Quote Originally Posted by CFH View Post
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.
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.