The **BOXING** thread (Vol 3)
Discussion
The fight told me two things. Kovalev is now a shadow of his former self and Yarde is courageous but desperately lacking. The fight went on longer than I thought it would and that was because Kovalev has adapted his game since training under Buddy McGirt and because he has clearly lost a step.
I think it's easy to sit back and rib Yarde but I won't. He did as best as he could and he came to win. He showed tremendous heart. He fell down with his lack of preparation and his overall development. He had no idea how to cut the ring off, no ability to negate a jab followed by an overhand right, didn't work the body until he visibly hurt Kovalev in the 7th and most frustratingly of all, his punch selection and distance control was terrible. Why throw a left hook when you wouldn't be able to reach your opponent with a jab?
Is any of the above his fault? Well, only in so much as he chose this trainer. The rest is on his trainer for not being able to school him in boxing fundamentals, a trainer who doesn't believe in sparring! Tunde is also an enormous narcissist to boot. I would truly love to see him get with someone like Adam Booth as I feel he would have the ability to slip shots and get in close and do damage as well as becoming more defensively sound. He seems like a lovely guy too so I really do hope he comes again.
Kovalev was operating on experience and fantastic fundamentals but make no mistake, he will come up short against Beterbiev, Bivol, Gvozdyk & even Canelo if they fight. If I was him, I'd sign the fight with Canelo and retire on the money the fight would make me. He hasn't been the same since the first Ward fight, a fight in which he looked incredible.
I think it's easy to sit back and rib Yarde but I won't. He did as best as he could and he came to win. He showed tremendous heart. He fell down with his lack of preparation and his overall development. He had no idea how to cut the ring off, no ability to negate a jab followed by an overhand right, didn't work the body until he visibly hurt Kovalev in the 7th and most frustratingly of all, his punch selection and distance control was terrible. Why throw a left hook when you wouldn't be able to reach your opponent with a jab?
Is any of the above his fault? Well, only in so much as he chose this trainer. The rest is on his trainer for not being able to school him in boxing fundamentals, a trainer who doesn't believe in sparring! Tunde is also an enormous narcissist to boot. I would truly love to see him get with someone like Adam Booth as I feel he would have the ability to slip shots and get in close and do damage as well as becoming more defensively sound. He seems like a lovely guy too so I really do hope he comes again.
Kovalev was operating on experience and fantastic fundamentals but make no mistake, he will come up short against Beterbiev, Bivol, Gvozdyk & even Canelo if they fight. If I was him, I'd sign the fight with Canelo and retire on the money the fight would make me. He hasn't been the same since the first Ward fight, a fight in which he looked incredible.
Just on the Yarde fight, BT have released their now usual video showing what the trainers were saying to their fighters during the fight.
At the end of round 7, Tunde says to Yarde, "Stop him this round. Stop him this round! Empty the tank. Now! Listen to me; empty the tank!"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k_99V170SxI
In a 12 round fight, after only 7 rounds, when it didn't look like Kovalev was particularly in trouble, that seems to me like a reckless instruction.
Yes, you could argue it nearly worked. But it meant Yarde was then left in a position with 4 more rounds to go having been told specifically and unequivocally to empty the tank, and so had nothing left.
If you are going to roll the dice and go for broke, perhaps because there is an injury or a cut, that's fine. But if you don't get the knock-out you then have to be prepared to pull your fighter out if they don't get the stoppage. Letting it continue when your fighter is exhausted risks unnecessary injury imo.
At the end of round 7, Tunde says to Yarde, "Stop him this round. Stop him this round! Empty the tank. Now! Listen to me; empty the tank!"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k_99V170SxI
In a 12 round fight, after only 7 rounds, when it didn't look like Kovalev was particularly in trouble, that seems to me like a reckless instruction.
Yes, you could argue it nearly worked. But it meant Yarde was then left in a position with 4 more rounds to go having been told specifically and unequivocally to empty the tank, and so had nothing left.
If you are going to roll the dice and go for broke, perhaps because there is an injury or a cut, that's fine. But if you don't get the knock-out you then have to be prepared to pull your fighter out if they don't get the stoppage. Letting it continue when your fighter is exhausted risks unnecessary injury imo.
Simply put, they knew he wasn't going to win the fight outside of KOing him. I think the money was far too good of an opportunity to pass by and they saw how Alvarez knocked him out and felt they had a chance to do the same. If they have conserved energy, Kovalev likely wouldn't have KO'd Yarde but would have breezed a wide decision win. They went for broke and it didn't pay off.
Robatr0n said:
Simply put, they knew he wasn't going to win the fight outside of KOing him. I think the money was far too good of an opportunity to pass by and they saw how Alvarez knocked him out and felt they had a chance to do the same.
I get that - they might as well go for broke as they were unlikely to get a decision (certainly at that point in the fight).However, when you instruct your fighter to empty the tank in round 8, if the gamble doesn't pay off, you have to be prepared to pull your fighter out. Otherwise, you are risking them being damaged in the following later rounds when they can't properly defend themselves through exhaustion.
Tunde is a special character.
Last weeks Bunce and Costello podcast had an interview with him explaining his "system 9" philosophy. Explaining might be the wrong word.
He and Spencer Fearon should be locked in a room whence they may either rip a hole in the space bulls
t continuum, reinvent the sport or possibly kill each other. Either would be a result.
Last weeks Bunce and Costello podcast had an interview with him explaining his "system 9" philosophy. Explaining might be the wrong word.
He and Spencer Fearon should be locked in a room whence they may either rip a hole in the space bulls
t continuum, reinvent the sport or possibly kill each other. Either would be a result. EddieSteadyGo said:
Robatr0n said:
Simply put, they knew he wasn't going to win the fight outside of KOing him. I think the money was far too good of an opportunity to pass by and they saw how Alvarez knocked him out and felt they had a chance to do the same.
I get that - they might as well go for broke as they were unlikely to get a decision (certainly at that point in the fight).However, when you instruct your fighter to empty the tank in round 8, if the gamble doesn't pay off, you have to be prepared to pull your fighter out. Otherwise, you are risking them being damaged in the following later rounds when they can't properly defend themselves through exhaustion.
Looking forward to the Campbell v Lomachenko fight. Huge challenge for Luke but I can't see anything but a Loma win.
Lots of talk about Campbell having size on his side but I don't see that at all. Remember that they were both Olympic Gold medallists in 2012. Loma at Lightweight and Luke at Bantam, a full division lighter.
Still an honest to goodness PPV and I don't begrudge paying for this one. Luke is tougher than he looks and won't go down easy, he is also an undeniably talented and classy boxer.
Here's hoping for a Ben Stokes sized miracle.
Lots of talk about Campbell having size on his side but I don't see that at all. Remember that they were both Olympic Gold medallists in 2012. Loma at Lightweight and Luke at Bantam, a full division lighter.
Still an honest to goodness PPV and I don't begrudge paying for this one. Luke is tougher than he looks and won't go down easy, he is also an undeniably talented and classy boxer.
Here's hoping for a Ben Stokes sized miracle.
272BHP said:
<snip>
Lots of talk about Campbell having size on his side but I don't see that at all. Remember that they were both Olympic Gold medallists in 2012. Loma at Lightweight and Luke at Bantam, a full division lighter.
I think the odds on this fight are interesting. I'm sure everyone here would pick Loma to win. But you can currently get 10:1 for a Campbell win.
So many things can happen in boxing like a clash of heads, or an injury during the fight. So actually I think that makes a bet for Campbell at those odds, worth considering, even though you know you are still most likely going to lose.
272BHP said:
Looking forward to the Campbell v Lomachenko fight. Huge challenge for Luke but I can't see anything but a Loma win.
Lots of talk about Campbell having size on his side but I don't see that at all. Remember that they were both Olympic Gold medallists in 2012. Loma at Lightweight and Luke at Bantam, a full division lighter.
Still an honest to goodness PPV and I don't begrudge paying for this one. Luke is tougher than he looks and won't go down easy, he is also an undeniably talented and classy boxer.
Here's hoping for a Ben Stokes sized miracle.
I think you're reading too much into the whole size debate. Campbell is bigger in every department with his reach and height.Lots of talk about Campbell having size on his side but I don't see that at all. Remember that they were both Olympic Gold medallists in 2012. Loma at Lightweight and Luke at Bantam, a full division lighter.
Still an honest to goodness PPV and I don't begrudge paying for this one. Luke is tougher than he looks and won't go down easy, he is also an undeniably talented and classy boxer.
Here's hoping for a Ben Stokes sized miracle.
But all of that is irrelevant anyway. Loma will be inside those long arms twisting and pivoting under any shots Campbell throws and will be hitting him at will if he does his normal thing of taking the first 3 rounds easy and turning up the pressure. If he steps on the gas earlier in fight then it's going to get ugly quickly for Campbell. I like Campbell a lot but this is a terrible match of styles for him.
theboyfold said:
I've never seen Lomachenko fight other than highlights before, he's another level isn't he? Gets caught, replies with 3 or 4 shots as retaliation. Amazing fighter.
That wasn't his best showing either. It's the highest weight he has fought at and although the size of Campbell wasn't such an issue, his Southpaw stance and rangey body was a bit of an issue. Normally he's able to get inside and act as a matador by first slipping to the right and then snapping back to the left whilst continuously unloading shots.He still handily won but fair play to Campbell, he didn't make it easy for him.
Gassing Station | Sports | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff