Kovalev-Mikhalkin, Barrera-Bivol HBO doubleheader March 3

[powerpuncher]

Don’t know anything about the guy Kovalev is fighting. It’s interesting that Barrera turned down the Kovalev fight but is fighting Bivol instead.

Maybe barrera thinks he has a better chance and is getting more money.

He probably does think that, but I wouldn't be so sure. It's almost a case of "choose your poison!". I'm mega impressed with Bivol, but he hasn't had many fights . Barrera is a top fighter with loads of experience. The division pecking order will take shape after these fights.
You won't get many better doubleheaders than this.

I feel the same way. Barrera I think loses to both. Kovalev has proven to be a legit top fighter but Bivol is heading that way. So Barrera is probably hoping that Bivol is more hype.

[Silkeyjoe]

Main event looks a bit of a mismatch on paper. Dont know much about Mikhalkin but lost to a really poor fighter (Clerverly flattened him) and took 3 goes to convincingly beat Ngumbu who isnt bad but nowhere near Kovalev standard. Easy night for Kov.

Think Bivol flattens Barrera too

[Alpha]

Barrera probably hoping that he can take Bivol now before he becomes more experienced. He's taking less money to face Bivol, I guess if he wins a belt he'll be able to use it as a bargaining chip to earn more when the for a Kov fight.

[Freedom]

Main event looks a bit of a mismatch on paper. Dont know much about Mikhalkin but lost to a really poor fighter (Clerverly flattened him) and took 3 goes to convincingly beat Ngumbu who isnt bad but nowhere near Kovalev standard. Easy night for Kov.

Think Bivol flattens Barrera too

Igor Mikhalkin isn't bad.

He may have had an off night against Kuziemski back in 2010, but he's been on a ten-fight winning streak since then. He was the first to beat
Thomas Oosthuizen who was 27-0 at the time. The BoxRec computer has Mikhalkin ranked at #11 at light heavyweight.

Mikhalkin has earned his world title shot. Barrera turned down the fight with Kovalev, but then agreed to fight the inexperienced Bivol for less money.

[palmerq]

Barrera claimed the kovalev fight offer wasn't for the a world title at the time and that's why he turned it down, the title was added in pretty late for that one.

Anyway Barrera has a pretty bad habit of being knocked down early on i. Fights, Ukrainian fellow put him down, Joe Smith Jr had him down in round one, valera nearly kod him in round one last time out, and even ward knocked him down fairly early..... Bivol seems pretty strong and aggressive I think this one won't last long.

[Freedom]

Barrera claimed the kovalev fight offer wasn't for the a world title at the time and that's why he turned it down, the title was added in pretty late for that one.

But recently, he AGAIN turned down a fight with Kovalev, this time on March 3, 2018, and instead has decided to fight Bivol for less money.

[Spicoli]

Always hesitant to jump on a hype express, as far as hbo, but have a feeling Bivol will blow Barrera out. Barrera may have let that opportunity pass him by and has been looking pretty chinny as of late.

[Alpha]

Bivol has confirmed he's enrolled for VADA testing.