In
November of last year Sergey Kovalev successfully unified his WBO world
Light-Heavyweight championship when he dominated future Hall of Famer and
IBF/WBA Light-Heavyweight champion Bernard Hopkins over twelve rounds in
Atlantic City, New Jersey. Kovalev, a fighter with a career knockout percentage
of nearly 86% had scored nine consecutive knockouts prior to his encounter with
Hopkins.
Although
the unanimous decision over Hopkins signaled the end of Kovalev’s knockout
streak the victory did answer some questions about Kovalev. Questions such as
how Kovalev would deal with a skilled tactician such as Hopkins and how he
would respond when he was extended into the later rounds of a fight. In regard
to both questions Kovalev at least in that one fight answered both with
positive results.
For
twelve rounds Kovalev applied consistent pressure and was able to outwork
Hopkins in every round. Despite being extended to a full twelve round distance
for the first time in his career, Kovalev was able to maintain the pace that he
established early in the fight and did not fatigue as it progressed.
The
victory for Kovalev also continued to build anticipation for a unification
battle between himself and WBC champion Adonis Stevenson in what would be for
the undisputed world Light-Heavyweight championship. Stevenson successfully
defended his world championship in December of last year in scoring a fifth
round knockout of Dmitry Sukhotskiy. This victory theoretically cleared the way
for a bout for the undisputed Light-Heavyweight championship to potentially
take place later this year.
Before
that fight can take place however, Kovalev will defend his unified WBO/IBF/WBA
world championship against former WBC world champion Jean Pascal on Saturday night
at the Bell Centre in Montreal, Canada. This is a fight that presents an
interesting match up of styles.
Kovalev,
a fighter known for his punching power has captivated the attention of both
Boxing fans and experts alike with his ability to score quick and often
devastating knockouts throughout his career. In his last fight however, Kovalev
proved that he is more than merely a power punching seek and destroy fighter as
he out boxed Bernard Hopkins and did so in a fight that was fought at a
tactical measured pace.
In
this fight however, Kovalev faces a fighter in Jean Pascal who is known for
having an unorthodox style in which he utilizes a combination of hand speed and
power as well as the ability to execute his offense in spurts. In his last
fight in December of last year Pascal fought Roberto Bolonti in a fight that
ended under controversial circumstances when Bolonti was knocked out by a right
hook thrown by Pascal while the two fighters were in the process of being
separated from a clinch. The fight, which was ruled a no contest left varying
opinions as to the outcome and whether or not Pascal should have been
disqualified. The controversy notwithstanding, this fight between Kovalev and
Pascal, that was in line for Pascal if he were to get by Bolonti will still
take place.
The
key to this fight in my eyes will be whether Pascal will be able to avoid
Kovalev’s pressure and power for twelve rounds. For Jean Pascal to be
successful in this fight I believe he needs to be an elusive target and look to
play the role of counter puncher and capitalize on openings that Kovalev might
leave him.
What
has been an issue for Pascal is that he has had trouble pacing himself and has
faded in the latter stages of fights. Notably in his first fight with Bernard Hopkins
where, despite scoring two knockdowns of Hopkins, Pascal gradually faded which
allowed Hopkins to gain ground on the scorecards. By the end of that fight in the opinion of many Hopkins had won the
fight however, it was scored a draw.
Pascal
needs to pace himself in this fight as Kovalev is a fighter who is dangerous at
all times and proved in his last fight that he could sustain a consistent pace
and pressure for an entire twelve round distance. Simply put Pascal needs to
find a way to be elusive and nullify Kovalev’s pressure and power. This of
course is easier said than done.
In
contrast, it is logical to assume that Kovalev will look to gradually cut off
the ring from the opening bell and look to break Pascal down over time. Pascal
however, has never been stopped in thirty-three professional fights and if he
can deal with Kovalev’s pressure and avoid the champion’s power, this fight
could go into the late rounds and may in fact go the distance.
The
storyline which looms over this fight is whether or not a potential fight for
the undisputed Light-Heavyweight world championship will await the winner. With
not only this fight taking place on Saturday night, Adonis Stevenson will
defend his world title on April 4th against former Super-Middleweight world
champion Sakio Bika, the Light-Heavyweight division will likely remain a hot
topic for both Boxing fans and experts alike.
The
next chapter of the potential full unification of the Light-Heavyweight
division awaits Saturday night.
“And
That’s The Boxing Truth.”
The
Boxing Truth® is a registered trademark of Beau Denison All Rights Reserved.
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