HBO Fight Preview

Sergey Kovalev vs. Cedric Agnew

This Saturday cancel your plans, put the kids to bed, have a cold one in hand, and get ready to watch one of the most exciting fighters in boxing Sergey Kovalev.  Kovalev who goes by the appropriate nickname "Krusher" will be fighting fellow unbeaten fighter Cedric Agnew.  The two are scheduled to go 12 rounds in the light heavyweight division for Kovalev's WBO title.  It may be Adonis Stevenson who is atop the division as the lineal light heavyweight champion in the world but it is Kovalev who has fans salivating. 

Kovalev taunts his victims after knockouts

There is something about the way Kovalev fights that keeps fans coming back, and not just because he is an undefeated power puncher.  They also keep coming back because he has the attitude fans want in a power fighter, a man with bad intentions and no remorse.  There is nothing cute about the way Kovalev fights, he doesn't stick and move he sticks and goes in for the kill.  Typically Kovalev does a lot of jabbing in the first round to feel his opponents out.  He likes to work behind that stiff jab and then pounces all over his foe when the moment is opportune.  The scary thing is that Kovalev seems to have one punch knockout power in both hands.  His left he throws from everywhere, up, down, crooked, straight and he always does damage with it.  However when his right hand comes into play watch out.  Kovalev's right hand might as well be a sledge hammer because that's how his opponents react to it.  Kovalev still hasn't fought the best his division has to offer but that is mainly because no one wants anything to do with him.

Kovalev has faced some good competition just not elite.  Because of the cold war between Top Rank Inc. and Golden Boy Promotions a fight with Bernand Hopkins is out of the question.  Fans were getting excited at the prospect of a fight against fellow HBO fighter Stevenson however HBO seriously dropped the ball and let Stevenson team up with adviser Al Haymon and sign with Showtime.  One problem for Kovalev is that even when he fights a top prospect or solid talent he embarrasses them.  Kovalev has a record of 23-0-1 with 21 knockouts and has stopped the likes of Gabriel Campillo, Cornelius White, Nathan Cleverly, and Ismayl Sillah.  The only blemish on Kovalev's record is a draw against Grover Young when Young was accidentally fouled and unable to continue in the 2nd round.  Since that draw Kovalev has scored seven knockouts in a row and he will try to make Agnew number eight.

Agnew needs to be perfect to win

While Agnew is also undefeated he gets his wins in a much different fashion than Kovalev does.  Kovalev always comes forward while Agnew likes to get in and get out like Patrick Swayze in Point Break.  Agnew has a very high guard and keeps it tight while he works a stiff jab and powerful straight right hand.  One flaw is that Agnew throws his left hook wide which could leave him open to be "krushed."  Agnew doesn't have the fastest hands and that coupled with his wide punching isn't going to help him.  He needs to stay focused on using his jab to keep Kovalev off of him and throwing his powerful straight right hand to keep his respect.  One thing is abundantly clear, Kovalev will be the best fighter that Agnew has ever been in the ring with.

Agnew doesn't have so much as a draw on his record and his undefeated status probably earned him this high profile fight.  Yet taking a closer look at his opposition reveals he could be fools gold. His career record is 26-0 with 13 knockouts and his best opponent to date was Yusaf Mack who was passed his prime when they fought.  Besides Mack his resume is filled with fighters who have lost more than they have won.  If Agnew were to get past Kovalev it would be a big upset.

This fight really comes down to how long Agnew can hold up to the pressure and power of Kovalev.  Kovalev will have some big fights and big money in his future if he takes out Agnew and he needs to stay focused on the fighter in front of him.  In Kolalev's past seven fights the longest one has only reached the seventh round.  While Agnew does have some boxing skills they aren't sharp enough to keep Kovalev from doing what he wants.  Agnew has shown a good chin and against Kovalev fans will find out how good it actually is.  

PREDICTION: Cedric Agnew will actually give a good showing of himself but against Sergey Kovalev that may just mean making it past the 2nd round.  Agnew will do his best to keep the distance but Kovalev will close it like he always does and win this fight via 5th round knockout.  

Thomas Dulorme vs. Karim Mayfield

The fight that will open Saturday's HBO card is a very interesting one.  It features one former hot prospect looking to prove he is still a top talent and also an aging fighter looking to make a name for himself and put his career on the fast track.  Those fighters are Thomas Dulorme and Karim Mayfield and they will go head to head for 10 rounds in the junior welterweight division.

Dulorme was exposed by Abregu

Back in 2012 Dulorme was looked at as one of the hottest prospects in the sport.  That was until he ran into the criminally underrated Luis Carlos Abregu and got dropped twice on his way to a TKO loss.  However Dulorme still may have the goods to be a top fighter.  He has a good long jab and good hand speed.  His best punch is his right hand that can stop an opponent in his tracks and end his night early.  Dulorme is at his best when he looks to counter with his fast hands instead of bringing the action, although he can definitely bring some pain.  Dulorme has good power and he will need to flash it against the equally powerful Mayfield.

Dulorme is like many top prospects in that he has been protected.  His first real test came against Abregu and he got destoyed in that fight.  That fight was the only blemish on an otherwise perfect professional record of 20-1 with 14 knockouts.  After that loss Dulorme did the smart thing and worked his way back to a big fight slowly.  He fought veteran fighters who weren't at the top of the food chain and has gone 4-0 since facing Abregu.  Certainly Mayfield is better than he last four opponents but Mayfield is also a fighter who hasn't been tested much.

Mayfield is undefeated but is already 33 years old

Mayfield got a late start to boxing and it shows.  He played other sports growing up and is extremely athletic in the ring but his boxing skills are very raw.  His jab isn't much more than a measuring stick and he doesn't throw it with much force.  Also he doesn't put combinations together very well and mostly relies on his powerful right hand to win fights.  Mayfield's nickname is "Hard Hitta" and while he does hit hard he needs to learn to box better if he wants to ever win a world title.

While Dulorme has only been tested by a top fighter once, and failed, Mayfield has never stepped in the ring against the best.  He has fought some solid fighters like Mario Alberto Lozano and Steve Forbes but they aren't elite.  Mayfield is undefeated thus far with a record of 18-0-1 with 11 knockouts.  His only blemish being a draw came in his third fight as a pro and since he got such a late start and has been sharpening his skills as a pro that draw can easily be overlooked.  What can't be overlooked is the fact that Mayfield may need a knockout to beat Dulorme.

This fight could either be very good and completely disastrous for Dulorme.  His much faster hands and counter punching ability should allow him to outbox the less skilled Mayfield.  However Dulorme has shown that his chin is suspect and Mayfield may be able to put a hurting on him.  Dulorme needs to use his long jab and keep the fight at a safe distance where he can pick apart Mayfield who will be looking to get inside and land heavy leather.  Whichever way this fight turns out fans should learn a lot about the future of both fighters.

PREDICTION: Thomas Dulorme may have a suspect chin but he has great hand speed and superior boxing skills.  Karim Mayfield may find some success at certain points and even buzz Dulorme but I think Dulorme will weather the storm and land clean shots all night.  Dulorme will win this fight by the way of 9th round stoppage.