Andre Ward vs Alexander Brand

[samwbr]

Kovalev won't be able to work Ward out.

[gilgamesh]

The fact that Ward couldn't even impress against one of the most massive underdogs I've ever heard of doesn't bode well for his chances against Kovalev.

[gilgamesh]

Kovalev won't be able to work Ward out.

Kovalev is a better boxer than anybody gives him credit for. He cuts the ring off on movers. He's physically stronger than Ward so Ward won't be able to bully him on the inside the way he has other opponents. It's not out of the question that Kovalev could just outbox Ward even though people seem to think it is.

I don't think he beats Ward without hurting him with something, but I do think he'll hurt him.

[samwbr]

Kovalev won't be able to work Ward out.

Kovalev is a better boxer than anybody gives him credit for. He cuts the ring off on movers. He's physically stronger than Ward so Ward won't be able to bully him on the inside the way he has other opponents. It's not out of the question that Kovalev could just outbox Ward even though people seem to think it is.

I don't think he beats Ward without hurting him with something, but I do think he'll hurt him.

Lots give Kovalev due credit as a boxer particularly since the Hopkins fight but Andre Ward is a different level of skill to anyone Kovalev has fought. He is immensely strong on the inside if required.
It could well be a stinker but Ward will out point him IMO.

[gilgamesh]

Kovalev won't be able to work Ward out.

Kovalev is a better boxer than anybody gives him credit for. He cuts the ring off on movers. He's physically stronger than Ward so Ward won't be able to bully him on the inside the way he has other opponents. It's not out of the question that Kovalev could just outbox Ward even though people seem to think it is.

I don't think he beats Ward without hurting him with something, but I do think he'll hurt him.

Lots give Kovalev due credit as a boxer particularly since the Hopkins fight but Andre Ward is a different level of skill to anyone Kovalev has fought. He is immensely strong on the inside if required.
It could well be a stinker but Ward will out point him IMO.

If Ward has his way it'll definitely be a dull fight.

[Oiky]

brand said he had "no power" and kovalev said he noticed.

yeah if its down to ward it will be a really dull fight, but i've got a feeling kovalev is going to win

he wasn't himself last time out, it will be completely different against ward

[crusader]

On a P4P level Ward doesn't even have Mayweather's power, although I don't think he'll need to hurt Krusher to beat him.

[Ezzard]

The commentators never mentioned or made any comment on any of the times Ward got hit. Terrible, terrible commentary work.

Ward seem like a good guy out of the ring. In the ropes his style is not so great. But I expect him to beat Kov.

[saad muhammad]

If brand said ward had no power why was he trying to survive all night ?

[TheCobra]

Ward = zzzzzzzzzzzz

[Terminator666]

Imagine if Ward and Rigondeaux were in the same weight class

[Supremo]

I want Kovalev to win but u fear he he will veto chasing shadows all night and Ward will win a stinker on points.

[jamesmcdonnell]

Kovalev won't be able to work Ward out.

Kovalev is a better boxer than anybody gives him credit for. He cuts the ring off on movers. He's physically stronger than Ward so Ward won't be able to bully him on the inside the way he has other opponents. It's not out of the question that Kovalev could just outbox Ward even though people seem to think it is.

I don't think he beats Ward without hurting him with something, but I do think he'll hurt him.

Ward is very adept on the inside. He has a wrestling pedigree on his youth.

[Terminator666]

I want Kovalev to win but u fear he he will veto chasing shadows all night and Ward will win a stinker on points.

I think so too, if the fight happens

[gilgamesh]

Kovalev won't be able to work Ward out.

Kovalev is a better boxer than anybody gives him credit for. He cuts the ring off on movers. He's physically stronger than Ward so Ward won't be able to bully him on the inside the way he has other opponents. It's not out of the question that Kovalev could just outbox Ward even though people seem to think it is.

I don't think he beats Ward without hurting him with something, but I do think he'll hurt him.

Ward is very adept on the inside. He has a wrestling pedigree on his youth.

I know he's very adept on the inside, but Kovalev is the best fighter he'll have ever fought.

[samwbr]

Kovalev is a better boxer than anybody gives him credit for. He cuts the ring off on movers. He's physically stronger than Ward so Ward won't be able to bully him on the inside the way he has other opponents. It's not out of the question that Kovalev could just outbox Ward even though people seem to think it is.

I don't think he beats Ward without hurting him with something, but I do think he'll hurt him.

Ward is very adept on the inside. He has a wrestling pedigree on his youth.

I know he's very adept on the inside, but Kovalev is the best fighter he'll have ever fought.

Same for both men. Hopkins was 50 and he couldn't get him out of there, a prime Ward is a level ahead of any one Kovalev has faced.

[Autobarn]

Hoping Kovalev can do it. Kovalev will definitely have to hurt him. He does have heavy hands, underrated accuracy and a good repertoire. He does appear on the way to becoming a complete fighter. But these Russians can drop the ball in big fights, not pulling the trigger fast enough and not showing enough urgency against the quicker, smaller opponents (thinking Roman Karmazin v Cory Spinks, etc). I've liked Kovalev a lot, his disciplined boxing vs Hopkins and his reckless and exciting brawling in the first with Pascal. His pummelings of Cleverly and Campillo. Would be nice if he can get the defining win versus Ward.

Ward as we know is capable of making fights ugly in order to win. Sometimes I feel his holding is pointless and excessive. I don't rate him on the inside as he seems to work too close in and isn't really getting leverage on his shots nor is he always hitting with the knuckle part. Really he's disrupting and mauling the other guy. I'd like to see how he fared if he had a referee on his case for the spoiling tactics. But he is athletic and does what it takes to win. Not sure his style would really be tolerated if he wasn't a US Olympian. If not it probably would've taken him as long as Hopkins to get recognition.

[Boxerbeetle]

Imagine if Ward and Rigondeaux were in the same weight class

'One for the purists'

[BrackaBarclay]

If you rewatch Froch-Ward, many years ago, Froch had him tired and struggling in last couple of rounds. Kovalev may stop the inactive overrated one late. Regardless the odds on this fight are not worth betting on

[gilgamesh]

Ward is very adept on the inside. He has a wrestling pedigree on his youth.

I know he's very adept on the inside, but Kovalev is the best fighter he'll have ever fought.

Same for both men. Hopkins was 50 and he couldn't get him out of there, a prime Ward is a level ahead of any one Kovalev has faced.

No doubt Ward is the best that Kovalev has faced also. Kovalev not being able to get Hopkins out of there is no big deal, Hopkins is as tough and crafty as they come.

[Boxerbeetle]

I know he's very adept on the inside, but Kovalev is the best fighter he'll have ever fought.

Same for both men. Hopkins was 50 and he couldn't get him out of there, a prime Ward is a level ahead of any one Kovalev has faced.

No doubt Ward is the best that Kovalev has faced also. Kovalev not being able to get Hopkins out of there is no big deal, Hopkins is as tough and crafty as they come.

I would also argue that Kovalev probably could have got Hopkins out of there if he had pushed for it - he didn't really press for a stoppage until the final round and had Hopkins staggering all over the place.

[gilgamesh]

Same for both men. Hopkins was 50 and he couldn't get him out of there, a prime Ward is a level ahead of any one Kovalev has faced.

No doubt Ward is the best that Kovalev has faced also. Kovalev not being able to get Hopkins out of there is no big deal, Hopkins is as tough and crafty as they come.

I would also argue that Kovalev probably could have got Hopkins out of there if he had pushed for it - he didn't really press for a stoppage until the final round and had Hopkins staggering all over the place.

Yeah if he'd have fought 4 or 5 rounds that way Hopkins likely would've had to retired on his stool if nothing else

[samwbr]

No doubt Ward is the best that Kovalev has faced also. Kovalev not being able to get Hopkins out of there is no big deal, Hopkins is as tough and crafty as they come.

I would also argue that Kovalev probably could have got Hopkins out of there if he had pushed for it - he didn't really press for a stoppage until the final round and had Hopkins staggering all over the place.

Yeah if he'd have fought 4 or 5 rounds that way Hopkins likely would've had to retired on his stool if nothing else

Kovalev was blowing out of his arse v Chilemba quite early. He's in for a very hard night v Ward mentally and physically.

[gilgamesh]

I would also argue that Kovalev probably could have got Hopkins out of there if he had pushed for it - he didn't really press for a stoppage until the final round and had Hopkins staggering all over the place.

Yeah if he'd have fought 4 or 5 rounds that way Hopkins likely would've had to retired on his stool if nothing else

Kovalev was blowing out of his arse v Chilemba quite early. He's in for a very hard night v Ward mentally and physically.

Kovalev never looked tired against Chilemba to me. He looked annoyed early as he was having some difficulty hitting Chilemba as clean as he'd have liked, but he didn't look tired to me.

Chilemba is better than anyone Ward has beaten in the last 3 years

[jamesmcdonnell]

Yeah if he'd have fought 4 or 5 rounds that way Hopkins likely would've had to retired on his stool if nothing else

Kovalev was blowing out of his arse v Chilemba quite early. He's in for a very hard night v Ward mentally and physically.

Kovalev never looked tired against Chilemba to me. He looked annoyed early as he was having some difficulty hitting Chilemba as clean as he'd have liked, but he didn't look tired to me.

Chilemba is better than anyone Ward has beaten in the last 3 years

He looked more frustrated than anything.