Sergey Kovalev vs. Andre Ward: who will you be rooting for?

[Lenny Cravats]

I'm not sure how much the inactivity and outside of the ring career will have an effect on the 'hunger' of Ward. Kovalev is an impressive beast of a man, but rarely do you see someone with the technical ability of Ward.
For me, I think Ward will do what it takes to win in a less than entertaining fashion. In the interest of seeing the most exciting fights (for my tastes, anyhow) I'll be hoping that Kovalev gets the win.

[crusader]

If Kovalev couldn't put the 50 yr old Hopkins away, no way will he even come close to doing it vs Ward, who is about 20 yrs younger and just as skilled if not more. Should be a good one though.

By the way, why isn't Kovalev fighting the guy that won the final title eliminator bout next instead of the guy that lost it?

I like Ward in this fight but I don't buy that. Hopkins has a good chin and was entirely focused on surviving after getting dropped, which typically makes someone much more difficult to hurt and put away. I don't think Ward has proven that his durability is on Hopkins' level and I doubt that he'll be as survival oriented.

What eliminator are you talking about? If you mean Chilemba-Alvarez, that was for Adonis's title (ask why Adonis is facing the guy who quit against Campillo three fights ago) and like many others I thought Chilemba won. It was essentially a 50-50 fight and if Alvarez is a fine opponent I don't see why Chilemba isn't, especially considering that he's tricky defensively and has never been stopped despite being in with tough opposition, which makes him good prep for Ward.

[pound per pound]

When Kovalev fights Ward, who will you be rooting for and why?

The winner of this fight has a ticket to the boxing hall of fame. Kovalev we know will stay active. Ward, we are not sure.

I just want to see this high-level fight without excuses. Both men are in their prime. For Ward to win, I think he needs to take away Kovalev's jab. If he can't he's going to lose.

[boxing_rocks]

There is nothing suspect about Wards chin at all!!!

He was hurt and dropped by Boone.

That's your pathetic effing reasoning? God help you troll, you need it

There are fighters like Ward and Wlad whose styles show that they are so afraid to be hit.

[SFW]

Where does Boone fit into that fantasy? The guy that gave Kovalev an extremely hard time their first fight.. And last time I checked the best fighter of this generation and highest paid athlete ever fought in a safety first style, overly defensive. He appeared "scared" of being hit on occasion, more so than Ward for sure. Nah Andre ain't scared of shit.

[scottearley123456]

If this fight actually happens then I'm first and foremost hoping for a good fight, I will be leaning towards Kovalev as I think exciting fighters like him are great to watch and great for the sport.

You saved me some typing

me three

[Bard of Boxrec]

Kenny Kost also had him in trouble.

[boxing_rocks]

Kenny Kost also had him in trouble.

Yep, definitely suspect chin.

[PredatorHayds]

Kenny Kost also had him in trouble.

Yep, definitely suspect chin.

Ali got put down by Cooper and Frazier. Does that make his chin suspect?
Calzaghe got put down by Jones and Hopkins. Is chin suspect?

Ward has fought top level fighters and I haven't once questioned his chin. Looks solid to me as that 0 in his losses column would prove

[crusader]

As far as durability goes, the fight with Kost is much more worrying than the fight with Boone (who despite his record is a good puncher with KD's of Ward, Kov, Adonis, and loads of prospects), although both were a while ago. It's true that Ward's fought good punchers and didn't seem hurt, but they hardly landed on him and I don't think any hit like Kovalev.

I believe that Ward's durability is probably a bit underrated, but I'm fairly confident that Kovalev won't have much trouble hurting him if he's landing cleanly. Can Kovalev do that against a defensive ace of Ward's caliber? That's the big question for me...

Kenny Kost also had him in trouble.

Yep, definitely suspect chin.

Ali got put down by Cooper and Frazier. Does that make his chin suspect?
Calzaghe got put down by Jones and Hopkins. Is chin suspect?

Ward has fought top level fighters and I haven't once questioned his chin. Looks solid to me as that 0 in his losses column would prove

Ali proved on many other occasions that he could absorb ample punishment from elite fighters without folding, something Ward hasn't done, and Kenny Kost isn't exactly a Cooper or Frazier level puncher. As for Joe, I'd actually say that his chin wasn't particularly good in that he wasn't too hard to put down or hurt if someone hit him cleanly, but his powers of recovery were exquisite and hence his weary spells never lasted long. A guy somewhat like this today is Hassan N'dam, who gets hurt very easily (more easily than JC) and will be all over the place one minute, only to be boxing like nothing happened the next. You could note that he's fought top punchers in Quillin and Lemieux, and despite going down 10 times between those bouts has never been stopped.

[boxing_rocks]

Kenny Kost also had him in trouble.

Yep, definitely suspect chin.

Ali got put down by Cooper and Frazier. Does that make his chin suspect?
Calzaghe got put down by Jones and Hopkins. Is chin suspect?

Ward has fought top level fighters and I haven't once questioned his chin. Looks solid to me as that 0 in his losses column would prove

Ali fought brave, sometimes too brave. Ward hits and immediately grabs. That is how he avoided good chin punches from his top opponents.

[Ian1973]

As far as durability goes, the fight with Kost is much more worrying than the fight with Boone (who despite his record is a good puncher with KD's of Ward, Kov, Adonis, and loads of prospects), although both were a while ago. It's true that Ward's fought good punchers and didn't seem hurt, but they hardly landed on him and I don't think any hit like Kovalev.

I believe that Ward's durability is probably a bit underrated, but I'm fairly confident that Kovalev won't have much trouble hurting him if he's landing cleanly. Can Kovalev do that against a defensive ace of Ward's caliber? That's the big question for me...

Yep, definitely suspect chin.

Ali got put down by Cooper and Frazier. Does that make his chin suspect?
Calzaghe got put down by Jones and Hopkins. Is chin suspect?

Ward has fought top level fighters and I haven't once questioned his chin. Looks solid to me as that 0 in his losses column would prove

Ali proved on many other occasions that he could absorb ample punishment from elite fighters without folding, something Ward hasn't done, and Kenny Kost isn't exactly a Cooper or Frazier level puncher. As for Joe, I'd actually say that his chin wasn't particularly good in that he wasn't too hard to put down or hurt if someone hit him cleanly, but his powers of recovery were exquisite and hence his weary spells never lasted long. A guy somewhat like this today is Hassan N'dam, who gets hurt very easily (more easily than JC) and will be all over the place one minute, only to be boxing like nothing happened the next. You could note that he's fought top punchers in Quillin and Lemieux, and despite going down 10 times between those bouts has never been stopped.

Calzaghe's powers of recovery were almost immediate. Quite extraordinary.

[Counter-puncher]

His chin wasn't that bad either, he walked into a few from Kessler that would have sparked the likes of Beyer.

[boxing_rocks]

Here comes the news proving Ward's bravery -- he fights Brand before Kovalev:

http://www.cbssports.com/boxing/news/re ... y-kovalev/?

[jewboypgh]

I love this fight and both fighters.
I could see it going either way cause Ward is so slick.
I think kovalev catches him with a right in the 5th that Andre can't rebound from.
I hope this is on PBC or ESPN and not that pay per view crap

[diddy]

I love this fight and both fighters.
I could see it going either way cause Ward is so slick.
I think kovalev catches him with a right in the 5th that Andre can't rebound from.
I hope this is on PBC or ESPN and not that pay per view crap

It will undoubtedly be a PPV.

[Butterbean]

calm down peeps, it aint happening.

[boxing_rocks]

calm down peeps, it aint happening.

[SenorPipino]

Is Jewboy dreaming?

This fight on ESPN or PBC?

Why not Saturday morning on your local station outlet, preempting cartoons for an hour?

Get real. It's set for November 19 at the new T-Mobile Arena in LV (despite what the usual assortment of naysayers are assuring us) and it will be on HBO PAY PER VIEW.

ESPN.....where do you guys come up with these things??

[SenorPipino]

I see the worried Kovalev Krew is pontificating that Andre Ward has a suspect or weak chin because he went to the canvas some years back.

Must be the same brain surgeons who assure us that Wilder has a china chin because he supposedly hit the mat eons ago during a match that no one can locate tape of.

Sorry guys but if you really do get knocked down but get up and win, that's hardly evidence of a bad chin.

If so then ATG JM Marquez must have the weakest jaw in the history of boxing. His knockdown count is well into double digits.

However, when you go out like a light numerous times like that chinny little Brit, Khan-job, well that my amigos is definitely a China Chin.

[Counter-puncher]

Is Jewboy dreaming?

This fight on ESPN or PBC?

Why not Saturday morning on your local station outlet, preempting cartoons for an hour?

Get real. It's set for November 19 at the new T-Mobile Arena in LV (despite what the usual assortment of naysayers are assuring us) and it will be on HBO PAY PER VIEW.

ESPN.....where do you guys come up with these things??

The dudes about 80YO, cut some slack there bro

[Counter-puncher]

However, when you go out like a light numerous times like that chinny little Brit, Khan-job, well that my amigos is definitely a China Chin.

Point of detail, khan was stopped on his feet for two of his three stoppage losses IIRC

[sykessta]

Well first I feel like I have to, WOW, great question..

[SenorPipino]

Is Jewboy dreaming?

This fight on ESPN or PBC?

Why not Saturday morning on your local station outlet, preempting cartoons for an hour?

Get real. It's set for November 19 at the new T-Mobile Arena in LV (despite what the usual assortment of naysayers are assuring us) and it will be on HBO PAY PER VIEW.

ESPN.....where do you guys come up with these things??

The dudes about 80YO, cut some slack there bro

Sorry Counter-puncher, but I'm about 80 years old, and I haven't slipped that badly.

[SenorPipino]

However, when you go out like a light numerous times like that chinny little Brit, Khan-job, well that my amigos is definitely a China Chin.

Point of detail, khan was stopped on his feet for two of his three stoppage losses IIRC

So are you saying that you're the one guy in the world who thinks Khan-job has a granite chin?

You wouldn't be closing in on 80 too, would you?