BoxRec

Ward has shown practically zero vulnerability, so questioning his constitution seems more like a choice than anything based on evidence. He's met or exceeded every expectation in the ring, even with uninterested performances. Kovalev is going to get hit by a quicker guy, and more often than he ever has. The only question is will it slow Kov down, he's got a chin and mean streak that is remarkable. I think it'll be enough for Ward to win over 12.

Boxerbeetle wrote:I've always maintained Ward has the style and ability to beat Kovalev, and I'm sticking with it. Ward to win on points, possibly even a late stoppage as I feel Kovalev is quite fragile.

But I'll be rooting for Kovalev all the way, great fighter to watch

I can only see one man getting stopped and it isn't kovalev but like the man says above the odds are close for a reason here

diddy wrote: Ward is about to step in there with Kovalev and you're harping on his previous fights as if they're bums. Dude fought Froch and Kessler, the 2nd and 3rd best super middleweights of the last 10 years besides Calzaghe. Enough with the bias. If you want to root for Kovalev - fine but don't act like Ward has fought stiffs. And now Ward is fighting Kovalev yet Kovalev is the one who wants to fight the best? Did Ward not fight the best at 168? Is Kovalev not the best at 175?

Not in the last 5 years. Should I be giving him credit for fighting tough 5 years ago and ignore him sitting on his ass since then? His achievements have expired long time ago. I want to see him in action NOW. If you were not blinded with YOUR own bias you would agree with this. When and if he fights Kovalev he will get lot of credit, no doubt.

Tarkus wrote:

diddy wrote: Ward is about to step in there with Kovalev and you're harping on his previous fights as if they're bums. Dude fought Froch and Kessler, the 2nd and 3rd best super middleweights of the last 10 years besides Calzaghe. Enough with the bias. If you want to root for Kovalev - fine but don't act like Ward has fought stiffs. And now Ward is fighting Kovalev yet Kovalev is the one who wants to fight the best? Did Ward not fight the best at 168? Is Kovalev not the best at 175?

Not in the last 5 years. Should I be giving him credit for fighting tough 5 years ago and ignore him sitting on his ass since then? His achievements have expired long time ago. I want to see him in action NOW. If you were not blinded with YOUR own bias you would agree with this. When and if he fights Kovalev he will get lot of credit, no doubt.

My feelings exactly.

Andre Ward all day and all night.

He'll slap the meldonium out of this Russian fraud and hopefully Kovalev will then get the lifetime suspension he deserves.

I hope the fight ends in a draw and the overwhelming majority of fans/media agree with the decision.

I really like both boxers. I honestly I don't have a personal favorite, but if I was a betting man, I would bet Ward to win by decision, no doubt. Too smart, too slick, too hard to land big shots.

squiggy wrote:

Tarkus wrote:

diddy wrote: Ward is about to step in there with Kovalev and you're harping on his previous fights as if they're bums. Dude fought Froch and Kessler, the 2nd and 3rd best super middleweights of the last 10 years besides Calzaghe. Enough with the bias. If you want to root for Kovalev - fine but don't act like Ward has fought stiffs. And now Ward is fighting Kovalev yet Kovalev is the one who wants to fight the best? Did Ward not fight the best at 168? Is Kovalev not the best at 175?

Not in the last 5 years. Should I be giving him credit for fighting tough 5 years ago and ignore him sitting on his ass since then? His achievements have expired long time ago. I want to see him in action NOW. If you were not blinded with YOUR own bias you would agree with this. When and if he fights Kovalev he will get lot of credit, no doubt.

WHO was Ward supposed to have fought at 168 during that time that would've even remotely got people's attention? After beating Froch and Kessler? Who? Badou Jack? Who? DeGale? Yeah I'm surrrre people would've been super impressed by those sure victories.

Tarkus wrote:

diddy wrote: Ward is about to step in there with Kovalev and you're harping on his previous fights as if they're bums. Dude fought Froch and Kessler, the 2nd and 3rd best super middleweights of the last 10 years besides Calzaghe. Enough with the bias. If you want to root for Kovalev - fine but don't act like Ward has fought stiffs. And now Ward is fighting Kovalev yet Kovalev is the one who wants to fight the best? Did Ward not fight the best at 168? Is Kovalev not the best at 175?

Not in the last 5 years. Should I be giving him credit for fighting tough 5 years ago and ignore him sitting on his ass since then? His achievements have expired long time ago. I want to see him in action NOW. If you were not blinded with YOUR own bias you would agree with this. When and if he fights Kovalev he will get lot of credit, no doubt.

What bias do I have ? I love both these fighters. I know greatness when I see it. They're both great.

diddy wrote:

squiggy wrote:

Tarkus wrote: Not in the last 5 years. Should I be giving him credit for fighting tough 5 years ago and ignore him sitting on his ass since then? His achievements have expired long time ago. I want to see him in action NOW. If you were not blinded with YOUR own bias you would agree with this. When and if he fights Kovalev he will get lot of credit, no doubt.

WHO was Ward supposed to have fought at 168 during that time that would've even remotely got people's attention? After beating Froch and Kessler? Who? Badou Jack? Who? DeGale? Yeah I'm surrrre people would've been super impressed by those sure victories.

You are referring to the thirty-three months he utilized to fight Edwin Rodriguez and nobody else?

squiggy wrote:

diddy wrote:

squiggy wrote:

WHO was Ward supposed to have fought at 168 during that time that would've even remotely got people's attention? After beating Froch and Kessler? Who? Badou Jack? Who? DeGale? Yeah I'm surrrre people would've been super impressed by those sure victories.

You are referring to the thirty-three months he utilized to fight Edwin Rodriguez and nobody else?

The 168 lb division STINKS. None of those guys are even a remote threat to him. You're acting like he ducked Jesus. He went to 175 to swim in a division of killers and you're bemoaning him not fighting BADOU JACK?!

Ricky_ wrote:Kov by KO 9 times out 10.

... and the 10th time by Ward's knee swelling. Actually, I think that probability of that knee swelling in October-November is at least 50%.

Ward will survive some rocky moments to win a very entertaining close but un dec.

The guys who think Ward will win - do you think he will get it done with single shots, or do you think he'll suddenly turn into some marauding volume guy while remaining elusive, who can not only evade everything Kovalev throws at him, but outland him too?

Or do you think fights are won on tying guys up on the inside and plowing them into the ropes?

Fact is, if Ward wants to win this fight he actually has to outland Kovalev. which seems ridiculous to me. True, Ward can and probably will lower Sergey's output as he is a master at that. But Kovalev won't change his stripes, he's a volume guy and comes forward. This means the adjustment Ward has to make is to not only lower the output but discourage Kovalev's pressure so he has a shot at landing punches and moving away/tying up. But he needs power for that. He doesn't have any.

Just trying to get to the bottom of the mystique of the Ward path to victory. Interested in some development on 'Too Smart Too Slick'

Riddick Blowe wrote:The guys who think Ward will win - do you think he will get it done with single shots, or do you think he'll suddenly turn into some marauding volume guy while remaining elusive, who can not only evade everything Kovalev throws at him, but outland him too?

Or do you think fights are won on tying guys up on the inside and plowing them into the ropes?

Fact is, if Ward wants to win this fight he actually has to outland Kovalev. which seems ridiculous to me. True, Ward can and probably will lower Sergey's output as he is a master at that. But Kovalev won't change his stripes, he's a volume guy and comes forward. This means the adjustment Ward has to make is to not only lower the output but discourage Kovalev's pressure so he has a shot at landing punches and moving away/tying up. But he needs power for that. He doesn't have any.

Just trying to get to the bottom of the mystique of the Ward path to victory. Interested in some development on 'Too Smart Too Slick'

I think Ward if he wins will have to come out of his comfort zone, and he'll have to take some chances by opening up. I believe he's tough enough to find a way to do that - just.

I think it's an even fight. Who knows who will win.

Ward knows Kovalev has a great jab that sets everything up. Andre is going to take that punch away by controlling the distance, not getting hit flush by it, and nailing Kov while Sergei is coming in. Inside fighting is not Kovalev's strongest point either, he likes the distance to punch. Andre will have success there too. Of course Kov can change that with one punch at anytime, it's a fascinating fight.

SFW wrote:Ward knows Kovalev has a great jab that sets everything up. Andre is going to take that punch away by controlling the distance, not getting hit flush by it, and nailing Kov while Sergei is coming in. Inside fighting is not Kovalev's strongest point either, he likes the distance to punch. Andre will have success there too. Of course Kov can change that with one punch at anytime, it's a fascinating fight.

That's it - it's the most high profile bout in some time, and on paper at least, a much better fight than Mayweather v Pacman, which was 5 years too late. These guys are both in their fighting primes and have very different styles. Really looking forward to this one.

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?

SFW wrote:Ward knows Kovalev has a great jab that sets everything up. Andre is going to take that punch away by controlling the distance, not getting hit flush by it, and nailing Kov while Sergei is coming in. Inside fighting is not Kovalev's strongest point either, he likes the distance to punch. Andre will have success there too. Of course Kov can change that with one punch at anytime, it's a fascinating fight.

Yep, that's about how I see it.

Badhusker wrote: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?

Except Hopkins has a great chin while Ward's chin is a big suspect. Also, the only thing Bernard was trying to do is to survive 12 rounds barely throwing anything back. If Ward comes to win, he would have to expose himself more than Hopkins.

boxing_rocks wrote:

Badhusker wrote: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?

Except Hopkins has a great chin while Ward's chin is a big suspect. Also, the only thing Bernard was trying to do is to survive 12 rounds barely throwing anything back. If Ward comes to win, he would have to expose himself more than Hopkins.

Ward's chin has never truly been suspect, that is another myth repeated ad nauseam. He's been cracked by Abraham, Froch, Kessler, they all hit him solid he never went down or wavered. More bullshit, time to stop selling it.

Hopkins HAD a great chin, it had been slipping for a some time before Kovalev got to him. That's what happens when you reach old age lol.

No worries here bud, Andre is gonna be just fine.

boxing_rocks wrote:

Badhusker wrote: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?

Except Hopkins has a great chin while Ward's chin is a big suspect. Also, the only thing Bernard was trying to do is to survive 12 rounds barely throwing anything back. If Ward comes to win, he would have to expose himself more than Hopkins.

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

PredatorHayds wrote:

boxing_rocks wrote:

Badhusker wrote: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?

Except Hopkins has a great chin while Ward's chin is a big suspect. Also, the only thing Bernard was trying to do is to survive 12 rounds barely throwing anything back. If Ward comes to win, he would have to expose himself more than Hopkins.

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

He was hurt and dropped by Boone.

SFW wrote:
No worries here bud, Andre is gonna be just fine.

Keep saying that, maybe it will help The only way for Andre is to be just fine is to duck Kova.

boxing_rocks wrote:

PredatorHayds wrote:

boxing_rocks wrote:
Except Hopkins has a great chin while Ward's chin is a big suspect. Also, the only thing Bernard was trying to do is to survive 12 rounds barely throwing anything back. If Ward comes to win, he would have to expose himself more than Hopkins.

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

He was hurt and dropped by Boone.

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