Schedule for Boxing weekend of Feb 1
Friday Feb 1 Showtime
Ronald Ellis vs Deandre Ware
Will Madera vs Thomas Mattice
Saturday Feb 2 DAZN
Sergio Garcia vs Ted Cheeseman
Saturday Feb 2 ESPN
Oscar Valdez vs Carmine Tommassone (World Title Fight)
Richard Comney vs Isa Chaniev (World Title Fight)
Saturday Feb 2 ESPN+
Eleider Alvarez vs Sergey Kovalev (World Title Fight)
Preview- Alvarez vs Kovalev ESPN+ Saturday Midnight
This is a rematch that most boxing fans have been looking forward to ever since the first one ended several months ago. On paper it was a big upset when Alvarez knocked out Kovalev but to me it really wasn’t. Sergey Kovalev at his best is one of the best pound for pound fighters in the world and Alvarez is a very skilled fighter with good power. Their first fight was very competitive with Kovalev hurting Alvarez early but the challenger came back and scored a big knockout in the middle rounds.
Kovalev by now is a known commodity to even casual boxing fans. Solid skills, big knockout power and a mean streak turned him into the best light heavy in the world for a couple years. On paper he has two losses to the great Andre Ward but to most knowledgeable people Kovalev won the first fight. The rematch was a different story though and Ward stopped Kovalev. Since then he has not looked the same even with two wins before getting stopped by Alvarez. While Kovalev is very skilled and has big power so he always has a chance to beat anyone I do not see him winning this rematch. He seems to be a bully type and once that gets penetrated he is not the same fighter. Ward in the second fight took away a lot of the fear people had and Alvarez finished it. Kovalev has changed trainers as well and while I respect Buddy Mcgirt as a great boxing guy this seems to be an odd pairing. Add in to the mix that he was recently arrested on a felony assault charge and it would be easy to see that he may not have had the greatest training camp.
Alvarez was an undefeated challenger coming in to his first world title fight against Kovalev but mostly unknown outside of Canada. He had beaten good fighters but never on US TV. As soon as their fight started though you could see he had a very snappy good jab, solid skills and came to win. Kovalev hurt him early and he weathered the storm and came back which is the sign of a true champion. He may have one of the best jabs in boxing, very fast with good snap and he sets up the right hand behind it very nice. He also has the mental edge because he won by KO in the first fight, has less wear and tear on his body and seems to be more responsible outside of the ring as well. I expect him to be ready.
This is a fight that I do not see Kovalev winning, mostly for the reasons I spoke about above. He has very good power so he always has that chance but I think Alvarez overall is a better fighter and more importantly he is the hungrier mentally stronger fighter. Usually when a fighter wins the first fight by KO he or she usually comes back and wins the rematch. Kovalev has a good chin so stopping him again may be tough but I think Alvarez will get it done. If not I think he will outfight him and bust him up with that jab.
Prediction
Alvarez TKO 9
No comments:
Post a Comment