By Edward Chaykovsky
Trainer John Scully, who previously worked with former light heavyweight champion Chad Dawson and now works with undefeated contender Artur Beterbiev, will have both eyes fixated on next month's mega fight at 175-pounds.
WBA/WBO/IBF light heavyweight champion Sergey Kovalev (30-0, 26KOs) will defend his titles against Andre Ward (30-0, 15KOs) on November 19th at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. HBO Pay-Per-View will carry the fight.
Scully's fighter Beterbiev, who returns in late December, is on the verge of being mandatory challenger to the winner of that fight.
Unless Kovalev lands one of his feared power shots directly on Ward's chin, Scully expects Ward to outbox him for the win. Scully is a big fan of Kovalev, but feels that he only has a puncher's chance to beat the Olympic gold medal winner.
"All along I’ve thought about what a tough fight it’s going to be. I’m a big fan of Kovalev, I really like him, but thinking about it from a boxing standpoint and a scientific standpoint, I think the only way he can win is if he catches Andre with a big shot. Other than that, I would have to go with Andre. I think Andre is very smart, very intelligent and I just think that he’s going to find a solution to this big problem," Scully told On The Ropes Boxing Radio.
As far as ending, he only sees the contest going one way - Ward by twelve round decision. If Scully was a betting man, he wouldn't bet an early night for either fighter.
"Yes, I’m almost sure [it goes the twelve round distance]. I never bet but in Vegas if they have a line for the fight going twelve with Andre winning, I’d be willing to put some money on that," Scully said.
