Kovalev defended his WBO, WBA Super and IBF light heavyweight titles with a substandard performance vs. a durable but technically and tactically bridled strongman. Both competitors were one-dimensional in their own way and showed little capacity or tendency to adapt or at least modify their efforts according to the flow of battle. Pascal had not been stopped or knocked down as a pro and was expected give the “Krusher” a run for his money.
Round 1: Kovalev moved forward in a straight line trying to walk down Jean Pascal to the ropes or to get him to fight. Pascal would not take the fight and bounced around ducking low whenever he felt threatened. Kovalev did not advance indiscriminately, his basic skills are rock-steady and he is very particular in observing range. He does not care too much about the opponent’s range; he is preoccupied with his own comfort zone as he is tall and has long arms. If he is in range, the opponent often isn’t and when the opponent tries to get close, Kovalev’s best defense is his frontal punch power. Pascal was met by rapid fire upstairs and downstairs whenever he tried to get into position. His rally in the end of the round was more of distress call than a serious attack.
Round 2: Pascal tried a hook or two and the reason he landed cleanly was that Kovalev still moved in straight lines back and forth. The Russian landed much more frequently and solidly but he was annoyed and unsettled by a left hook and started showboating. This is the worst I’ve seen from Kovalev as a boxer – taunting and waving his right glove Leonard style but looking synthetic and clumsy, lacking the showmanship and natural smug defiance that exalts fans and sways detractors. Pascal was forced to fight more often and his tactics consisted of ducking, lunging forward and throwing a big hook with a foot in the air. Easy work for Kovalev who countered at will and perhaps read Pascal’s feet position every time. When Pascal kept his feet wide apart he was in defensive mode and could not throw a dangerous shot beyond his front foot without stumbling forward. When he decided to throw a shot he moved his feet closer at shoulder width and fired full power shots. He lost the second round as well.
Round 3 saw the same routine from both fighters as Kovalev was throwing an overwhelming number of punches, a lot of them on target, while Pascal was looking for one big shot. He had no idea how to deal with Kovalev’s straightforward march and the damage he had taken so far began to show on his marred footwork. Pascal could no longer jump away and Sergey started using side steps and lateral movement as he landed heavily. He was credited with a knockdown when the Haitian was obviously hurt and fell on the ropes.
Round 4: Kovalev came out to close the show and was throwing a punch per second in the beginning of the round. Pascal was still unsteady and covered up while bouncing from the ropes while his defense did not deflect but muffled the flurries of heavy leather. Kovalev worked with brawns instead of brains and gradually let his opponent off the hook as he punched himself out temporarily. He slowed down and when Pascal realized he was going to “live” for now he came out of the shell and landed a flush right hand. Kovalev got angry again and threw several heavy shots that obviously exhausted him; he backed off, blew his nose and checked for blood on the glove. He had the fight in the bag but did not know what to do with it. He could have saved a lot of wear and tear for his opponent and some for himself. Pascal was acting on autopilot and made it through the round to his own surprise.
Round 5: It was like a second start of the fight for both boxers. Pascal was there due his toughness and durability and his damage was due to punishment and concussion rather than fatigue. Kovalev had already thrown a high volume of punches and he knew he had to pace himself and defend from single hard shots that had troubled him a little so far. Pascal regarded his opponent’s relaxation as a weakness and went forward with wild swings, some of them on target. He won that round while Kovalev took a breather and some punishment.
Round 6: Pascal and the home crowd were rejuvenated by his success and he kept up his game effort and turned the mismatch into a fight for two rounds. He was tagged often but countered the sluggish “Krusher” with thumping single shots, landed a good body shot and finally hammered in the best punch of the fight. Kovalev jabbed and followed up with a slow right hand, Pascal rolled sideways to the shot blocking it with his left elbow and countered with a flush right hand. Kovalev took it well but nodded in acknowledgement of the classic move. Although he was being out boxed, Pascal perhaps edged the round due to activity.
Round 7: Even the greatest of prize fighters miss more than they land and when every punch is a big one, the storm is short. Pascal was at the end of his reserves and Kovalev had decided to box smart. He used his superior range and ring mechanics while chipping away at the helpless Pascal who could hardly stand by the end of the round.
Round 8: Pascal’s blank expression and wobbly legs perhaps ruled out further combat but he was allowed to box on and was imminently mowed down. The end of the mismatch came after a succession of right hand volleys. The referee stopped the fight with Pascal on his feet against the ropes but there was nothing premature or controversial about it, in fact the stoppage was overdue.
Kovalev systematically ground down his toughest, if not most masterful opponent to date. He did the job but demonstrated limitations of his own. Some limitations are self inflicted – he and his team seem to consider pure boxing skills unmarketable and he tries to please the fans by excessive slugging and trading. He is not a typical brawler as he cautiously avoids close range – he wasn’t cut out for it – and he is more of a solid boxer with adequate power. Similar to GGG’s approach, Sergey seems to forgo defense and deliberately walk through punches he could avoid making a statement he always comes to fight. I am still looking forward to a fight in which he will meet an opponent of similar boxing ability, enough power and hungrier than him. Artur Beterbiev easily pops up as an extremely dangerous option for Sergey Kovalev. Deliberate linear movement back and forth and technically correct but chaotic non-stop offense from long to mid-range will not be healthy choices then.
