rather than later the fight becomes a war and Cleverley gets stopped or flattened. He might land more than Kovalev but Kovalev has the power and will land enough to do serious damage. Although I need to see more Kovalev, I've only seen his last fight.

If Cleverly can take Bellows power he can take Kovalev's.

[ryanman]

Any decent fighter Cleverly has ever faced, he's been quickly drawn into a punch-up. He's never used his size or range to his advantage.

Bloody good fight though. Either Cleverly gets exposed as the phoney champ or he gets a good win over a respected opponent (albeit one that's never fought for a "world" title like all Clev's other victims).

I think sooner rather than later the fight becomes a war and Cleverley gets stopped or flattened. He might land more than Kovalev but Kovalev has the power and will land enough to do serious damage. Although I need to see more Kovalev, I've only seen his last fight.

If Cleverly can take Bellows power he can take Kovalev's.

Bellew's power is way overated. Well, by Bellew and Master at least.
I do think Cleverly has a good chin, but he needs to have with his 'defense'.
I think he could take some punishment here but win a close points decision. He needs a decent trainer to move forward though.

[Rantcatrat]

Any decent fighter Cleverly has ever faced, he's been quickly drawn into a punch-up. He's never used his size or range to his advantage.

Bloody good fight though. Either Cleverly gets exposed as the phoney champ or he gets a good win over a respected opponent (albeit one that's never fought for a "world" title like all Clev's other victims).

I think sooner rather than later the fight becomes a war and Cleverley gets stopped or flattened. He might land more than Kovalev but Kovalev has the power and will land enough to do serious damage. Although I need to see more Kovalev, I've only seen his last fight.

If Cleverly can take Bellows power he can take Kovalev's.

How do you figure?

[Spicoli]

Any decent fighter Cleverly has ever faced, he's been quickly drawn into a punch-up. He's never used his size or range to his advantage.

Bloody good fight though. Either Cleverly gets exposed as the phoney champ or he gets a good win over a respected opponent (albeit one that's never fought for a "world" title like all Clev's other victims).

I'm not familiar with the inner workings of Cleverly and camp but maybe they are doing the standard ploy, ko talk. John david Jackson will be too smart for a bait and switch though. Maybe he'll choose here to pull out all the stops and actually use head and skill. He's def got a chip on his shoulder but if he is one to get sucked into a fire fight when tagged, he'll get his chance but it'll come with a price. The problem with having and leading with a 'good chin' is that you have to prove it 100 percent of the time or you wake up under the lights with a man throwing many fingers in your face.

[Beanz]

Decent fight for the quiet summer months. If Nathan uses his speed and movement he can win clearly on points. "The Saddo Radio Show" that sounds like fun. Was it any good? Link?

[FinitoElDinamita]

Decent fight for the quiet summer months. If Nathan uses his speed and movement he can win clearly on points. "The Saddo Radio Show" that sounds like fun. Was it any good? Link?

Saddo has a radio show? tell me about it

[Fenster]

The radio show was back in 2005/6, can't remember how long it lasted, but the guy that ran it was from the USA called Danny something, and forum members would contribute (someone else must remember this?)

Quite ironic that these days every man and his dog does a boxing podcast.

[FinitoElDinamita]

THis fight is one of the harder ones to predict. Initially I picked Kovalev but Im now leaning more towards Cleverly as the fight nears.

What scares me about Kovalez is his high volume style. HE's not some plodding puncher who looks for one big shot but he walks you down with a high punch output and suffocates you. Anybody with a shitty punch resistance will not be able to handle this guy's steady pressure . I dont think anybody can keep him at bay for 12 rounds unless their footwork is exceptional like Hopkins or Floyd..

Im just banking on the fact that Cleverly has a good chin and energy with the hometown advantage behind him. If he can swarm kovalez and take him into deep water, I can he can win a decision.

I kinda like Cleverly here..

[Rantcatrat]

THis fight is one of the harder ones to predict. Initially I picked Kovalev but Im now leaning more towards Cleverly as the fight nears.

What scares me about Kovalez is his high volume style. HE's not some plodding puncher who looks for one big shot but he walks you down with a high punch output and suffocates you. Anybody with a shitty punch resistance will not be able to handle this guy's steady pressure . I dont think anybody can keep him at bay for 12 rounds unless their footwork is exceptional like Hopkins or Floyd..

Im just banking on the fact that Cleverly has a good chin and energy with the hometown advantage behind him. If he can swarm kovalez and take him into deep water, I can he can win a decision.

I kinda like Cleverly here..

Damn tough to predict. Who would you say has a better resume? For me, this comes down to whether Kovalev is genuinely the murderous puncher he looks to be. If he is, Cleverly's tendency to stand and trade will be his downfall. Cleverly is a volume guy, like his compatriot Joe Calzaghe, but he doesn't possess the innate quickness and slickness that Calzaghe, which means if he tries to punch in bunches, and Kovalev's power is real, Kovalev will time a big punch, and nights out for Cleverly. That's probably where I'm leaning. If I were a betting man, I'd put some money on Cleverly on the cards and Kovalev by knockout.

[Fenster]

@Dia bando (or anyone that knows) - What was Cleverly's amatuer experience? Can't find a record for him