Photo by AP
Saturday, November 30, 2013, HBO boxing returns with a heavy-hitting doubleheader–starting at 10:15 pm, EST. Sergey Kovalev takes on Ismayl Sillakh to open the telecast and Adonis Stevenson takes on Tony Bellew in the main event.
Both marquee names–Stevenson and Kovalev–seem to be on a collision course and a win for the favorites could mean a potential matchup next year.
Trying to play spoilers will be the very capable Sillakh–against Kovalev–and Bellew–against Stevenson.
At 36 years old, Stevenson is trying to cash in on his new found stardom quickly by setting himself up for a big money fight, whether that’s against Kovalev, Bernard Hopkins or even Andre Ward.
Will it be a night of upsets or will we move one step closer towards Stevenson vs. Kovalev?
Read on for Round By Round Boxing’s staff predictions for Saturday nights HBO Boxing After Dark doubleheader featuring Sergey Kovalev vs. Ismayl Sillakh and Adonis Stevenson vs. Tony Bellew.
Click here to view the RBRBoxing staff’s records up to this point.
Photo by AP/The Canadian Press/Jacques Boissinot
Sergey Kovalev vs Ismayl Sillakh
Gabe Rivas, Contributing Writer
Sergey Kovalev is a beast. Kovalev will be defending his WBO Light Heavyweight belt for the first time after taking it in dominant fashion from Nathan Cleverly. Kovalev has also beaten Darnell Boone twice and looked even better in his second fight with him, knocking him out in the third round. This may mean that Kovalev is getting better. The full extension and power with which he throws his punches has me predicting he will win in similar fashion. Ismayl Sillakh presents a tough challenge, but he has lost to a lesser opponent in Denis Grachev—a man who was knocked out in the first round by Edwin Rodriguez and lost via decision to Lucian Bute. Sillakh couldn’t take Grachev’s power, it is likely he won’t be able to take Kovalev’s.
Prediction: Kovalev
Gabe Polanco, Contributing Writer
Playing second fiddle to the main event is Sergey Kovalev taking on Ukrainian born Ismayl Sillakh. Sillakh, a journeyman in his own right, has stepped up in competition once. It was the only loss of his career where he was TKO’d by Denis Grachev in Texas. Sadly, this fight will turn into a showcase event for HBO to steer the masses into wanting Kovalev s next fight to be with his hard hitting counterpart, Adonis Stevenson.
Prediction: Kovalev
Lenin Acevedo, Photographer
With both fighters comparable in abilities, it is bound to be a competitive fight. However, I don’t think it should be that tough of a bout for the Russian Krusher. I see Ismayl Sillakh winning some early rounds, but ultimately he’ll fall to the pressure of Sergey Kovalev.
Prediction: Kovalev
Rob Anthony, Contributing Writer
Sergey Kovalev will have a tough time with Ismail Sillakh, but will eventually extinguish him with a late KO in the 10th or 11th round. Will this eventually lead to a matchup between Kovalev and Adonis Stevenson? Maybe, or maybe something more lucrative like the winner of Lucian Bute vs. Jean Pascal. Or perhaps Andre Ward if he dares to come up to 175 for that type of challenge.
Prediction: Kovalev
Juan Carlos Burgos, Contributing Writer
Kovalev looks to keep his ascension to the top going vs. Ismayl Sillakh. If Sillakh can put his TKO loss to Denis Grachev in the rear view mirror this could be a good fight. Kovalev has been on a role and has been a wrecking ball as of late. Sillakh is no slouch and can crack a bit himself. I think Sillakh will have his moments, but Kovalev’s relentless attack will prove to be too much. I see Kovalev wearing down Sillakh in the mid rounds.
Prediction: Kovalev
Alex Burgos, Editor-in-Chief
The Krusher, Sergey Kovalev, is a beast and in my opinion, he is the best at 175 pounds. I think he makes quick work of Ismayl Sillakh in highlight-reel fashion and sets himself up for a big fight against Adonis Stevenson in early 2014.
Prediction: Kovalev
Photo by AP
Adonis Stevenson vs. Tony Bellew
Gabriel Rivas, Contributing Writer
Adonis Stevenson is a monster. He is coming off of nine hellacious knockout victories. Anything this guy touches goes to sleep. Bellow will need to box Stevenson in order to win this fight and his past decision losses against Cleverly and Chilemba tells me he will likely find himself on the canvas by the later rounds. The bigger questions are whether or not a fight with Sergey Kovalev is next and if Bernard Hopkins will risk his health in fighting any of the two.
Prediction: Stevenson
Gabe Polanco, Contributing Writer
On Saturday night in Quebec City, Canada; reigning lineal Light Heavyweight champion Adonis Stevenson will take on Tony Bellew. Stevenson will be making his third title defense against the fighter from Liverpool. Bellew is not much of a puncher, but he can take a punch. Now, if he can take a punch from the fighter they call “Superman,” is a completely different story. I firmly do not believe so and if anything came away from Friday’s weigh-in fiasco, it is just the time shortening till Stevenson hits him with that one-knockout punch.
Prediction: Stevenson
Lenin Acevedo, Photographer
I believe it’ll be a frustrating night for Adonis Stevenson, but definitely not a losing one. Tony Bellew has the height and reach advantage over Stevenson, which could make it a difficult night, but he lacks the kryptonite in his punches to put “Superman” away. I see a TKO in favor of Stevenson. Whether it is an early TKO or a late TKO I’m not so sure. It all depends on Bellew’s ring IQ.
Prediction: Stevenson
Rob Anthony, Contributing Writer
Instead of O Canada, they’ll be chanting KO Canada because I don’t expect the judges to have to make any crucial decisions this Saturday in Quebec City. As one of my favorite metal bands used to sing years ago, “Let the bodies hit the floor.”
Prediction: Stevenson
Juan Carlos Burgos, Contributing Writer
Stevenson has been on a nice roll in 2013. Stevenson has shown a good ability to mix up his attack recently and could be on the cusp of boxing stardom. In this bout I don’t think he will have to vary his offense much as he should have little trouble with Tony Bellew. Bellew will need to have the night of his life to beat Stevenson, but with the roll that Adonis has been on, along with his physical attributes, I don’t see it happening. Stevenson’s hand speed and power will prove to be too much to handle for Bellew.
Prediction: Stevenson
Alex Burgos, Editor-in-Chief
I love Adonis Stevenson and think he’s shown a little more in terms of varied attack in each of his last three fights. We all know about about his vicious power, and in his last bout with Tavoris Cloud he showed his improved boxing ability. I think he will end up breaking down Tony Bellew with multiple shots instead of one big punch like he did against Chad Dawson. Although I give Kovalev the edge in terms of best Light Heavyweight, I would love to see both men face each other in 2014.
Prediction: Stevenson
