Something that's being overlooked in the Kovalev/Ward fight.

Neither won round one "easily", half-wit. They were just feeling each other out. A feel out round can still be won you racist bastard.

I began my prediction with Ward winning a ud, but as I've studied each of their recent fights more I've began to waver. I think that my final prediction will be Kovalev mid round ko. I think that he eventually catches Ward on the end of one his punches and that the power will prove to be too much. I hope I'm wrong though.

honestly call me crazy but i dont rule out this fight looking too dissimilar to that. People will genuinely think im saying this stuff as a 'i hate ward' post but ive said it all along, this could be a demolition job. Maybe i'll be left with egg on my face and get it wrong, but i really think kovalev could just walk straight through him. Ward is way way more hittable than people think I don't think that's too far-fetched a theory. Ward is moving up in weight after inactivity and facing a larger prime opponent with crazy power. Ward's style also depends on physicality to a degree and I'm not sure it'll be as effective against larger opponents. I do hope that we see the best version of Ward, though. I just want a good fight,the last thing we need to see is Ward behaving like Hopkins after he feels Kovalev's power.

First round was fairly even as I recall. Lot of exploratory movent and jabbing from Sillakh, some body jabs from Kovalev I think... Let's drag it up. EDIT: yeah fairly even. Forgotten how well Sillakh moves - guys really light on his feet for the size, but that chin.... Notable however is about a minute inwhen Kovalev seems to be clipped with a hook or something whilst pursuing Sillakh and kinda stumbles a bit... I've mentioned before I think Ward has the timing to catch him on the move for flash knockdown - Sergei can cover ground fast, but as for most movers it's also a point of vulnerability. This is a great unbiased observation. I think Kovalev could potentially be caught off balance for a knockdown, if Caparello can catch him than Ward should be able to do so as well. I think the main factors of this fight will be can Ward take Kovalev's power and will his infighting be effective against a naturally larger man and how has the inactivity effected him overall. Since Ward seems to have all of the questions, I think Kovalev is the safe pick here.

First round was fairly even as I recall. Lot of exploratory movent and jabbing from Sillakh, some body jabs from Kovalev I think... Let's drag it up. EDIT: yeah fairly even. Forgotten how well Sillakh moves - guys really light on his feet for the size, but that chin.... Notable however is about a minute inwhen Kovalev seems to be clipped with a hook or something whilst pursuing Sillakh and kinda stumbles a bit... I've mentioned before I think Ward has the timing to catch him on the move for flash knockdown - Sergei can cover ground fast, but as for most movers it's also a point of vulnerability. Okay upon watching it again perhaps it wasn't easy but I still feel like the better work came from Silakh and yeah he caught Kovalev off balance using good movement to lure him in. Ward isn't as light on his feet though but I think he has enough in his legs to make those openings. You're right about Silakh though, he boxes beautifully but that my goodness that chin :( ....... just goes to show that you can have the skills and be well schooled but you still need those physical attributes to make it in this sport.

agreed. anybody who thinks kovalev is just a power puncher with no skill are morons. There are a lot of those morons.

No way, Silakh won the first round fairly easily.... Kovalev didn't touch him that round because if he had it would have probably been a first round KO, the first half decent connection seperated him from his senses. First round was fairly even as I recall. Lot of exploratory movent and jabbing from Sillakh, some body jabs from Kovalev I think... Let's drag it up. EDIT: yeah fairly even. Forgotten how well Sillakh moves - guys really light on his feet for the size, but that chin.... Notable however is about a minute inwhen Kovalev seems to be clipped with a hook or something whilst pursuing Sillakh and kinda stumbles a bit... I've mentioned before I think Ward has the timing to catch him on the move for flash knockdown - Sergei can cover ground fast, but as for most movers it's also a point of vulnerability.

Ward can win without power. Kovalev cannot. Just look how he squares himself up.... The way he drops his hands to his waist after he punches. The way he stands around after he fires like he's posing for the cover of overrated boxer magazine.:lol1: If Kov didn't have power he would be a slick boxer. People don't realize that guys who don't have power are forced to work on defense, that's why most feather fisted fighters who are good usually are very good defensive fighters. If Ward had Kov's punch he wouldn't be as good defensively. But you wouldn't know cuz YDKSAB! Kovalev is not just a puncher anyway. If he wanted to be boring he could box guys without getting touched.

Without power Kovalev is nothing. Yeah and without Trump's 3.7 billion dollars, he's not a billionaire.

In November of 2013, Kovalev, then a budding star squared off against former amateur rival Ismael Sillahk. What most may remember from that fight was a brutal second round ko, followed by an unusual celebration and post fight interview. Which shouldn't be glossed over,however is what took place during the first round. Sillahk, who for all of his shortcomings in the chin department, was thought to be the better technician of the two, was handily out jabbed and overall outboxed by the supposed"puncher" in the first stanza. I know it's a small sample size,but he followed that feat up with a complete wipe out of the aging great Hopkins, who old or not still has enough wit to cause anybody problems. Kovalev could potentially be a rare (Thomas )Hearns like fighter, who not only packs a potent punch, but also has next level technical prowess should he need it. I gave Sillakh the first round. Power changed the bout imo.

If you had read my post in its entirety, you would know that I placed very little value on the ko of Silahk. Don't expect him to read it all.

You may be right, but he will still lose to Andre Ward because Andre Ward is superior to Kovalev in every category, including punching power. What strikes me about the Hopkins fight is that Kovalev couldn't put Hopkins away, even though he knocked him down twice. You may attribute that to Hopkins great chin. However, I attribute it to the fact that Kovalev, like most punchers, can KO the B-level opponents but never seems to have enough power to KO the A-level opponents. There is no doubt in my mind that, if Hopkins had been five years younger, he would have beaten Kovalev. Kovalev would have given Bhop problems at anytime. He had never faced anyone remotely like him before. Ward has the speed advantage and is a better inside fighter,but to say that he has more power is Ludicrous. If Kovalev had went twelve with Ward's last opponent I guarantee that guy would be in a body bag right now.

You may be right, but he will still lose to Andre Ward because Andre Ward is superior to Kovalev in every category, including punching power. What strikes me about the Hopkins fight is that Kovalev couldn't put Hopkins away, even though he knocked him down twice. You may attribute that to Hopkins great chin. However, I attribute it to the fact that Kovalev, like most punchers, can KO the B-level opponents but never seems to have enough power to KO the A-level opponents. There is no doubt in my mind that, if Hopkins had been five years younger, he would have beaten Kovalev. :lol1: you've got to be the most :dunce: person on this forum. Everything you post is complete garbage.

In November of 2013, Kovalev, then a budding star squared off against former amateur rival Ismael Sillahk. What most may remember from that fight was a brutal second round ko, followed by an unusual celebration and post fight interview. Which shouldn't be glossed over,however is what took place during the first round. Sillahk, who for all of his shortcomings in the chin department, was thought to be the better technician of the two, was handily out jabbed and overall outboxed by the supposed"puncher" in the first stanza. I know it's a small sample size,but he followed that feat up with a complete wipe out of the aging great Hopkins, who old or not still has enough wit to cause anybody problems. Kovalev could potentially be a rare (Thomas )Hearns like fighter, who not only packs a potent punch, but also has next level technical prowess should he need it. You may be right, but he will still lose to Andre Ward because Andre Ward is superior to Kovalev in every category, including punching power. What strikes me about the Hopkins fight is that Kovalev couldn't put Hopkins away, even though he knocked him down twice. You may attribute that to Hopkins great chin. However, I attribute it to the fact that Kovalev, like most punchers, can KO the B-level opponents but never seems to have enough power to KO the A-level opponents. There is no doubt in my mind that, if Hopkins had been five years younger, he would have beaten Kovalev.

agreed. anybody who thinks kovalev is just a power puncher with no skill are morons. He can box and he hits hard thats a given , the thing is Kov is mechanical and that means he can be out maneuvered and timed , Kov is against a very efficient fluid counter puncher a master of position and that makes the fight very intriguing .

I can't wait to bump threads like this on the 19th.

That is so stupid. It's like saying, "Ward without speed is nothing" Or "Pacquiao without the speed and power is nothing" No...manny pacquiao without speed and power is bobby pacquiao.

If his ring IQ is so high he wouldn't drop his hands and leave himself squared up. What exactly do you mean by "leave himself squared up"...please elaborate. He gets a bit square when commits to right hands, as do a lot of fighters when they throw power shots in combination, but his stance is far from square.

Without power Kovalev is nothing. without 1 asset alot of fighters would be nothing

He can box very well and he is a great puncher with a left jab almost as hard as a straight right.That's why I pick him to beat Ward and knock him out. We will all see what Kovalev has got when he fights master boxer Ward in three weeks.