By Radio Rahim
Los Angeles, California - John David Jackson, trainer of WBA/WBO/IBF light heavyweight champion Sergey Kovalev (30-0, 26KOs), believes there are big questions marks regarding the chin durability of Olympic gold medal winner Andre Ward (30-0, 15KOs).
Kovalev and Ward are anticipated to fight each other on November 19th, potentially at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. HBO Pay-Per-View will carry the contest.
Right now the two promoters, Roc Nation Sports and Main Events, are working out the details with finalizing the venue.
Kovalev is regarded as one of the biggest punchers in the sport. Ward dominated the super middleweight division for years and now moves up to 175-pounds to pursue his goal of becoming a unified champion in a second weight division.
Jackson was not impressed with Ward's ability to take a shot at 168. He wonders what will happen when Ward applies his craft of fighting on the inside and has to take some shots from Kovalev. Ward is not a puncher with only a 50% knockout ratio on his ledger.
Jackson wasn't surprised that Ward hit Alexander Brand with everything this past Saturday night and couldn't secure a knockout or get Brand in serious trouble.
"I knew the power wasn't there. The power wasn't there at 168, because he wasn't a knockout puncher at 168. And to add fuel to the fire, his chin wasn't the best at 168. [Darnell] Boone rocked him, some other kid dropped him and had him hurt. When Sergey hits him flush, do you think he's going to stand up? We'll see," Jackson told BoxingScene.com.
"I would love for him to prove me wrong, put his chin out there - but he's not going to do that. He's not a fool, but he's a very good fighter and it would stupid to underestimate him."
"Andre's inside game is not as good as people think.... a lot of grabbing and holding. And to be on the inside you have to be able to take some shots. Sergey is going to lay some leather on him and we'll see if he wants to take it and if he wants to give it back."
Jackson is predicting a knockout victory "in the eleventh."