I am inclined to giving it to Kovalev. If Sugar Leonard can knock Hearns out, I can imagine what Kovalev can do to him. Kovalev with so much power who make a living knocking out his opponent just like the triple G will make Thomas Hearns a member of his statistic (KO).
Matvey Korobov and Artur Beterberiev are better fighters than Sergey Kovalev, he's a heavy handed slugger, but he isn't even the best Russian, let alone the best Light Heavyweight/Cruiser Weight in the world. You have to respect Kovalev's punching power, it you stand and slug with him, you very well may end up like Roman Simakov God rest his soul, but if they put Kovalev in the ring with a boxer who shows him some lateral movement and speed, I think Kovalev will lose much like Arthur Abraham did when that slugger faced some real boxing talent.
If Kovalev fought Duran, Leonard, Hagler or Hearns, he would lose, in truth the Iran Barkley that Duran beat or the Virgil Hill that Hearns out boxed would handle Kovalev.
Bernard Hopkins is almost 50 years old and really has no business in the ring fighting at the level he is fighting. If Kovalev beats Hopkins, people will say he beat an old man. IF by some miracle Hopkins pulls off another upset and defeats both father Time and Sergey, people will simply say Kovalev never fought any world class competition. There is a huge difference between being professional boxer and the Russian amateur classes Kovalev made his name in, and once Kovalev starts fighting some serious talent, that difference will show. I put Kovalev in the same class as Deontay Wilder, a power puncher that hasn't fought any world class opposition yet. Truth be told, Wilder and Kovalev should fight each other, that would be a better fight than Kovalev fighting a grey beard like Hopkins.
I am sorry but I can't help it. Hearns fought more with his balls than his brains against fellow KO artists as Hagler and Barkley at middleweight and that was his folly. But when he moved up to the light heavyweights, he was a better, more clever fighter and approached his fights more scientifically. That was why he had better results at light heavyweights and even cruiser weights, losing just two fights in 16 bouts, to Iran Barkley (SD 12 ) and as a 40 something already well past his prime to Uriah Grant ( retirement 3).
I guess it is possible that Hearns would fight Kovalev using the same more scientific approach and quite possibly beat him on points having the better boxing skills, the experience not to mention his reach
advantage ( 80" to 75" ).
Kovalev in 3. If Marvin Hagler could chase and destroy Hearns, then imagine what a beast like Kovalev would do to him. Hearns never fought a fighter like kovalev before because Russians couldn't fight at pros back then. Russians and rest Slavs are the best fighters in the world. Simple as that.
It would be a great fight, but I think Hearns would win in 7. Hearns just had so much power and great boxing skill. Kovalev has similar traits, but at the same level as Hearns
Hearns would win a Decision.
Hearns would hurt Kovalev, and then hold on for decision. Sergey got caught by Barker, and stumbled by a journeymen on saturday, Hearns could hurt him bad early.
Hearns would destroy Kovalev. But isn't Kovalev a natural light heavy?
Hearns. Excellent skills and unbelievable power. Ko duran in 2 rounds. Defeated but was robbed vs salty ray lemon in the rematch. He would ko kovalev
I would be surprised if someone with the glass chin of Hearns could make it more than two rounds with a beast like KOvalev. I say KOvalev in just two.
TH had a chin that found punchers and legs that would fail if pushed too hard. Great KO puncher at Welter, but with this new kid, IMO, would have a difficult time staying upright. There is always someone, some style that beats you.
Please try to give realistic answers. Well you're excluded from giving realistic answers if your name is blogbaba, Teodor or Sean G ;-)
Hearns would win
