Comments Thread For: Stevenson: Ward needs 2-3 more to have 50-50 chance vs. Kovalev

[MisanthropicNY]

Andre CoWard said he needed 2-3 more fights 2 years, and 2 fights ago, but the funny thing is I'm sure CoWard agrees with Chickenson...

CoWard will take as many tune-ups on HBO's dime as he can before he gets dominated by Kova...

[Nightfall]

Nothing will prepare wards chin to that kovalev power.

Kovalev vs ward is an easy style matchup for kovalev. The straight punches are gonna eat ward up

none of kovalevs fights will prepare him for Ward.ward is to skilled and smart. kovalev is getting taken to school. guaranteed

[aboutfkntime]

Nothing will prepare wards chin to that kovalev power.

Kovalev vs ward is an easy style matchup for kovalev. The straight punches are gonna eat ward up

Oh, right..... straight-punching will bedazzle Ward.

The guy hasn't been beaten since he was a kid LMAO

I really think that Kovalev will need much more than that bro.

Kovalev will not hit Ward with his best punch, so I hope that he has a much better Plan-B than Barrera had.

[aboutfkntime]

Andre CoWard said he needed 2-3 more fights 2 years, and 2 fights ago, but the funny thing is I'm sure CoWard agrees with Chickenson...

CoWard will take as many tune-ups on HBO's dime as he can before he gets dominated by Kova...

What turned you into a spiteful little troll ?

Let me guess, a Froch fan, right ?

Or was it Kessler ?

Come on, tell us..... which one of your hero's got spanked ?

Oh right..... Ward punked lil'G, and yanked his skirt down for the whole world to see LMAO

I get it !

[Bandman]

only category kovalev has an edge is power..everything else ward is superior by a mile..so all kovalev will bank on is a knockout blow..and a guy like ward is more than capable of pitching a shut out. .ward has many layers to his game, he can fight dirty and mean (bika, green) he can pot shot a guy to death (abraham, smith) the guy can switch it up on the fly..he will outclass kovalev, his strength is underrated because he looks small but he will push kovalev back and stay in his chest, that takes kovalev power away he won't be able to wind up the punch.. cant wait for it, ward is takin a risk to be top dog.

[THC]

The edge is Ward based on experience and skill. Not power. I think Mayweather proved that throughout his career that skill wins. Mayweather could've lost or been knocked out by plenty of his opponents, but making adjustments aka "boxing iq" (not power) is what truly gets the W.

While I agree that superior boxing IQ goes far against a puncher, I think people are sleeping on Kovalev's ring IQ. He totally outboxed Bernard in a chess match bettered suited for the old man. I see the Krusher also being smart against Ward, with measured pressure, all behind that stiff, long jab.

[aboutfkntime]

only category kovalev has an edge is power..everything else ward is superior by a mile..so all kovalev will bank on is a knockout blow..and a guy like ward is more than capable of pitching a shut out. .ward has many layers to his game, he can fight dirty and mean (bika, green) he can pot shot a guy to death (abraham, smith) the guy can switch it up on the fly..he will outclass kovalev, his strength is underrated because he looks small but he will push kovalev back and stay in his chest, that takes kovalev power away he won't be able to wind up the punch.. cant wait for it, ward is takin a risk to be top dog.

Yep. They will know, but they still gotta deal with it.

And like you said, Ward can switch it up.

Ward didn't rack up his amateur record in Oakland..... he has been the best ever since he was real young, so he has been fighting the best...... all the way up through the grades/trials/olympics/pro's.

It will take a lot more than straight-punching to beat Ward.

I am in the camp that would like him to have 2 more fights before Kovalev, he will need to be sharp with everything right on point for that fight...... but he knows what hes doing.

[aboutfkntime]

While I agree that superior boxing IQ goes far against a puncher, I think people are sleeping on Kovalev's ring IQ. He totally outboxed Bernard in a chess match bettered suited for the old man. I see the Krusher also being smart against Ward, with measured pressure, all behind that stiff, long jab.

I agree, that will be the plan.

But that is all they really did against Hopkins..... keep him on the outside, step back when he opens up or counters.....

But I can see problems with that, and the Hopkins fight will get a lot of airtime in the Ward lab.

There is a reason why Hopkins would not fight Ward.

[HAY-B]

While I agree that superior boxing IQ goes far against a puncher, I think people are sleeping on Kovalev's ring IQ. He totally outboxed Bernard in a chess match bettered suited for the old man. I see the Krusher also being smart against Ward, with measured pressure, all behind that stiff, long jab.

I don't think you can fully credit kovalev for the Hopkins victory. A lot of credit should be given to jdj. Jdj fought Hopkins plus he worked a few camps and fights aside brother ****m for Hopkins. I give kovalev much props for being able to do everything he was instructed to do and staying mentally focused in the Hopkins fight. But if jdj was not his trainer I think the fight would have been different. I'm by no means saying kovalev would have lost but I think the margin of victory would not have been as wide.
In all fairness I predicted Hopkins to win. Kovalev gained a truck load of respect from me after that fight. But ward is not Hopkins and I don't think jdj can give kovalev as good of a game plan for ward like he did Hopkins. Nor do I think anyone outside of ward and Virgil Hunter has any clue as to how ward is going to fight kovalev.
If the fight goes the distance and kovalev does ward how he did Hopkins then there is no denying or questioning his boxing IQ or abilities. Full credit should be given to him and very little to jdj because ward is going to make kovalev make adjustments mid round if he's going to beat ward via decision.

[THC]

.... ward is going to make kovalev make adjustments mid round if he's going to beat ward via decision.

Most def. I'm not sure if Kovalev has the versatility to make big adjustments against Ward.