Sergey Kovalev vs. Robin Sirwan Safar Stats Comparison and Prediction: Record, Age, Height, Reach, Weight, and Knockout Ratio

On Saturday, May 18, Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk will dazzle the world from the Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The two heavyweight champions are fighting for the division’s undisputed title, long left vacant since Lennox Lewis became one in 1999. But apart from the main fight, the show boasts an array of cards to keep the audience and viewers from the world on the edge of their seats.

One of the undercards features a ten-round cruiserweight fight between Sergey Kovalev and Robin Sirwan Safar. The ‘Krusher’ finally returns after a break lasting nearly two years. Kovalev, who is reportedly based out of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, went for a similar break after suffering his fourth career loss to Canelo Alvarez. The boxer he is taking on, Robin Sirwan Safar, comes with an unbeaten record. He fought DeShon Webster in April of last year. Let’s examine some additional details related to the two fighters.

Physiological Metrics: Height, Weight, Reach, and so on

Standing at 6 feet or 183 centimeters, Kopeysk, Russia-born Sergey Kovalev seems to have a slight disadvantage against the 6 feet and 3 inches or 191 centimeters taller Robin Sirwan Safar. Unfortunately, the details of the Huddinge, Sweden-born undefeated boxer’s hand reach remain largely absent. However, ‘Krusher, who turned 41 last month, boasts a reach that extends to 72 1/2 inches, or 184 centimeters.

The final weight of the Fury vs. Usyk bout takes place on May 17, roughly 24 hours before the bout. Hence, the precise information related to Kovalev and Safar’s weight cannot be confirmed. The Russian last went for a fight two years ago. For this fight on May 14, 2022, Kovalev’s weight stood at 196.5 lbs. On the other hand, his 31-year-old opponent weighed around 198.3 lbs. when he entered the ring on April 19, last year. That basically met the mandated weight requirements of the cruiserweight division (200 lbs.).

Record: Knockout Ratio

Sergey Kovalev began boxing at the age of 11. An extensive amateur career saw him win multiple tournaments across the globe. He suffered a defeat at the hands of Artur Beterbiev during the 2007 Russian National Championships. His professional journey started on July 25, 2009. Over the years, he has faced some of the biggest names in boxing. Though he won a match against Bernard Hopkins, Kovalev is known for the two matches against Andre Ward and the November 2, 2019 loss to Canelo Alvarez.

Thus far, he has participated in 40 fights, out of which he won 35 and lost 4, with one remaining going for a draw. No prizes for guessing; for a boxer gifted with such a powerful punch, 29 of his victories came through knockouts, lending him an impressive knockout-to-win rate of 82.86%.

Robin Sirwan Safar has yet to lose a fight; however, his resume strikingly lacks any big names. Probably the fight against Sergey Kovalev could be his first brush with the big stage. Safar fought his first professional fight on April 8, 2017. With 12 of his wins coming via knockouts, the Swedish-born boxer of Kurdish descent enjoys a knockout-to-win rate of 75%. He currently appears in fifteenth place in the WBO’s cruiserweight rankings.

Predictions for the bout

The match on Saturday is expected to be a high-octane, explosive slugfest. However, Kovalev is no longer in his prime. He is coming out of inactivity. Going against a boxer almost a decade younger seems risk-laden for the former world champion. More so, Safar might be on full throttle. He has received an opportunity to showcase his skills during one of the most historically significant moments in boxing. A win could catapult him to the next stage of his career.

Given he shares the Russian opponent’s proclivity for an early stoppage, there’s a high chance of Safar knocking out Kovalev early. Missing the opportunity might allow the ‘Krusher’ to take over in the scorecards.

Between the two, who will be your pick for the win on Saturday? Please share your views with us in the comments below.