Sergey Kovalev vs Eleider Alvarez II

[Batman]

Anyone got any opinions on how different a fighter Kov would be now if he got that first decision against Ward?

[Alpha]

Anyone got any opinions on how different a fighter Kov would be now if he got that first decision against Ward?

Possibly in a similar position, it seems bad habits had already crept in.

Many thought he won the first Ward fight, but the decision seemed to have broken him further.

[p4pking]

Anyone got any opinions on how different a fighter Kov would be now if he got that first decision against Ward?

Do you mean if he had then not rematched Ward? Whatever way the decision went the first time, I think the second would have gone the same way, Ward figured him out and made the adjustments. So basically no different at all. If not for the rematch, yea who knows, he could have probably beaten everyone else in the division at that time, maybe he still can. This rematch should tell us a lot as far as how well he can adapt, cope with losing, , whether he can be in better condition, if he’s past it full stop, etc.

[Master]

Anyone got any opinions on how different a fighter Kov would be now if he got that first decision against Ward?

Do you mean if he had then not rematched Ward? Whatever way the decision went the first time, I think the second would have gone the same way, Ward figured him out and made the adjustments. So basically no different at all. If not for the rematch, yea who knows, he could have probably beaten everyone else in the division at that time, maybe he still can. This rematch should tell us a lot as far as how well he can adapt, cope with losing, , whether he can be in better condition, if he’s past it full stop, etc.

Kov may have decided not to have the rematch against Ward but he still would have lost to Alvarez in a huge shock of the year.

[p4pking]

Entirely possible. I do think both losses, whether you think the first was bs or not, affected him. Then again he is 35 and apparently wasn’t living the life in training for a while. This rematch is definitely everything for his career, makes it interesting.

[Spicoli]

First time I've hesitated on Kovalev, really like the guy. But I just can't see him getting around the Alvarez rabid jab and now peaking confidence. Irony is I think the jab of Kov was understated, great weapon. But all the upside and execution is in the corner of Alvarez and I think he gets a late stoppage. And I hope to be completely wrong.

oh and Oscar Valdez returning! Really looking forward to it.

[Alpha]

First time I've hesitated on Kovalev, really like the guy. But I just can't see him getting around the Alvarez rabid jab and now peaking confidence. Irony is I think the jab of Kov was understated, great weapon. But all the upside and execution is in the corner of Alvarez and I think he gets a late stoppage. And I hope to be completely wrong.

oh and Oscar Valdez returning! Really looking forward to it.

Yea I'm a big Valdez fan, good to see him back. Love that Warrington has been talking a Valdez unification if he defeats Frampton.

I too will be secretly hoping Kov didn't sink that last bottle of vodka and instead chose roadwork

[ruthless rocco]

Kovalev, the racist scumbag, gets KO’d again.

[TitoFan]

First time I've hesitated on Kovalev, really like the guy. But I just can't see him getting around the Alvarez rabid jab and now peaking confidence. Irony is I think the jab of Kov was understated, great weapon. But all the upside and execution is in the corner of Alvarez and I think he gets a late stoppage. And I hope to be completely wrong.

oh and Oscar Valdez returning! Really looking forward to it.

This.

The mental thing really kicks in here. Kov was a bully in the ring, and now he's been stopped twice. Once by low blows sure.... but the Alvarez one was completely legit and came out of nowhere.
Confidence, Alvarez will come in sky-high.... whereas Kov will come in with doubts in the back of his head.

[ruthless rocco]

First time I've hesitated on Kovalev, really like the guy. But I just can't see him getting around the Alvarez rabid jab and now peaking confidence. Irony is I think the jab of Kov was understated, great weapon. But all the upside and execution is in the corner of Alvarez and I think he gets a late stoppage. And I hope to be completely wrong.

oh and Oscar Valdez returning! Really looking forward to it.

This.

The mental thing really kicks in here. Kov was a bully in the ring, and now he's been stopped twice. Once by low blows sure.... but the Alvarez one was completely legit and came out of nowhere.
Confidence, Alvarez will come in sky-high.... whereas Kov will come in with doubts in the back of his head.

THIS. Just like Tito and Hopkins after Tito got caught with illegal handwraps.