Sergey Kovalev vs. Andre Ward

[boxing_rocks]

Steve Kim ‏@steveucnlive 1h1 hour ago
Hopkins when asked about Ward-Kovalev says he would consider a Ward victory an 'upset' based on recent activity, injuries, etc #boxing

[lazboy]

Why would anyone root for a boring boxer like Andre Ward who feels he needs to resort to illegal tactics to win?

Kovalev is much better for the sport.

He has never needed or acted like he needed them to win, that's the dumbest damn thing said yet. 20 years of fighting at the top level you want to create the idea all those hundreds of wins came from illegal tactics, that's pathetic. You have got to face the fact Kessler got bent over and serviced every minute of their fight, it happened. He was outfought every step of the way... I like how bika gets shown as an example against Ward when bika is 10x more dirty in every fight he's in, lil hypocritical don't you think?

Even if he was the cleanest boxer, he is still one of the most boring ones. Wards and Rigos are killing the sport.[/quote

Don't forget erislandy Lara. I've seen two of his fights and they were horrid.

[SFW]

Lara is as exciting as taking a nap, never the best even at his own weight, yet doesn't get half the shit Ward does despite being even more dirty. Thumbing, low blows, stalling and flat out running at times, butting, spoiling fights as hard as possible. All done by Lara. Yet the fluffers are only obsessed with Ward, funny but sad. Basically all this hypocrisy is an admission that Andre is a threat, it bothers them because it's true, and the Kovalev bandwagon confidence is waning.

And the New.

[lefty]

I've never understood the clamouring for Golovkin-Lara- every time I envisage that matchup I can't help but think of Lara-Angulo.

[boxing_rocks]

Lara is as exciting as taking a nap, never the best even at his own weight, yet doesn't get half the poo Ward does despite being even more dirty. Thumbing, low blows, stalling and flat out running at times, butting, spoiling fights as hard as possible. All done by Lara. Yet the fluffers are only obsessed with Ward, funny but sad. Basically all this hypocrisy is an admission that Andre is a threat, it bothers them because it's true, and the Kovalev bandwagon confidence is waning.

And the New.

BHop must be on Kovalev's bandwagon, and he still thinks that Ward winning would be an upset.

And still ...

[crusader]

I've never understood the clamouring for Golovkin-Lara- every time I envisage that matchup I can't help but think of Lara-Angulo.

Lara would be scared to let his hands go and would just run around before getting stopped. I've never got the fascination some people have for that either; I think part of it is that some people can cry about GGG ducking, knowing full well that Lara is with Haymon and that the fight would be hard to make.

[SFW]

I've never understood the clamouring for Golovkin-Lara- every time I envisage that matchup I can't help but think of Lara-Angulo.

Lara would be scared to let his hands go and would just run around before getting stopped. I've never got the fascination some people have for that either; I think part of it is that some people can cry about GGG ducking, nowing full well that Lara is with Haymon and that the fight would be hard to make.

Exactly, convenience.

I think Hopkins pick is based on the inactivity factor not the ability. He also fought the guy and got dominated so ego may have an influence there too. He must expect Kovalev to get the KO then.

[Freedom2013]

https://twitter.com/Main_Events/status/ ... 4837622788

In the video, Andre Ward says "I was sandwiched in between a heroin addict and a crack head, I shouldn't be here"

But heroin addict or not, at least Ward's father had money and took him to the boxing gym very often, while Kovalev grew up poor in a rough neighborhood and had less opportunity.

[Freedom2013]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tj2APyi ... youtu.be&a

[lefty]

https://twitter.com/Main_Events/status/ ... 4837622788

In the video, Andre Ward says "I was sandwiched in between a heroin addict and a crack head, I shouldn't be here"

But heroin addict or not, at least Ward's father had money and took him to the boxing gym very often, while Kovalev grew up poor in a rough neighborhood and had less opportunity.

I Watched that- Both stories Were Touching. The town Kovalev is from is an absolute shit hole from the look of it but I think it's unfair to say atleast Ward's father had money. Based on the show- they lost the home they lived in and Ward and his brother ended up living with Virgil Hunter for a large portion of his teens. Neither guy had it easy.

[boxing_rocks]

https://twitter.com/Main_Events/status/ ... 4837622788

In the video, Andre Ward says "I was sandwiched in between a heroin addict and a crack head, I shouldn't be here"

But heroin addict or not, at least Ward's father had money and took him to the boxing gym very often, while Kovalev grew up poor in a rough neighborhood and had less opportunity.

I Watched that- Both stories Were Touching. The town Kovalev is from is an absolute poo hole from the look of it but I think it's unfair to say atleast Ward's father had money. Based on the show- they lost the home they lived in and Ward and his brother ended up living with Virgil Hunter for a large portion of his teens. Neither guy had it easy.

Yep, that's what made them both tough.

[Evander]

Kovalev has had it rough nice to see he'll get a good payday.
Pretty funny when he's going around the house and says .., Here lived err 1 old woman

[Enlightened-One]

I've just watch an hour old video from the ESNEWS YouTube channel that (apparently) seems to show Andre Wards' new muscular and stocky physique that he has worked on specifically for the Kovalev fight... and I must admit, he is looking pretty huge, but recent experience (i.e. Khan and Brook) has educated us on the fact that short-term artificial weight-gain rarely improves punching power and punch resisted when faced against a naturally bigger man.

[lefty]

I think an important thing to take away from this fight aswell is that no matter who wins or who loses; it's not the end of the world. They're both elite fighters and deserve props for making the fight we want to see. Best of luck to both of them

[crusader]

I just hope that people don't go crying fraud at the loser. That's the type of shitt that makes guys weary of taking risks...

[lefty]

I just hope that people don't go crying fraud at the loser. That's the type of shitt that makes guys weary of taking risks...

I totally agree. Both men are pretty damn proven. Ward more so at super middleweight but has looked his usual dominant (although light punching self) and Kovalev has proved himself repeatedly at 175 in dominant fashion. Okay, he looked a little shaky against Chilemba but I think that was because he underestimated Chilemba's survival abilities as much as anything. Against Ward he knows how good he is and how defensively intelligent he is. There's no real surprises coming so to speak.

I expect it to be a relatively close affair either way. I think that even if Ward is comprehensively outboxing Kovalev at times; he's going to get tagged with some big shots and maybe even dropped and the fight is going to swing one way to the other. If either guy completely dominates the other- I'll be extremely impressed.

[Freedom2013]

I've just watch an hour old video from the ESNEWS YouTube channel that (apparently) seems to show Andre Wards' new muscular and stocky physique that he has worked on specifically for the Kovalev fight... and I must admit, he is looking pretty huge, but recent experience (i.e. Khan and Brook) has educated us on the fact that short-term artificial weight-gain rarely improves punching power and punch resisted when faced against a naturally bigger man.

Kovalev and Ward are the same size, if either is slightly naturally bigger (thicker) it is Ward, he likely has to cut a bit more weight to make 175.

Kovalev fought mostly at middleweight (164) in the amateurs, while Ward was a light heavyweight (178).

Ward moved up because he can't make 168, he says he has trouble making 175 now.

[lefty]

I've just watch an hour old video from the ESNEWS YouTube channel that (apparently) seems to show Andre Wards' new muscular and stocky physique that he has worked on specifically for the Kovalev fight... and I must admit, he is looking pretty huge, but recent experience (i.e. Khan and Brook) has educated us on the fact that short-term artificial weight-gain rarely improves punching power and punch resisted when faced against a naturally bigger man.

Kovalev and Ward are the same size, if either is slightly naturally bigger (thicker) it is Ward, he likely has to cut a bit more weight to make 175.

Kovalev fought mostly at middleweight (164) in the amateurs, while Ward was a light heavyweight (178).

Ward moved up because he can't make 168, he says he has trouble making 175 now.

Sorry but I don't buy that. Ward weighed 171 1/2 when he fought Paul Smith. I doubt he's truly struggling to make 175.

[lefty]

Kovalev said he walks around at 190 and that was in 2014. I imagine he walks around a little heavier now as he's a little older.

That simply leaves the light heavyweight division.
“For super middleweight, it’s not possible. It’s already more than I am able to lose,” Kovalev dismisses. “Cruiserweight is a very big weight. I walk around at 190. The cruiserweight limit is 200 lb. I’ll be fighting against fighters much bigger than me.
“For 4-5 rounds it’s OK. For 12 rounds, it’s much harder. They can push me around. I have made decision that I am light heavyweight.”

http://www.BS.com/sergey-koval ... tle--84256

[lefty]

Kovalev was also fighting at light heavyweight in the amateurs from 2007. Ward only fought at light heavyweight initially to make way for somebody else on the US national team. That isn't something that was only recently claimed either. Him and people around him were talking about this years ago.

[Freedom2013]

Sorry but I don't buy that. Ward weighed 171 1/2 when he fought Paul Smith. I doubt he's truly struggling to make 175.

That was nearly two years ago. The catch-weight for the fight was 172.

He says he has trouble making 175: http://www.BS.com/andre-ward-r ... ke--107486

[BAD INTENTIONS]

ward decision, kovalov way overated

I'm in the weird position of thinking Kovalev was p4p #1 before anyone,
but also thinking he is overrated.

I think he is currently the top guy in boxing, resume + results,
but he isn't unbeatable as many of his fans would have you believe.

[boxing_rocks]

ward decision, kovalov way overated

I'm in the weird position of thinking Kovalev was p4p #1 before anyone,
but also thinking he is overrated.

I think he is currently the top guy in boxing, resume + results,
but he isn't unbeatable as many of his fans would have you believe.

Kovalev is definitely beatable but not by faded slowed down Ward.

[victor-romeo]

ward decision, kovalov way overated

I'm in the weird position of thinking Kovalev was p4p #1 before anyone,
but also thinking he is overrated.

I think he is currently the top guy in boxing, resume + results,
but he isn't unbeatable as many of his fans would have you believe.

I think Kovalev is near the edge of burning out at age 33 mixed with the pace of fights he has fought and emotional baggage of killing the guy in the ring but I think he has enough left to beat Ward, Only way Ward wins this is with cuts from headbutts, other than that. I think Kovalev takes this.

[Evander]

Only way Ward wins this is with cuts from headbutts

Just a hint of sarcasm or is that me ?