When Muscles Meet Skill in Boxing… SHOCKING RESULT!

[@iangraham9050]

Here in the UK, we boxing fans took our hats off to Sergey Kovalev. What a boxer, and fighter, and he showed Yarde there's more to boxing than strength. Great fight between two very good athletes.

[@andyc750]

hardly the case, all it showed was what a lack of top level experience does when up against a top level fighter, and Kovalev is one of the greats at LH so hardly a surprise he lost as most of us expected here in the UK

[@TheAlpine49]

Dang good fight! Kovalev is a beast! Glad he won. Heart of a champion. Love from California

[@peterdelmonte9832]

@@andyc750I love watching the excellent Kovalev but he did very nearly lose this fight. He won’t be ever lasting.

[@watiflappynounou3302]

He is average and underperforming against top fighters like Canelo, Ward etc

[@louduva9849]

@@andyc750 Kovalev had been shot to bits for years, and still won nearly every round. Yarde is the least-deserving title challenger in light-heavy history.

[@kimcousins1125]

Hell of a fight. Both gave their all but what a comeback by Kovalev.

[@paulbellew4275]

Comeback from what, Giving Yarde a boxing lesson for most of the fight.

[@audiodead7302]

@@paulbellew4275 It was a career comeback for Kovalev.

[@not2tees]

How many guys have the guts and courage to go through something like that? Win or lose, respect -

[@kyleconnor2759]

Probably like 30

[@PhilippeOrlando]

How many guys with one year of boxing under their belt would have the courage to fight a retired Mike Tyson today? How many guys, such as that jerk called John Kennedy, would have the "courage" to fly a plane by night, in a storm and kill three people along themselves, while they've never been trained to fly at night? You look at this as courage, I look at this as being an idiot. I'll tell you what, I bet there is somebody who believe he can defeat a 150 pound male chimps bare handed.

[@professor_of_logic]

@@kyleconnor2759 I'm not sure about that...IF YOU LEAVE THE $$$ OUT - MAYBE 12-15!?

[@rcnelson]

No kidding. The idea of a skilled boxer pounding on my face is more than daunting.

[@tim99291]

quite many actually, what is your point ?

[@SuperMartin223]

What a brilliant boxer, Kovalev. Exquisite timing and perfect fundamentals. His effective reach seems really good, too.

[@bobcarter4763]

he pushes his punches.

[@Mark-ug6fx]

Nailed with the common jab,nice fight

[@giovannimontagnana6262]

sometime the KIS (keep it simple) strategy works the best

[@MichaelSmith-mc8bd]

Beautiful punch, perfectly timed.

[@AndyMansfield-qi7mn]

There is nothing common about Kovalev's jab. He delivers it with uncommon speed, accuracy, and power.

[@MelloKings]

Check out the overhand rights that precipitated the jab that hit like a hook

[@theshawdows]

The bigger your muscles the more oxygen you use

[@douglasguiotto521]

💥💯

[@skolifoust49]

Yup

[@Snickerszn]

There’s a perfect medium in all sports

[@ericastier1646]

True, also big muscles from weight lifting reduce angles and speed. Fast muscles are longer and leaner. You can always tell how a boxer trains from his muscle. This gorilla spent too much time weight lifting. Not enough time speed boxing.

[@edwardrichard2561]

Lactic acid

[@ranting.russian]

I love the Russian boxer's stare at his opponent as they tapped their gloves together. Russians aren't big on trash talking ahead of the match, that's considered unmanly. But if you're being disrespectful and your Russian opponent gives you this kind of stare, you're in for a lot, dude.

[@ahmorgan]

Lmao too bad he didn't stare at Andre Ward like that

[@Gr8Layks]

I’ve always admired Russian athletes for that. Nikita Khrushchev at the UN, however, is a different story 😂

[@joerosa2532]

The fight was in fact over from that point, Yarde was looking down the whole time not making eye contact. Who breaks the stare, loses always. It's the Law of Nature in the Animal Kingdom.

[@joro63]

Yarde couldn't concentrate because he was thinking of his white girlfriend.

[@MrLeoYaus]

​@@Gr8Layks no one wants to see or smell your shoe

[@hodgesjake]

What a fight, both these guys are warriors

[@MrSudhir61]

Kovalev’s accuracy even after a very difficult eighth was something very rare to witness in boxing. He was in better condition and more determined to win.

[@biggieyorke8415]

Anthony Yarde and Sergey Kovalev was a good fight.This video was dubbed WHEN MUSCLES MEET SKILL IN BOXING.It was clear from the outset that Kovalev had height and reach advantage.Important in boxing.Though he didn’t have as big muscles he had well toned muscles,showing he was in good shape.Throughout the fight Kovalev did well when he controlled the distance between himself and his opponent.Keeping him turning,and picking him off as he came in.In round eight he let his dangerous punching opponent get too close and was nearly knocked out.Experience and instinct saved him.For Yarde his opportunity came and went.From there Kovalev boxed and controlled the action,and the distance,until he delivered his devastating knockout.I have never heard of either two of these fighters.But great fight ,exciting action.A ding dong battle displaying devastating power,skill,mastery ,experience,fire,courage, and heart.

[@jaapvandijk5550]

Credit to both boxers for their heart and determination. This was probably Kovalev’s last great fight. Incredible fundamentals, rhythm and footwork. Textbook stuff

[@tbauer2521]

He was such a destroyer in his prime, sad to see his last fights when he wasn't even a shadow of himself. When it goes, it goes quick, but at his best he was brilliant.

[@roycebraman4311]

While the kid could take a punch, he was outclassed the entire fight.

[@giuseppenero110]

Did he actually land one?

[@seanscanlon9067]

How exactly did the outcome shock everyone? This was Anthony Yarde's 18th professional fight despite being 28 years old at the time and it was his first world title shot. Whereas it was Sergey Kovalev's 38th fight, his 16th world title fight having won and then retained the WBA (Undisputed), IBF, and WBO light-heavyweight titles several times and also having lost not long before this a close fight and controversial decision to Andre Ward. It would have been more accurate to have said that it would have shocked everyone if Yarde could have pulled off the win.

[@pig_bennis]

Ковалёв после цирка с Вордом очень морально потерялся

[@life107familyfitnessboxing8]

Sergey Kovalev's jab is like being hit by an iron bar. This man was a beast in his time

[@royswire8797]

When you throw a short, straight punch with precision, it shocks me every time to see even the strongest man's legs buckle. It's amazing how a well-delivered punch can have such a powerful impact. It surprises me every time, making me think, "I didn't hit him that hard." The technique truly makes all the difference.

[@allenlindsey1175]

Think about how you have been walking at a slow pace and accidentally hit the corner of a wall.

[@royswire8797]

@@allenlindsey1175 "Yep, been there, done that back in the day. Had to act quick, so I stepped on his foot real hard, gave him a backhand, then lifted him up and sat him down next to his old lady. I apologized, and she goes, 'He deserved it.' I said, 'Ouch, that's cold, honey!' Guess I should've worn steel-toe shoes!"

[@allenlindsey1175]

@@royswire8797 YES...lolz

[@az6472]

I think getting jabs continiously every round has the same impact as Tyson one big punch 🤷

[@royswire8797]

@@az6472 "Not every hit is a knockout punch like Tyson's. Sometimes it's the relentless jabs is like chopping down a big tree over time

[@batouttahell454]

A thing of BEAUTY

[@lazur1]

You aren't 18-0 w/just muscle. Both deserve more credit.

[@professor_of_logic]

So true... Anthony was so good too, that's what make this fight an EPIC!!! It wasn't "all about the muscles", Anthony is a great Boxer and have a Heart of a Warrior!

[@AWildBard]

yes, and they are fighting in the same weight class One guy looks bigger, but their weight tells a different story. They aren't matching one giant vs one small guy or anything.

[@johanstander6102]

He had his A$$ handed to him though😂😂😂

[@Aidar77]

Muscles or not both fighters were fighting in the same division, which means that Kovalev's bone density and mass was on another level.

[@professor_of_logic]

@@Aidar77 So true! His initials aren't AK for no reason! Anyway, i still have nothing but respect for Anthony, great Boxer and just a good guy, all around... True warriors, nothing fake about this fight, just pure enjoyment for all of us... Good times!

[@mrkhan]

The title is misleading as hell. Anthony Yarde isn't a bodybuilder turned boxer or anything like that. He's a boxer, who happens to have that physique. He's generally not considered a great fighter frankly, and has been underwhelming in most of his fights since he's reliant on knockout power and has a really poor work rate in general. If he threw more, and threw more combinations in general along with establishing his jab, he may actually be decent. I've never seen him out punch, or have a higher work rate than his opponents in the majority of his recent fights (last 5 years).

[@vestibulate]

@mrkhan Not being familiar with this boxer, I watched for signs of basic instincts needed to fight at this level. They can teach you skills- sort of- but those qualities of anticipation and counter-action seen in the greats can't be transmitted. They're innate. And I don't think Anthony Yarde has the instinctual gifts that make a man a champion.

[@storyann]

Cat was obviously exhausted to go down off a "dainty" jab but that takes nothing away from Kovalev, who is a very skilled boxer.

[@johnspink6557]

Fantastic fight, two warriors put on a great boxing match.

[@Funkydood]

Skill AND A HUGE HEART!!!

[@youtoob1811]

15:20 - he wasn't "knocked out cold", he was clearly too exhausted to get up.

[@ralphdixon4727]

So if he got up he would have been knocked out 😂

[@konen2189]

guess how that's called : A knock out. lol

[@youtoob1811]

@@konen2189 - Nope. "Knocked out cold" means unconscious. Gassing out is not KO.

[@beaujeste1]

@@youtoob1811it is when you can’t even stand up… 🙄

[@kyleconnor2759]

There’s a difference, but it’s still a knock out.

[@damodarshetty6164]

Fantastic remarkable comeback kind of fight talent and experience used at best

[@aroncarvajal7080]

Don't forget to mention that Andre ward lost also to kovalev

[@HilmarSchacht-zm8kg]

Canelo schooled Kovalev 😂

[@HilmarSchacht-zm8kg]

Kovalev was just average

[@Cheperino]

The fight between Canelo and Kovalev was a kind of joke

[@kyleconnor2759]

Clearly fixed

[@follyfour506]

Did I blink and miss that one ?

[@SteffiReitsch]

That guy's got natural muscle, he's not a bodybuilder.

[@spiderlord6203]

Which one?😮 Kovalev has no 💪 muscles, he looks like a Russian prisoner.😮

[@Divocwax]

yes, which one? Black dudes often has great bodies naturally.

[@SteffiReitsch]

@@Divocwax Which one do you think? Duh.

[@peterrees6335]

And you know that because.....?

[@paulg444]

all respect to Yarde, who went into Russia and delivered a valiant fight !... I think it was the right to the left ear of Yarde that put him in huge trouble. The left just gave him a reason to go down for the count.

[@bolt4694]

Anthony Ruiz kinda destroyed the idea that muscles win fights.

[@aliposhtpazan2625]

Good match they gave everything they had

[@Sugabullets]

Leave yarde alone lol, 18th fight, no real amateur background, fighting in the crusher backyard, first world championship fight.

[@karakondzula1388]

His career menagment is really weird, fighting bums and then suddenly he takes a very difficult opponent like he did here with Kovalev and more recently with Beterbiev. There was no steady buildup in his career. At least he fought his heart off in all his losses, very entertaining fighter.

[@michaelachilleslivingston2770]

Cardio advertisement.....

[@johnrivera1413]

The Champ was phenomenal...and tough as nails. A battle of wills. Great fight!

[@PeteKiefer]

One of the best fights I’ve ever seen. Two great fighters !!! Wow. Just WOW.

[@seanmarshall7403]

Watch the whole fight and watch Yarde later against Bervitov. Yes he has muscle but he is also skilled and powerful. He is proper unit and fighter. So go back and look at what you said. Yardr is a specimen for sure but he's got skills and guts to back it up too.

[@macfrankist]

Ward and his Mafia cheated Kovalev and through those loses he would not get fights anymore. For the sake of his family, Kova accepted to take a dive against Canelo.

[@JohnDowd-r8t]

Always love to see this form of black get his due

[@Wladimiriwanov]

Сергей, поздравляю!

[@lemonstar.2]

Trying to dismiss Yarde as a muscle man shows your ignorance. Kovalev is a world class and very experienced fighter - all credit to him. Yarde is 9 years younger at 32 (which makes Kovalev's performance even more impressive) but he still has a future - Anthony Joshua is 34 and perhaps, coming into his prime in the next couple of years. A number of commentators though the fight had come a bit too soon for Yarde and I tend to agree - he's still got a lot to learn and time is on his side - Kov remains an absolute legend.

[@Luna-gt7gg]

Boxing is very interesting to me. I'm a big guy - ex pro football player - but prefer to spend time tending my garden now, rather than fighting. What I admire about boxing is the endurance and the precision strikes...try fighting a mock 15-round battle before you tell me anything about boxing. It is exhausting, and not enough fans understand the drawdown on endurance/stamina/energy...too many expect the 15th round to be just like the first round. Kovalev is brilliant here...demonstrating wisdom over pure power...as boxing SHOULD be. I enjoyed this fight...and old guy hanging in, and schooling a young guy about what it takes to win.

[@DavidThornton-m1j]

A beautiful show of boxing at its finest. Superb .

[@roycebraman4311]

Lol, everytime Yarde drops his left he eats one.

[@dubongros3108]

Not a shocking result. Kovalev seved Canelo a boxing lesson untill his chin left him.

[@siegfriedhorner4436]

Once again, we see that looks and age do not necessarily predict a fight's outcome. I add that Yarde's physique was not "Herculean", or that of a "body builder". Rather he looked like what he was; young, with a very fit athletic body. By comparison, Kovalev looked like an average, but fit man. But in no way did that disadvantage him.

[@jeremylamovsky9868]

I didnt really get interested in boxing until around the second loss to Ward, so other than some highlight videos which were basically just him finishing guys who were ready to be finished, I'd never really watched him. This was the first fight of his I watched live and was seriously impressed with how sound his fundamentals were and how skilled he was. He's got to be one of those fighters who just has super heavy hands, a lot of his punches that devastated opponents didn't look like they were hard enough to get the reactions they did

[@robertwilson123]

Horrible business boxing, with the risk of permanent brain injury for many boxers.

[@SuchaDoofus]

They choose to do it....

[@RonLawrence-ut2yr]

This was two mighty , tough , brave and skilled warriors. It really could’ve went either way , Kovalev came a hair of going down . His relentless , hammering jab eventually wore down his very tough opponent .

[@sanekabc]

Kovalev proved Bruce Lee's assertion that the straight lead is the best punch to master.

[@tommosley2844]

The best boxers throughout history, have been smooth muscled fighters, Joe Louis, Sugar Ray Robinson, Muhammad Ali et cetera.

[@lotharschramm5000]

"british" sure lol

[@ivangrondona4122]

Yarde just lost but is a real good boxer.

[@ele4853]

Awesome! 👏

[@muz4050]

Why use the ridiculous edited picture making Yarde look like hulk and Kovalev look skinny?

[@rossib6974]

More ridiculous when English street hulk gets knocked out by Russian family man !

[@Cynic58]

Awesome courage and heart from Yarde. Excellent use of pure will and skill by Kovalev.

[@sandyacombs]

All that arrogance and pomp KO'ed by a jab!

[@dubongros3108]

No, Kovalev beat André Ward . Everybody knows this exept the judges

[@hugovandermeer1566]

Both great fighters, can't take anything away from either man. Superb.

[@brucewallner6753]

Yeah, that was a good fight. That guy showed heart. They both showed heart it’s beyond pain during the zone of way past pain.

[@professor_of_logic]

Great video - reminder! Thank You so much! ULTIMATE BOXING ARTISTS!!! Anthony was a great opponent, absolutely one of the EPIC fights of LHW Boxing!

[@NeilCrouse99]

Why do people think that 36 is old for a fighter??? It's bull crap to think a healthy fighter over 30 is becoming over the hill.

[@learnpianofastonline]

Agreed. Its a cultural thing.

[@biroldjoshan3745]

Both respectable talented fighters

[@haveagooddaygodbless.4919]

Boxing fans don't call kovalev the ( KRUCHER ) for nothing, that was a great win for kovalev and for the Russian fans.🎉🎉🎉🎉

[@thesoundpurist]

When I’ve heard Kovalev… Man forget it. This dude has skills.

[@godfatherofcinema]

love seeing skinny guys beat muscle-bound guys. Oh, i love it.

[@ricksalt6860]

Incredible match on both fighters

[@sveinkikals7876]

Never underestimate age and skill.

[@svgs650r]

Yarde should have dug up ol Panama Lewis to be in his corner 😎

[@MichaelSorensen-bl3ec]

Hard fight, they both landed some big shots. Respect.

[@Tblillard]

Boxing over brawling.

[@HarrySmith-hr2iv]

Well done hero Kovalev! Yarde was just another hoodlum! Congratulations to Kovalev from the UK!

[@arthursmith643]

What strength and stamina for a 36 year old pro fighter. He certainly did his homework. A plus plus. One for the history books. Your family and country must be so proud. I as an American am also very proud of you. Thanks for your dedication and given people inspiration. Had work pays off.

[@simoneales2568]

Both really good fighters, but the resilience to fight on.. is impressive.

[@kona744]

Respect for what those guys did. What a courage. What a fight.

[@kafkastrial8650]

Those Russians are tuff lads !

[@thomassawicki2065]

When I was developing as a fighter, I decided to make my jab as strong as my power hand. It worked well for me because most opponents were used to a jab being a rangefinder and not serious power. I see how well a strong jab works in this fight. Sheesh ! a KO with a jab, I love it.

[@MrKurmann]

Knocked down by a short left jab... says it all.

[@patricknolan1096]

Brutal.

[@goranmitrovic801]

Great boxing art from Kovalev!!!!!

[@Lou.B]

Great presentation!

[@johnwater7062]

great fight with two great fighters

[@Ben-rj7xs]

Kovalev fought that fight being pushed backward just about the whole fight and he did a tremendous job of punching and moving until he knocked Yarde out

[@jabe3780]

It's pretty cool when cocky fighters like Yarde hold their left down by their waist just waiting to be knocked out. Such adorable showboating 😅

[@spaced4448]

Commentator: he pushed him over. What a numpty 🤣

[@pedrobedoy9574]

Brains over Brawn 😂

[@Yachanan144]

when inexperience meet experience

[@mariokasper]

Ein "Standding Ovation" für beide Boxer !

[@marcotelli1601]

You know your tired when you fall from a weak jab.

[@Divocwax]

yes there was not much jolt in that jab. So, Yarde looked weak to fall down.

[@steveelder5306]

they add up. you should try it sometime.

[@jacklangley861]

Kovalev has KO'd fighters with that power jab before. Ouch!

[@KateWandless]

What a stupid clickbait title, as if Krusher Kovalev was just some skinny bloke, it was a great fight and Yardes first step up and he did ok, Krusher was walking through everyone back then

[@hillbilly4christ638]

Kovalev kept coming over that left guard with the right. He was connecting and I knew he would connect hard with one of those. Yards should have picked up his guard.

[@martinallsopp8941]

It was a world class fighter against a britsh fighter that wasn't at world level. I'm britsh an yard is a high level britsh boxer but not at world level. Every britsh fan and all the commentators know it would be a massive ask for yard to win. You can even hear the britsh commentators saying his not really doing what he needs to win. We wanted him to win but we all know he wasn't at world level. If you think boxing fans judge a fighter by his muscle your very wrong. Look at yards record b4 this fight theres no big names on it he was doing the right thing and building a good record. this fight came to early for him against a great world class opperater. But like every fighter thats got something going for them he tuk the risk and went for it to test himself. He even said it was to soon for sutch a big fight after the loss

[@JohnSmith-le5oe]

Yard was rubbish

[@fenderbender2096]

The title is funny. Sergey Kovalev does not have only skill, but also incredible, audacious punching power. "The muscles", yeah he has em. In fact, he literally KILLED one of his opponents in an official boxing match.

[@ABC-rh7zc]

If Yard is "English" then I am Confucius

[@georgeelder8415]

Bruce Lee said it best, "be impressed by technique, not physique."

[@wa1ufo]

Right on Sergey. Beautifully done! 🇺🇸

[@Angel2043-w3s]

Two masters - wow what a fight -

[@johnmcdermott2551]

I never saw any boxer with less than 20 pro fights win a championship in fact the champs go looking for the talented, but yet to be proven who will bring the big money to the match.

[@TwinMillMC]

I feel bad for Yard. I hope they gave him a cookie 🍪 in the dressing room

[@mickdomingo7276]

The outcome shocked no one. Yarde had never fought anywhere near this level whilst Kovalev was a recognised as a killer at world level. Yarde has since failed again to win a strap whilst Kovalev is now a well known drunk.

[@ELOY-v2g]

Excellent.. excellent 👍👍👍!!!!

[@terryoquinn8199]

That was a great fight !

[@steaka92br]

Kovakev never seemed to have a team that was permanent,consistent,and dedicated to him.Things were always changing.He was a gifted fighter with an organic flow.His flaws were fixable but weren't addressed properly.

[@rawbert-uz2kv]

excellent fight, geez, semper fi