Review by AllTheBestFights.com: 2016-01-30, good pace with some good shots: Sergey Kovalev vs Jean Pascal 2 gets three stars.The undefeated Sergey Kovalev entered this fight with a pro boxing record of 28-0-1 (25 KOs=89%) and he is ranked as the No.1 light heavyweight in the world while his opponent, the former Wbc light-Hw champion Jean Pascal, has a record of 30-3-1 (17 knockouts) and he entered as the No.8 in the same weight class. In their first fight the ‘Krusher’ Kovalev beat Pascal in one of the best boxing fights of the year (held on March 14, 2015 Kovalev vs Pascal I), after this bout the Russian defeated Nadjib Mohammedi (=Kovalev vs Mohammedi) while the Canadian won over Yunieski Gonzalez (=Pascal vs Gonzalez). Kovalev vs Pascal 2 is valid for the IBF, WBA and WBO World light heavyweight titles (all held by Kovalev). Watch the video and rate this fight!
Date: 2016-01-30
Where: Bell Centre, Montreal, Canada
Division: light heavyweight (175 lbs, 79.4 kg)
Title: IBF, WBA and WBO World light heavyweight titles
Kovalev’s previous fight: Sergey Kovalev vs Nadjib Mohammedi
Pascal’s previous fight: Jean Pascal vs Yunieski Gonzalez
Kovalev’s next fight: Sergey Kovalev vs Isaac Chilemba
Video: (Free embeddable video hosted on Youtube and not uploaded by AllTheBestFights, to report it please visit this link where the video is hosted)
Well dreams shattered for this Quebecer :( Kovalev is a killing machine, he krushed the living cr*p out of Pascal all along. I can’t believe how calm and composed this man is. Systematic dismembering. The body shots, which is not something I remember him for, looked devastating.
Kovalev hardly made a mistake in that fight. I agree with Roach for stopping it.
I think Kovalev could have made fans in Montreal, but he still decided to say he didn’t respect Jean Pascal after the fight. He promotes himself very badly. Then there was that Chickenson jumping in the ring, proclaiming himself the real champ, you gotta laugh at that. The fight can’t be made for television network cr*p, but I think Kovalev would krush Chickenson too.
You know Matt that I have much more confidence in Adonis than I did on Pascal. If he decides to take the risk he would do better fight probably than the one we saw today and with a very good chances to put the beast on the canvas for good. He is southpaw and with a similar reach than Kovalev or larger. Hope he decides to fight with the krusher.
Honestly Pascal’s performance in this fight was non-existing is spite of being a good technical boxer because I fully believe he was very afraid of Kovalev and even with Roach in his corner his confifedence was very low.
I like how the Ring Magazine puts it: “After the fight, WBC light heavyweight champion Adonis Stevenson rushed at Kovalev in the ring and had to be “restrained” in what seemed like choreographed, stage-managed behavior.”
Yep, it is too bad, Matt. Brave man, Pascal, coming back for a second serving of Kovalev’s cooking. Few want even one taste.
You’re right, Kovalev is his own worst enemy in promotion. His instincts are the same in and out of the ring, and these worlds aren’t compatible.
By contrast, GGG has a kind of gift, doesn’t he? Put him on TV and he smiles as wide as the sky, says his cute, corny untranslatable sayings, and always radiates the good cheer of a boy scout helping a little old lady across the street. It’s as if Gennady has chosen to be nice in exact inverse proportion to how terrifying he is as a fighter. It’s an act, but it’s the one we seem to want from our professional bloodletters.
What we don’t want is for them to say, “Yes, Max. More rounds. I wanted more rounds to puncture his liver.”
I remember I once said here on ATBF it’ll be hard for Kovalev to build a real fanbase because of his general attitude outside the ring, the way he talks to the media, etc. Someone replied me something like “a fighter with such skills and power doesn’t need anything more than that to build a fanbase”. After this fight, I’m not sure anymore. .. Is he totally desinhibited or is it just that he struggles so bad with english? Sadly, I think my first guess is the good one. But what is annoying me now are all these comments I read around the net saying things like: “I like the way Kovalev talks. No detour. No bulls*t. ” It’s quite depressing to read stuff like that… But anyway, I thought Kellerman asked the wrong questions. What I want to hear after a fight is the winner assessment of his performance. Not how bad he hates the other guy, how he enjoyed torturing him. And I’m not asking anyone to lie about how they respect their opposent if they don’t…. It should just be about boxing and boxing only.
Agreed, Olivier. This melodrama isn’t helping the sport.
I think HBO is conflicted about Kovalev. They love his boxing, understandably — so do I — but they realize that under the surface he is from another century. And given the uneasy period that both boxing and cable television in the USA find themselves in, this will give the men in suits pause. “Is he too much of a risk? What’s he going to say next?” Etc.
You can see more evidence of HBO’s jittery nerves about who it should invite into its millionaires’ club in the new short film it has made about Tyson Fury. Admittedly, the Fury clan is a special family; better not accidentally hit the bumper of their caravan!
https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x3owidy_the-gypsy-king_sport
Very interesting comment and video!
I find it hard to judge both Kovalev and Fury as being “bad persons” actually. Even if both said things like: “I like hurting people”, it isn’t, somehow, their fault. The way they talk, think and live was basically determined by their backgrounds. In fact, I don’t know much about Kovalev’s background, but I can imagine he wasn’t raised with the silver spoon. But to a certain extend, one could go through the anamnesis of a serial killer and it would somehow make sense to me that this filthy man became what he is. But that would not excuse him. And the same goes for Fury or Kovalev even if it’s incomparable. But I totally agree with you on the fact that HBO (in this case) has to question themselves whether or not they are willing to let these fighters say nearly whatever they want and let the boxing fans decide what’s acceptable and what is not. One thing that is scaring me now is when Fury says: “I’m fueled by hatered”. Because that means he truly wants to be hated and he already knows how to achieve that (sexist comments, violent behavior, etc.). How far will he go to get his fix of hatred he needs so much.
Nice point about Fury. His “fuel,” as you say, is a naturally renewable resource. Like solar energy. Trouble is his sun, haha. He has a persecution complex that could keep you and your psychology colleagues busy treating him for years, Olivier.
HBO is a curious place, politically speaking. The network has made some of the best television drama in our history, work that is at once subtle, vulgar, artful, bold and original. (I’m thinking of Deadwood and Sopranos.) These shows often question or criticize conventional values. And in the sports division, it has had some of the more thoughtful commentators in the business, at least in the USA. People of very dry, acidic wit, like the ironic Larry Merchant who often fearlessly bit the hand that fed him when he’d pronounce a PPV fight was boring — or famously, in Mayweather’s case against Ortiz, criticizing the cheap shot.
So I think HBO’s ambivalence about the moral character of boxers is (mildly) hypocritical. Nobody at HBO is inspecting the moral lives of its artists, sniffing around them to decide if person X or Y is morally fit to write, act or direct a film. And thank god they aren’t doing this, as we’ve had plenty of such witch hunts in American history. Why, then, should they apply another standard to athletes? Are athletes deserving of higher scrutiny? Is it something about violence unique to boxing, “the hurt business”? Or is it all largely down to the anxieties of our times?
This isn’t a defense of Fury’s views. It’s just my way of saying I only need him to box. I don’t have to like what he thinks about anything. Frankly, I’d rather not know what demons cavort in his brain. He only needs to swing those meatloaf-sized fists, ideally in the vicinity of Wladimir Klitschko’s nose!
The consensus by the respondents is that all the bad sportsmanship is emanating from Kovalev. Didn’t anybody notice just before the commencement of battle that it was Pascal who attempted to turn his back and not touch gloves with Kovalev. Or when during the fight Kovalev reached out to touch gloves in an
apology for some indescretion that Pascal totally ignored him. There is a legitimate complaint about Kovalev, but there was nothing great either about the behaviour of Pascal. It was a case of what he sowed he reaped.
I agree with you Pudden. Pascal did not display any sportsmanship before and during the fight. The accusation of racism he made toward Kovalev a few days before the fight were probably quite exaggerated
But at the end of the day, when it was all over, Pascal congratuled Kovalev for being the better man and recognized him as a great champion. Knowing Pascal quite well (but not personally), I believe he has a big mouth, he likes to draw the media’s attention with shallow and irrelevant comment, but I believe this can be explained by two desires:
1- His (very “clumsy”) desire to sale his fights
2- His (very uneffective) desire to get into his opponent’s mind.He tried to do so with Hopkins, Bute, Diaconnu…
But even though it’s all “fake”, that does not excuse him one bit. I live in Montreal, and if the population here was surveyed on whether they like or dislike Pascal, it would probably be a 50/50 %. They find him arrogant and everything. But in the end, Pascal knows when to stop and I think his management is there to protect him against himself. On the other hand, I feel like Kovalev just doesn’t know when to stop talking! I mean, after he won, he didn’t have to talk sh*t about both Pascal and Stevenson. Just shake hands – take the money – and go home. Don’t let Max Kellerman trick you into saying crazy stuff. Just pretend you didn’t care about all what Pascal said.
A huge reach advantage and the punching power difference were the mains factors in this fight. Pascal was very brave when decided to go back in the ring for a second fight with such a beast. Actually in this category I believe that the only suitable candidate to fight Kovalev with some success is Adonis but honestly I don’t think he has the guts to go for in spite of being a good technical boxer with a very reasonable power. Hope to see this fight soon and may be to get a kind of Canadian’s revenge.
Agree with you to an extent, but about the fight with Chickenson they are clearly saying here there is not much chances of it happening because of HBO/Showtime differences. Did you see Chickenson try to play tough guy? LOL https://twitter.com/wotbboxing/status/693689124109221888
In more peaceful days…
Very good comment!
After his little “show” on the ring, Stevenson gave a quick interview to the local journalists in attendance. He looked more serious then. See for yourself. The interview is in french, but mainly, what he says is: “We proposed a 50/50 deal with HBO/Showtime, but Kovalev’s team didn’t want to, even though Al Haymon agreed. I was not impressed by Kovalev anyhow. I am hungry for Kovalev. I really want to fight him next. I’ll knock him out. Piece of cake, he’s vulnerable.”
I don’t like his “gangster” persona, the way his career has been handled so far, but I believe he might have “some” chances against Kovalev since he brings a lot of power to the table and he’s got an appreciable reach advantage. Plus, he’s a southpaw.
http://www.rds.ca/videos/combat/boxe/moi-je-suis-pret-demain-matin-3.1171197
Thank you Olivier you are very kind. I saw the interview you posted but honestly understood very little so thanks again for the translation. However, Adonis looks honest and for the the info he delivered he may be trying to get a good deal, which I fully agree, before confronting Kovalev than trying to skip this fight as many of us are believing. Hopefully it would be a go. As I told Matt before, his chances to win are much greater than those available to Pascal because his reach, power and southpaw stance.
Thanks for the translation. Happily he speaks slowly enough for me to follow, but unhappily I can’t cut through his accent, lol.
HBO last night was very smug and condescending toward Stevenson, portraying him as the reason the Kovalev deal wasn’t made. They are hardly without self-interest. Notice the way, in the same broadcast, Jim Lampley gave a sycophantic interview to Andre Ward, who recently signed a four-fight deal with them…
I about pissed myself from laughter at the Chickenson name.
And the n the realization by Kovalev Pascal owed him an extra 50K
I want a Tshirt of Adonis with belt and a chicken head now.
If anyone can be called one – ti is Stevenson.
We will never see Stevenson Vs Kovalev until after the fact.
Nothing is as big as May Vs Pac. SO much money neither cared.
Practically paid for 10 years of boxing in that one fight.
We will have to see how Ward fairs in his warm up fights.
and whom those fights are against.
Others might be the winner of Oosthuizen vs Braehmer
Ah, you liked the tweet? Posted it here for posterity. :)
Horrible fight fight for Pascal. I’ve been following him for over a decade now and I think this was his worst professional fight. Did Kovalev “krush” him yesterday night?… No. But he certainly did so a year ago. Since then, Pascal is totally lost and scared. Did Freddie Roach make any difference?… Maybe he could’ve, but the issues weren’t simply technical ones. They were and are still in Pascal’s head. Pascal has been trained by his former coach, Mark Ramsay, since he was a kid. And there wasn’t much Roach could really do in a few weeks preparation for a fight against a P4P fighter like Kovalev. I’m not saying he was not prepared properly, I’m just saying that Pascal seemed totally confused from start to finish. To me, to win this fight, Pascal would’ve had to be first in most exchanges, to double-up the jab and then close quickly that gap created by Kovalev’s reachy jab by moving his head sideways… But Pascal simply froze there… Stuck between what Ramsay had thought him for the past 20 years and Roach’s new game plan. And most of all, scared by Kovalev’s tremendous power he already had a taste of last year.
I don’t see anyone at the moment at a 175lbs who could measure up against Kovalev. Honestly, one would have to get lucky and land a real solid LHW punch on Kovalev’s (let say it) yet untested chin. Yes, that guy could be the aging but still hard-hitting southpaw coward that is Stevenson. But to me, the best prospect at 175lbs is his comrade Beterbiev, but this ain’t gonna happen in a near future. What is next for Kovalev is Ward. And what will Ward do? Will it be like Hopkins a year and a half ago? A very technically talented fighter without much power who, once he felt that power, simply ducked and covered for 12 rounds. Yes, Hopkins was old and not as fast as Ward. But on the other hand, Ward has about the same reach Pascal has. I would bet all my money on Kovalev for this fight since I don’t see what rabbit Ward could pull out from his hat in order to win.
I fully agree since this is the worst Pascal fight I saw from his whole campaign and i guess I practically saw all them.
Enjoyed your post, Olivier.
My condolences to Pascal’s fans — he was, as you say, psychologically out-gunned before any shots were fired. His response to Kovalev’s insulting Tweet represented, I think, a kind of nervous breakdown (especially in his scalding interactions with John David Jackson). It was his way of fighting rhetorically and intellectually that he doubted he could do in the ring. He left it all at the press conference table.
Very keen for Kovalev-Ward. As you say, I don’t know what Ward can do offensively. He certainly has the defense to entangle and nullify a lot of the Krusher’s hunting, making it an inside fight. When he hits the Russian with his short inside shots, what effect will they have? And unfortunately, Kovalev can move in and out in fast, spry bursts. Ward could be in for a very long night.
Kovalev said before the fight: “I’m disappointed for him and I sorry for him. He will get a lesson of the life.”
Pascal is not in the same league as Kovalev. The thing that I notice when watching Kovalev is that his punches come from all angles and he confuses his opponents. That confusion is Kovalevs best defense. It allows Kovalev to get off his punches first which is the key for any fighter. His power then gives him a further edge. It is a strange thing to explain, it is more than just about speed. He just has a certain motion that is very difficult to push past. He reminds me of Roy Jones Jr. at his best when he was just hitting other boxers wherever he wanted. You watch any Kovalev fight and you will notice that he can land his shots to all parts of the opponent. ….VERY good fighter!!!!
…….as an aside ….if you watch boxing for what the boxers say you may as well just watch WWE. Watch boxing for what the boxers can do in the ring.
I like your comment a lot. Though, I find the comparison with Jones Jr. a bit far fetched. Their styles are totally different, but I believe that was not your point anyway. Based on your argument, we could agree that when very talented fighters like Kovalev or RJJr are in their prime, they look as if they were unbeatable. On the other hand, I cannot think of one particular fighter I could compare to Kovalev in terms of style. At the moment, many experts tend to compare Kovalev and Golovkin. Both orthodox, hard-hitting, can hurt opponents with both hands, cold and methodological, traditionnal stance, medium pace, but nothing really “special” in their style.
The comparison with Roy Jones is only with respect to how Kovalev seems to paralyze his opponents and the fact that like Jones jr. Kovalev’s punches seem to come from a slightly different trajectory from the last punch he threw.
The “nothing really special” in Kovalev’s style is what makes him an intriguing fighter to me. As i stated earlier it is very difficult to explain why he is able to get off first and stalk his opponents like he does, all while standing seemingly right in front of them, akin to being an easy target. That is his appeal to my eye. He has done it often enough to be legitimate. He is not just “lucky”. I enjoy watching him fight like I did with Tyson, Duran, Roy Jones jr, and others. When watching Kovalev I get a sense that I am watching something original and different, something I have never seen before. That is entertaining.
Good comment, I enjoyed reading it.
I’ve noticed that Kovalev really stretches his jab, by leaning forward real fast as he throws. It seems effective enough to keep guys who fear his power at bay. Pascal just looked clueless about how to get in punching range in there.
Thanks for your reply. I like the way you put your appreciation in a more subjective/emotional way. There’s nothing I can say about that!
I just want to add a word on the “nothing special about him” point I made. By that, I did not mean to say he was boring, or ordinary. He’s a very gifted athlete, no doubt about it. His fights are very entertaining since he brings a lot of power to the table. But the more I look at him, there might be a comparison I would make. He reminds me a bit of Mikkel Kessler. Both about the same size and very orthodox style with a lot of power in both hands. There was “nothing special” about Kessler either. Always working behind a stiff and heavy jab. Kessler had about the same KO% until he reached a higher level of opposition, and this is one point I want to make here. The only “real” opposition Kovalev has faced so far in his carreer has been the elderly (or alien) version of B-Hop and Jean Pascal. Besides that, nothing really. When he will have faced Ward, Stevenson, Beterbiev, Fonfara, etc., maybe then I will start to see him as a future all of famer. But for now, I would not compare any of them (Kessler or Kovalev) to Tyson, Duran or Jones Jr.. Tyson had awesome power and “special moves”, some kind of a mimic of Jack Dempsey’s rolling awkward hooks. Duran fought in 4 different weight classes and was able to carry his power in every of them. A legend amongst the best of all time. And Jones Jr. had a style of his own, the chicken dance, the hands down defense, and tremendous movements. He also fought in numerous weight divisions with success.
Kovalev fue Kovalev.
Pascal deberia darle verguenza ser llamado boxeador.
Subio a robar la plata,ya que empezo y termino con panico.
Cuando entre dos,uno no presenta pelea,imposible de sostener un combate.
Hacia mucho tiempo no veia un boxeador tan cobarde.
Saludos