By Sean Jones: WBO light heavyweight champion Sergey Kovalev and challenger Saul Canelo Alvarez met earlier on Wednesday in Los Angeles, California to give their thoughts on their November 2 fight on DAZN.
Kovalev (34-3-1, 29 KOs) made it clear that he’s NOT going to let Canelo hit him with his big body punches. He’s going to make sure that the strategy that he receives from his trainer negates Canelo’s plan to attack him with body shots on November 2.
Kovalev’s size advantage over Canelo is HUGE
When the two fighters were standing next to each other on stage today, a huge difference between them. The 6’0″ Kovalev not only looks taller than the 5’8″ Canelo, but also a much bigger-framed person. It’s normally not that big of a deal when a fighter has a 4″ inch height advantage over their opponents, but in this case it could be a problem for Alvarez. Canelo looks tiny compared to Kovalev.
Canelo says he walks around close to 180 pounds, but that might not be enough for him to deal with the functional size advantage that Kovalev will have in this fight.
#CaneloKovalev pose. Kovalev a lot bigger! pic.twitter.com/lzPG3YodFU
— Dan Rafael (@danrafaelespn) September 19, 2019
Kovalev says Canelo will be stronger because he’s not cutting weight
“I thought he was kidding me,” said Kovalev to secondsout when told by his manager that Canelo wanted to fight him. My manager told me, ‘Canelo is interested in a fight with you. At your weight in the light heavyweight.’ We’re now here heading for the fight. This will be the hardest fight, because he’s strong, and not cutting the weight. He’ll still have 100 percent of his power, and stamina, because when you’re losing weight, some of your power and stamina goes down. If he’s cutting just five pounds or ten lbs, he will be in the best shape than before.
Let’s not talk about my plan and my strategy, because right now I don’t know what my strategy is. Right now I’m following everything for instruction of Vladimir. But right now he didn’t start. We started with rest, and a little of the workout. Yesterday was a workout. I’m still recovering a little in my body from the [Anthony Yarde] fight. From October, we will start the boxing session,” said Kovalev.
Canelo’s power is good for a middleweight, but it might not have the same effects going up against a big light heavyweight like Kovalev. But if Canelo is able to land his body shots, then that could be enough for him to stop Kovalev. The mobility of Kovalev could be key in this fight.
Kovalev: Canelo always fights the same
“I’m the best light heavyweight. My name is the biggest name in the light heavyweight division,” said Kovalev. “Who just got a title, nobody knows anybody at light heavyweight except me. He always fights the same,” said Kovalev about Canelo. “He always destroys his opponents. My goal is I’m the ‘Krusher,’ and my goal will be to crush his plan, and crush his strategy.
“I can’t give a prediction. I will have protection to the body. You know, like a pillow. We’ll see,” said Kovalev when asked what vulnerability he sees in Canelo that he wants to attack. The fight is going to be very interesting, because two of the same mental fighting each other. I never step back, and he never steps back. Who will be smarter, and who will be winner? We will see on November 2nd,” said Kovalev.
Canelo is a counter puncher, who at his best when he’s countering his opponents. He has problems when he’s facing guys that are mostly jabbing him. Floyd Mayweather Jr., Erislandy Lara, Gennady Golovkin and Austin Trout neutralized Canelo’s offense with their jabbing.