Bivol will destroy Kovalev

[xhiddenx87]

It wasnt like a hard punch either. So plz stop overreacting to these minimal moves. Its boxing, you get punched in the face , that sometimes hurts from what I have heard.

The good thing about this, ia that Kova already sadi he is ready for bivol or beterviev. So quit complaining

[LetOutTheCage]

Rocked? I saw an off balanced Kovalev take some some stiff jabs to the face that knocked him backwards, he was never rocked...

It would be a huge step up for Bivol to fight Kovalev next and given how sharp Kovalev still seems to be i'm not sure if Bivol is quite ready for that fight just yet.

[MDPopescu]

... boxers from the "ex-Soviet school" fighting each others actually is only a matter of who hits harder, tbh... (and conditioning also)...

... Beterbiev, Gvozdyk, Kovalev, Bivol... (but I think Bivol is still "green"...)

[sunny31]

Rocked huh? You on acid or Just got bivols **** down your throat?

He was rocked? Really? So being pushed back by a punch means getting rocked? He was so rocked that he proceeded to Knock Down Slava twice in the following minute... Wow **** me.

He did not get rocked it was balance...

Rocked? I saw an off balanced Kovalev take some some stiff jabs to the face that knocked him backwards, he was never rocked...

It would be a huge step up for Bivol to fight Kovalev next and given how sharp Kovalev still seems to be i'm not sure if Bivol is quite ready for that fight just yet.

I actually agree with the TS a little bit, he wasn't rocked but there was a reaction in his legs to two different jabs on two different occasions. I think he may be getting too tight at the weight, or Shabranskyy is just a big puncher? I wonder if that might affect him in a more competitive fight against a proper puncher.

But having said that, he still looks like the best fighter in the division to me.

[LetOutTheCage]

I actually agree with the TS a little bit, he wasn't rocked but there was a reaction in his legs to two different jabs on two different occasions. I think he may be getting too tight at the weight, or Shabranskyy is just a big puncher? I wonder if that might affect him in a more competitive fight against a proper puncher.

But having said that, he still looks like the best fighter in the division to me.

In fairness those shots that apparently rocked him where shots he walked head on into and it was as he was trying to land his own shots. I honestly think he was momentarily off balance, if he was hurt by any of those shots then I dont think he would have been quite so aggressive right after. The shots that put Shabranskyy down straight after were sharp and well-timed, they werent the shots of someone who was hurt.

[John Locke]

Kovalev was knocked off balance vs Shabranksyy, not hurt. But regardless, I don't trust his punch resistance/durability one bit. I would take Bivol over him for sure.

[sunny31]

Kovalev was knocked off balance vs Shabranksyy, not hurt. But regardless, I don't trust his punch resistance/durability one bit. I would take Bivol over him for sure.

You have to willing to pay the price, and have a great chin to get to him though. Either that or a great defence - fighting him is like walking a tight rope, that is why I rate Ward's wins over him so highly, because I don't think Ward has a great chin, he has a reliable one, but a reliable chin without a great defence against Kovalev gets you KTFO.

[sunny31]

In fairness those shots that apparently rocked him where shots he walked head on into and it was as he was trying to land his own shots. I honestly think he was momentarily off balance, if he was hurt by any of those shots then I dont think he would have been quite so aggressive right after. The shots that put Shabranskyy down straight after were sharp and well-timed, they werent the shots of someone who was hurt.

I felt his legs dipped a little, I have seen that before and it can be attributed to punch resistance, or I have seen fighters suffer with legs when they are too tight at the weight also. It happened to Khan at the end of round 1 vs Algieri.

In those situations occasionally it can be better to be aggressive, especially if you feel you are the better fighter, if you feel the other guys punches and feel he is dangerous, why let him into the fight? Sometimes it can give you urgency or a wakeup call to put him away quick.