Cheers mate, much appreciated!
The RedCafe Boxing Thread
- Thread starter CLK_FPC
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Cheers mate, much appreciated!
Really hyped for the fight. Never seen Kovalev fight before (other than YouTube) so excited to see how he does against Ward, who is a beast IMO. Delighted Sky haven't put it on PPV.
A brilliant fight. I've changed my opinion quite a few times, Ward hasn't looked as comfortable stepping up and was poor against Brand, while Kovalev seemed to be getting better and better until the Chiliemba fight.
If Kovalev can get a dangerous punch in, in the earlier rounds he will grow in confidence and harry Ward, who will be fazed, however if Ward can use his ring IQ and elusiveness to frustrate Kov then he will win on points.
If Kovalev can get a dangerous punch in, in the earlier rounds he will grow in confidence and harry Ward, who will be fazed, however if Ward can use his ring IQ and elusiveness to frustrate Kov then he will win on points.
You say that knowing virtually all of Kovalev's fights are fought at range, right? If anything, it's in the pocket that we don't know how good he is because he so rarely has to. Kovalev's footwork is exceptional, and is a rhythm fighter. Ward will have to disrupt Kovalev and ticking off the rounds by just doing enough, and avoiding the 1-2 lead in's. I doubt that he can, but it's still a 50-50 fight.
Kovalev does fight at range, but Kovalev isn't going to win this fight on the outside cause he'll get beaten to the punch, and Kovalev's handspeed isn't quick enough to overcome Ward's elusiveness. Honestly think his best chance is to land something big when Ward comes into the pocket, he'll have to take Ward's power to land his own though.
Groves is on course for ANOTHER title shot after winning last night, potentially the new Martin Murray him the amount of shots he will have got.
As for tonight/tomorrow AM, still going for Ward me with a UD, will neutralise Kovalev like Mayweather did with Pac. I still think it's a shame it's not promoted more than it has been, terrible by all involved with that side of the business.
As for tonight/tomorrow AM, still going for Ward me with a UD, will neutralise Kovalev like Mayweather did with Pac. I still think it's a shame it's not promoted more than it has been, terrible by all involved with that side of the business.
Remember that Pac had a torn deltoid coming into that fight.
Agree on both mate. @Oggmonster
Kovalev always has a punchers chance and I've no doubt that he'll be the hardest puncher Ward faces but still think Ward's style can mitigate Kovalev's and he's very hittable - Chilemba, Pascal (x2) and Hopkins all showed that even in spirited losses.
I'd really enjoy seeing Kovalev knocking Ward over and putting the pressure on him but I keep coming back to visions of clean shot and smother, clean shot and slip, clean shot and shoulder roll. Rinse and repeat. All 3 scenario's leave Ward having the clear moment in the exchanges and with his skills, he can land each on the front foot or the back foot.
Kovalev will try to cut the ring off and shouldn't have problems walking Ward down but unless he's worked on his footwork immensely and sets attacks up with jabs to the body, hooks to the body and endless feints then he's left with hoping the blows he can land are concussive enough to disrupt Ward's rhythm.
Kovalev always has a punchers chance and I've no doubt that he'll be the hardest puncher Ward faces but still think Ward's style can mitigate Kovalev's and he's very hittable - Chilemba, Pascal (x2) and Hopkins all showed that even in spirited losses.
I'd really enjoy seeing Kovalev knocking Ward over and putting the pressure on him but I keep coming back to visions of clean shot and smother, clean shot and slip, clean shot and shoulder roll. Rinse and repeat. All 3 scenario's leave Ward having the clear moment in the exchanges and with his skills, he can land each on the front foot or the back foot.
Kovalev will try to cut the ring off and shouldn't have problems walking Ward down but unless he's worked on his footwork immensely and sets attacks up with jabs to the body, hooks to the body and endless feints then he's left with hoping the blows he can land are concussive enough to disrupt Ward's rhythm.
That's true. I think Mayweather would win that fight most times really. But that's probably a debate we've all done to death and will never find out. The real shame with that fight is that it didn't happen years ago. I know Floyd gets the bulk of the blame off people but I still think there's times he did fancy it and Pac didn't. Similarly there's times Pac wanted it and Floyd didn't. In the end they were both past their best (although Mayweather was still a level above everyone else comfortably.)
Yeah I think the fight could be good if he goes down in an earlier round. It forces the fight a bit more. Mayweather vs. Pac as the commonm example never got going cos Floyd was never put under any pressure.
It's a shame cos as a boxing match for fans it'll be a good one. The risk is for people trying to get into/back into the sport I can just see it being quite scrappy and being viewed as a damp squib.
Credit to both for doing what no other boxers do though and fighting in their prime. 1 will lose their 0 unless it's a draw and to me it honestly doesn't matter. I'll have far more respect for these 2 once they retire than someone like Canelo who is ducking his top level opponent.
The one slight doubt I have is that Froch achieved his best work against Ward (and arguably the most success anyone has had since) by acknowledging that he was 6 or 7 rounds down on the scorecard and just going for total aggression and recklessness. Kovalev could do that and fancy that Ward won't have enough to hurt him but I simply don't see him being (potentially) careless or confident enough to do so on this mega-stage. Plus the obvious caveat that Ward knew he had 6 or 7 in the bag comfortably before Froch's best work was done so he could rely on riding out the time left in that fight without needing to reply enough to win the remaining rounds.
Yeah that's true. I saw an interview with Ward the other day where he basically said re super 6 it was the Froch/Kessler/Abraham show and no one gave the American's a chance and then Ward went and won it. Since then he's improved as a boxer, I think he can be hit and if Kovalev does it will be interesting.
It's exciting to actually talk about a top 50/50 boxing fight. I can't remember many in recent times where there's not been a pretty much strong favourite. Crolla is one and then Frampton vs. Quigg, other than that I struggle. Has there been many that I'm forgetting??
Frampton was a clear favourite against Quigg. Frampton - Santa Cruz was a real 50/50 fight.
True. Quigg was coming off some impressive performances before the fight though and it was a tough one to call at the time. In hindsight though an easy win for Frampton.
What time is the fight?
Cheers. Hmm, feel knackered, so maybe one for the video.Expected 4am ring walk. Coverage on Sky starts at 2
I'm not sure if 2 or 3 fights in the undercard are being televised. Having a look at the card, seems it will be 3. Which points towards the main event starting at around 4.45am.
Going to stay up for this one. Love watching Ward fight. Never seen his opponent, though. Need to do some research.
Doubt I'll be able to stay up until 4 for the fight.
Reckon Ward wins on points. Should be a good one.
Reckon Ward wins on points. Should be a good one.
Shit undercards.
Unbelievable robbery against Darleys Perez against American prospect Maurice Hooker.
The underdog Perez won 9 or even 10 rounds of that fight against the unbeaten Hooker and crazily that fight ends a draw. No way in hell did Hooker win more than one round there.
This really bugs me about boxing, this just screams corruption. Absolute robbery.
Hope the main fight lives up to the hype.
The underdog Perez won 9 or even 10 rounds of that fight against the unbeaten Hooker and crazily that fight ends a draw. No way in hell did Hooker win more than one round there.
This really bugs me about boxing, this just screams corruption. Absolute robbery.
Hope the main fight lives up to the hype.
Morning everyone, just woken up!
Ward vulnerable. 10-9 Kovalev Round 1.
That stiff jab is a power punch for Kovalev.
Wow. Ward dropped.
Kovalev doing magnificent job boxing behind his jab.
The upset is on lads!
It doesn't even look like Kovalev puts anything in his shots. So good and unreal power.
Good round for Ward to bounce back, he gotta use more that left hook.
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He's an absolute monster.
Close round, would give it to Kovalev for being more active. Ward finding his footing it seems.
Ward coming back into this quite nicely.
It's a fascinating match up. Best round of the match for Ward in round 7, but Kovalev came back into that one too.
Kovalevs jabs are vicious.
Really tough one to score.
Think this favours Ward in the later rounds.
Think this favours Ward in the later rounds.
Too much wrestling in a boxing match IMO.
Im growing tired of this wrestling Ward is resorting too...but apparently from the commentators its what he does.
Ward has really taken over since the second. Kovalev looking brutish and sluggish.
Ward's body work paying off.