Friday, July 24, 2015

Sergei Kovalev vs. Nadjib Mohammedi

Mandalay Bay Casino, Las Vegas, July 25
TV: HBO
By Peter Lim

Can anyone remember a boxer-puncher as complete as Kovalev who hit with both surgical precision and brute violence since Sugar Ray Robinson? Thomas Hearns and Kostya Tszyu in their heydays came close but while they might meet the "surgical" and "brutal" criteria, they were too deficient in defense and chin to qualify for the "complete" category.

Mohammedi, who has been stopped by B caliber fighters with average punching power, stands as much of a chance of escaping unconsciousness as an actress auditioning for the part of Sleeping Beauty in a Bill Cosby production. Kovalev will have no trouble finding the Frenchman be it from a distance or on the inside with his murderous shots. The Russian will end the fight inside of three rounds. 

Afterthoughts:
A straight left that follows the straight right is as powerful as a left hook due to the extra pivot. Few fighters still deploy the punch and trainers rarely include it anymore while drilling their fighters on combinations on the pads. Kudos to Kovalev for resuscitating that punch from the brink of extinction.

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