Kovalev vs Ward- How good is the matchup quality compared to the last few decades?

[Weltschmerz]

I'd have to agree with you there. Although I think if Kovalev got the W, depending on how convincing, it would still count as a great win and I would place him ahead of Ward from a history standpoint.

Would be the highlight of Kovalev's professional achievement, naturally.

Why do you say that? He's only 32 and younger than Kovalev.

He is, but Kovalev would be considered at his peak right now, while Ward's was probably some years ago, during the super six. As we know, fighters peak at different periods. Ward is a young veteran, though.

If by past prime you mean he's now fighting guys that he doesn't have a size and strength advantage over like his MW opponents years ago then sure.

No, I mean past prime, as in slightly past prime. Kovalev should be the obvious favorite, actually.

[BKM-]

Would be the highlight of Kovalev's professional achievement, naturally.



He is, but Kovalev would be considered at his peak right now, while Ward's was probably some years ago, during the super six. As we know, fighters peak at different periods. Ward is a young veteran, though.



No, I mean past prime, as in slightly past prime. Kovalev should be the obvious favorite, actually.

You have yet to base it on anything. I believe most boxing fans wont share this baseless sentiment and see this as a victory over prime Ward credited to Kovalev and make him undisputed #1 p4p.

[Weltschmerz]

You have yet to base it on anything. I believe most boxing fans wont share this baseless sentiment and see this as a victory over prime Ward credited to Kovalev and make him undisputed #1 p4p.

Maybe you are slightly misunderstanding. I'm not trying to discredit Kovalev for a win in advance. I'm just saying, if he'd met the Ward who beat Froch, I'd consider it an even greater victory.

[BKM-]

Maybe you are slightly misunderstanding. I'm not trying to discredit Kovalev for a win in advance. I'm just saying, if he'd met the Ward who beat Froch, I'd consider it an even greater victory.

Well it's still a discredit despite your intentions. "Kovalev beat Ward but Ward is past his prime". There should be no buts possible.

And btw the Ward who beat Froch was not yet used to this heavier weight and would be much worse off against Kovalev with that version.

[Weltschmerz]

Well it's still a discredit despite your intentions. "Kovalev beat Ward but Ward is past his prime". There should be no buts possible.

And btw the Ward who beat Froch was not yet used to this heavier weight and would be much worse off against Kovalev with that version.

No, it's not. Was pointing out a simple observation. If you disagree, it's fine, obviously.

[The Old LefHook]

Ward should be slightly past his best, given his activity level the last few years and historical precedent. That is essentially a retirement without the announcement. I would say he is unlikely to be quite as good as he was during the lighter super six tournament.

We can be almost sure he has slipped, but we do not know how much.

Kovalev is a question mark too. Everyone has been wondering how good he is. This fight could answer that question.

Can Ward impose his ugly style of shutting down the opposition. Like Hopkins, that is Ward's specialty--he makes it his fight instead of the opposition's. His fight is crowding and mauling the opposition and frustrating them at what they do best. I think the opposition he beat in the tournament is overrated to the last man. But he did shut them down and clearly beat them.

It is always easy and plain in retrospect. What are we missing, lads? Will the fact that Kovalev pounds with his punches make it easier or harder for Ward to defend against them? Landing big punches on Ward has proven difficult.

I would like Kovalev to win, but would probably lean toward Ward in a bet. That is what makes it a great matchup before the fight. Now, does this matchup generate a great fight? It always does when you have two guys who have a fighting style. In this matchup only Kovy has that fighting style, and it must be the mission of Ward to shut that style down and make an ugly, slogging fight of it.

[The Old LefHook]

This matchup is so great on paper because fans have been wondering for a while how good each man is. No one seemed able to give them a hot challenge for the money.

The intrigue of this fight lies mainly in the simple who can prevail of it. I do not expect a great fight to watch. I was always curious about Hopkins fights, but only in who could prevail, not in watching the fights themselves. Though I always watched them somewhere along the line, I was seldom curious enough to pay for them once he reached that status.

In my lifetime I have seen greater matchups. If the modern guys want to be taken as seriously as the boys of old, they had better fight each other when they are at their heights. Trinidad/Hoya and Leonard/Hearns were far greater.

[soul_survivor]

Not quite the quality of the great fights over the last decade, mainly because ward is an unknown atm. What I mean is, his level of opposition for 4+ years doesn't give us any indication of where he's at right now.

In terms of 2016, with no wlad v fury, it's the most relevant fight around.

[Ray Corso]

Solid fight with the two best currently at 175!

If Ward can impress Koval with some shots I expect Ward to stop him if not Koval will win a decs. I think Koval is open but you take the chance of falling into his power zone when you make your move. Thats boxing...taking chances!

Ray

[BattlingNelson]

I cannot remember any prime champion in history needing 3 tune-ups before challeging the champion in the above division.

I will also say that Ward for my Money, is overrated. I mean how can anyone be a top p4p'er when he hasn't fought a live opponent in 5 years? It must be because of past accomplishments and the perception that his then skill-set is still intact. To me it's a big questionmark.