UndercarDVR + Analysis: Kovalev vs. Pascal II

Contributor: Nolan Howell

Welcome to another installment of UndercarDVR, where we review what you need to see from this week in combat sports. We go fight by fight to see whether it needs to be watched, saved, deleted, or watched in fast forward.

Championship boxing returned to HBO, as Light Heavyweight kingpin Sergey Kovalev defended his titles in a rematch with Jean Pascal and blue-chip prospect Dmitry Mikhaylenko took on tough veteran Karim Mayfield for the vacant USBA welterweight title.

Grab the remote!

Sergey Kovalev defeated Jean Pascal by seventh-round TKO to retain the WBA, IBF, and WBO Light Heavyweight Championships

• Sergey Kovalev is becoming one of the can’t miss fighters in boxing and this fight was no different. Kovalev had absolutely no trouble getting Jean Pascal against the ropes and unloading vicious punches to the body and head as Pascal crouched helplessly. Kovalev said after the fight that he let Pascal out of the corners and off the ropes to punish him more for the pre-fight animosity where Pascal, among other things, accused Kovalev of being a racist. Kovalev showed that he has stepped his game up and is the king of the division, with only two hurdles ahead of him to essentially clear out the division. Andre Ward and Adonis Stevenson have tough battles ahead of them if they run into “Crusher.”
• The fight was brutal and a brilliant display from Kovalev. The fight was not competitive, but Kovalev is a fighter that needs to be watched each time out as he climbs the pound-for-pound rankings while clearing his division. Pascal landed a few shots, but this is a fight that displayed the unparalleled precision and power of an elite boxer of Kovalev’s caliber.  Verdict: Watch

Dmitry Mikhaylenko defeated Karim Mayfield by unanimous decision to win the vacant USBA Welterweight Championship

• Dmitry Mikhaylenko continued to rise as a prospect defeated a great veteran name in Karim Mayfield, who came in on short notice, for a USBA belt. Mayfield had nothing for Mikhaylenko, who easily boxed his way to a win with ease.
• The fight was run of the mill, though not bad. For hardcore boxing aficionados, Mikhaylenko might be worth keeping an eye on in fast-forward. However, this is your basic showcase with a prospect getting opponents competitive enough to hang, but still outmatched.  Verdict: Skip