GGG also can throw many punches while being defensively responsible, however Kovalev has faster feet than GGG so he can close the distance easier. Also something thats overlooked, GGG needs space to throw his punches (he does set them up well) where Kovalev can punch shorter than GGG and not load on his shots making him more fluid offensively than GGG and harder to get inside and smother his power (see Ouma vs GGG)
Just like ur high on Kovalev and want people to notice him more, I feel the same way about Roman "Choclatito" Gonzalez who is the closest thing to Tyson we have today in that hes shorter but has great combinations and can cut off the distance while slipping punches with great headmovement. I think hes the best combination puncher today
Kovalev will definitely be in the p4p rankings before long, but I don't think he will be number 1 for a sustained period of time. It is very difficult for a non American boxer to become p4p number 1 because most of the publications that have p4p rankings are US publications.
I agree with Alkhal about Roman Gonzalez. He has been in my top 10 p4p for about a year now. His fight with Estrada was one of the best fights I've seen, and the way he came back and won down the stretch was very impressive. Estrada has gone from strength to strength this year and would be a shoe in for young boxer of the year if there was a category for that.
Gonzalez has the potential to be p4p number 1, however the lower weight divisions rarely get the credit they deserve. I would love Gonzalez to fight Ioka this year. Gonzalez vs Ioka is one of the biggest fights that can be made in boxing today and the winner would catapult themselves up the p4p rankings.
I think Kovalev can clean the lightheavyweight division much like Andre Ward cleaned the supermiddleweight division and he may have some success at cruiserweight but he is too small for the heavyweights. Doing good in 2 divisions shouldn't make him the #1 p4p
Fighters from Russia and the former Soviet republics are generally well heeled in boxing fundamentals which complimented their physical qualities ( they are generally big, stocky ) well. Kovalev and Gennady Golovkin are only examples, but I must concede finer examples of fighters coming out of their woodwork. But they always meet their match from fighters in the Western Hemisphere and even Asia ( Lennox Lewis beating Vitali Klitschko, Vince Philipis and Ricky Hatton stopping the streaks of Kostya Tyzsu and Chatchai Sasakul; mastering Yuri Arbachakov are examples ).
I would rather we reserve judgment until we see Kovalev against the cream of the crop at 175 lbs.
Kovalev is impressive, no doubt but its still a looooong looooong long way to the #1 pfp spot. he needs to notch more notable names under his belt first. i say hes still years away from a top ten spot, let alone 1. it's still way too soon to say that he will smoke Ward also. but this guy really is good.
He hits hard and has the body type to do so, but i wanna see him take on dudes like Adonis Stevenson Bhop and many more someday.
Nobody else seems to see the same guy I am seeing here. He bounces around like Salvador Sanchez, staying in exactly the right position to unload nightmarish power shots with the left hook and straight right. Stevenson will get KOed within 8, B-Hop would be stopped for the first time and I believe Andre Ward would get smoked too. I believe Wlad vs Kovalev would be competitive also. This man will destroy everyone in his sight. Mark these words!
