Boxing

[Darth Marty]

Kovalev will brutally ko Hopkins before the 9th.

[Darth Marty]

Good fight so far, well if you want Kovalev to win that is....Hopkins is getting outboxed & easily outpunched.

[spud_gun]

Yeah, Hopkins hasn't won a second of this fight so far.

Kovalev in such control. Hopkins in survival mode.

[Darth Marty]

Hopkins is a tricky ******* though, such a defensive boxer its hard to get him out of there. I think Kovalev needs to open up a bit more.

[spud_gun]

Gone further than a lot of people thought it would.

Kovalev still in total control

[Darth Marty]

yeah, myself included. Kovalev would have opened up with anyone else, its a mark of respect that he hasnt. Total shutout isnt it?

[spud_gun]

yeah, myself included. Kovalev would have opened up with anyone else, its a mark of respect that he hasnt. Total shutout isnt it?

I've given Hopkins the 7th out of sympathy.

But yeah thus far it's as clinic as a performance as I've seen against Hopkins since RJJ 1

[Darth Marty]

ha ha ha yeah, his 2 landed shots will have definitely taken the 7th, what was I thinking?! ;-D.

Still Hopkins is all out here in the 12th...

[spud_gun]

Easy in the end for Kovalev.

Not overly happy with the 12 round. Thought Hopkins shipped a fair few punches towards the end of the round.

Kovalev is impressive. Kovalev vs Stephenson may be the best fight in boxing at the moment.

[Darth Marty]

Yeah, ref wanted Hopkins to get through that, to be fair I think he probably deserved to be allowed the benefit of the doubt.

I think Kovalev knocks out Stephenson because of the styles, Hopkins is tricky, Stephenson far less so & the power of Kovalev prevails.

[Doc_Piptorious]

Do you think he could have a hope against GGG?

Of winning? Not a chance, but he could possibly make it to the final bell. I think if last night had gone a little bit better for him, then GGG would have been a more likely target than he is now.


I hope he decides to hang up the gloves though, because we really should not be talking about how a 49 year old man (who would be 50 before any such bout came about) getting into the ring with a top drawer finisher like GGG.


I still maintain though that a boxer who can mix spoiling with technical skills will be what stops GGG if he is to suffer a defeat. Ward is the only guy out there that I see as being a 50/50 with GGG for that very reason. Ward can box sweetly but he can be as dirty as Hopkins when the mood takes him and he seems to be able to stay ice cold when that mood is upon him.

GGG is far from being the one trick pony that his power might suggest he is, he is blessed with very good technique, and he can box in a manner that would have purists purring, but (and this is based on his time in the unpaid ranks mostly) the one thing that seems to get under his skin is a fighter who can mix a quality defence with spoiling.

Him versus Ward is a bout that I would be lining up for a ticket for if it were to be announced. Their styles and in ring personas just seem perfect to spawn a classic encounter.

[Zapater]

I was very impressed by Kovalev. His use of range combined with his patience was extremely impressive. The way he set up his right hand with jabs and use of footwork was class. Other guys like Pascal whom is a big banger fell into the trap of trying to rush in and look to land big punches but ended up being frustrated with typical Hopkins spoiling tactics.

I thought that Hopkins was pretty poor, but perhaps some of the credit has to go to Kovalev's gameplan and execution. Regardless, despite a handful of glimpses B-Hop is past his best, I don't really enjoy watching his fights as he often makes them rather dull, but you have to appreciate what he does. He says he's having another fight, fair enough he wants to fight again at 50 and maybe against another opponent he'll have some more joy.

Kovalev and Stevenson has to happen. Obviously the former is the favourite but I think it'd be an excellent fight. With Stevenson's awkward southpaw style and punching power it makes it an awkward one to predict.

[Gibbo]

Bellew vs Cleverley gloves are off at 11pm, SS1, if you fancy.

[Chazza]

Bellew

[RichC]

"These fists feed my kids" ****ing hell what sort of comment is that.

Blokes a tool hoping Cleverley stops him