Cleverly: Sergey Kovalev’s Punches Were Like a Hammer

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This past Saturday, Nathan Cleverly fifth defense of his WBO-light heavyweight title ended in disaster as he suffered a crushing fourth-round knockout defeat against Kovalev at the Motorpoint Arena in Cardiff. Cleverly is still coming to terms with this devastating defeat and has suggested there might be some major changes after losing his unbeaten record.

Kovalev has 20 stoppages in his 22 wins and Cleverly’s granite chin could not withstand his concussive power. Cleverly was floored twice in the third round and revealed that the punches felt like being hit with a ‘hammer’.

He told Boxing News: “I suppose I wasn’t surprised because with his record it was inevitable that he was a banger and every shot he threw was a thudding shot. It was like a hammer. He wasn’t rapid fast, he had good timing, good distance and his punches were just so hard … His jab, his right hand. Just when he caught you on the shoulder he would have an impact and he was just clubbing me.”

http://www.boxingscene.com/cleverly-sergey-kovalevs-punches-like-hammer–68812