"Alien" Hopkins vs "Krusher" Kovalev Post fight Discussion thread

[jas]

[dan_cov]

I was on the fence but the more I see the more and more I favour B-Hop.

Kovalev overextends too much, he doesn't move his head. His defense is a mess to put it mildly.
I always look at the feet of a puncher - Everytime someone throws a combination at him he squares up, pulls straight back.

He squares himself up too much so his head is dead center & he has poor mobility and balance.

I think B-Hop may opt to be slightly more offensive in this fight. He is far better inside and his angles and level changes will give Kovalev fits. I think he might look to push him back.
I don't think movement is the best way too beat to him, I think get in, smother him, don't allow this guy to get leverage on his shots and push him on his heels.

B-Hop close but clear. I can't see him losing to someone so basic because contrary to belief that is what Kovalev is. Basic Euro with tremendous power.

[jas]

I was on the fence but the more I see the more and more I favour B-Hop.

Kovalev overextends too much, he doesn't move his head. His defense is a mess to put it mildly.
I always look at the feet of a puncher - Everytime someone throws a combination at him he squares up, pulls straight back.

He squares himself up too much so his head is dead center & he has poor mobility and balance.

I think B-Hop may opt to be slightly more offensive in this fight. He is far better inside and his angles and level changes will give Kovalev fits. I think he might look to push him back.
I don't think movement is the best way too beat to him, I think get in, smother him, don't allow this guy to get leverage on his shots and push him on his heels.

B-Hop close but clear. I can't see him losing to someone so basic because contrary to belief that is what Kovalev is. Basic Euro with tremendous power.

I was thinking the exact same thing dan. I was wondering whether Hopkins will opt to try and push kovalev back . I think we'll see Hopkins' trademark straight right thrown when his level is low , punching upwards, followed by a clinch and hitting and holding.

[dan_cov]

Kovalevs power is at the end of his punch, he fights mid-long where he can get leverage into his punches. He is not a GGG who can develop power from merely 6 inches.

He is also easily frustrated, doesn't like being roughed up one bit and IMO he has thin skin. He reddens up easily and I think I recall him being cut against Cleverly for one and I think someone else maybe Agnew gave him a little nick.
Headbutts or not he marks up a fair bit.

I hope B-Hop retires after he has had a sensational career and this would be a huge exclamation mark to finish it all with.

[dan_cov]

I was thinking the exact same thing dan. I was wondering whether Hopkins will opt to try and push kovalev back . I think we'll see Hopkins' trademark straight right thrown when his level is low , punching upwards, followed by a clinch and hitting and holding.

I think he will get more aggressive as it goes on where Kovalev is massively unproven down the stretch. His best bet is to take the fight to the inside IMO and make it a real dog fight where its night and day he is clearly the far superior inside fighter. He has to be careful how he gets in though, one mistake and it could be big trouble. Kovalev can certainly crack from a distance.

I think the counter left hook could well be key when Kovalev looks to dig that straight right to the body and leaves his head there. Few of those and that will make the beast think twice about letting that right hand go.

[jas]

i agree completely dan although sillakh did get ko'ed from a short distance punch....

4:40

[dan_cov]

i agree completely dan although sillakh did get ko'ed from a short distance punch....

4:40

I wouldn't call that short as such but with his momentum he certainly shortens it & increases the impact.
I like Sillakh he is a great pure boxer shame he has such pathetic punch resistance.
I think I read he is going back upto cruiserweight, he must like getting knocked out.

[jas]

I wouldn't call that short as such but with his momentum he certainly shortens it & increases the impact.
I like Sillakh he is a great pure boxer shame he has such pathetic punch resistance.
I think I read he is going back upto cruiserweight, he must like getting knocked out.

lol yea, the CW division is the weakest in boxing, its his best chance to pick up a strap just like bellew and cleverly

bhop did have success with leaping left hooks vs shumenov but thats not the go-to punch vs kovalev. you saw what happened to sillakh throwing it.

hopkins is gonna be constantly circling to his right . at times keeping out of range and then initating attacks towards kovalevs left side with his own straight right, then, as you said, smothering kova.

[jas]

bhop is gonna do a lot of this....right hand then hold and hit, and if kova puts his glove out to touch gloves, he'll get tagged

[Citizen Koba]

i agree completely dan although sillakh did get ko'ed from a short distance punch....

4:40

Might wanna take a look at the 1st Lonnie B KD, the first Campillo and White KDs also - that close range looping right to the side of the head has proven to be the start of the end for a good number of his opponents.

Funny how people can see the same fighters and see such different things. Kovalev is very mobile IMO - though this is also a potential source of vulnerability (due to his large strides) against someone who can time him well.

Especially at mid range his punch selection and ability to string combos together is unusual, particularly for his size and I think his handspeed is somewhat underated as well.

Hopkins may find the tactics to beat him, but I think he's gonna have to pull out every veteran trick in the book - I'm expecting butts and cuts, Hopkins turning his back then claiming rabbit punches, the fake low blow... hell name it. I don't think Hopkins wins through a display of pure boxing brilliance.

Kovalev has far more in common with Dawson than limited plodders / brawlers like Shumenov, Murat or Cloud.

Well, we're just gonna have to wait and see - may the best guy win.