Kovalev V Andre Ward is NO WHERE NEAR a 50 50 fight.

[PACnPBFsuck]

The tennis wiz has spoken. No need to watch this one I guess.

Advantage Redd Foxx

[Redd Foxx]

Iagree, but then could you not Argue that the fact that Kovalev struggled with Chilemba in parts proves my points in terms of preparation. Kovalevs excellent team will see that and work on that, especially knowing they are fighting Ward.

Perhaps Ward is Sparring with Cruiser weights in prep and will prove me wrong, but its Harder enough to prep for someone like Kovalev as it is, but to not even face decent super middle weight competition in the last 3 years is surely beyond the pale?

That's a legit argument. I think Ward has a lot of seasoning in the spotlight and, even after the layoff, watching him with Barrera it was amazing how far ahead he was in front of Barrera, mentally. Thinking 2 steps ahead, letting only 12% jabs and 15% overall to slip through. That tells me he still has the instinct. Clearly, Kovalev is another level, maybe 2 above Barrera, but Ward is still a thinker and the game he applies to one fighter is not what he is necessarily going to implement on another.

When someone is a cerebral fighter and has a trainer with the same approach,pushing it to the limit isn't as crucial. It's important, but not as much as with fighters who are more physical.

Many questions will be answered with Kovalev. Balance when punching a moving opponent, how he responds when someone just puts leather in his face (which happened too often yesterday), how he handles inside bullying. All things I've pondered.

[b00g13man]

The tennis wiz has spoken. No need to watch this one I guess.

[Jim Tom]

Lets take away who you think is better for a second. Some may think Ward more skilful, some may think kovelev power is to much, lets forget all of that and admit that both are elite fighters.

So once you remove they are elite fighters, i cannot see for the life of me how Andre ward beats Kovalev. He's simply not faced tough enough opposition at supper middle/catch weights since Carl Froch. Over weight Super middles, Over weight c level catch weights, this is not preparation for Adonis Stevenson let alone Sergey Kovavlev.

I played Tennis at a high level when younger and i can tell you, even if you are way more talented than your opponent, if they are fairly gifted, but are training with much better guys than you, who push him much harder than you are being pushed then chances are you will lose on simply not being prepared.

Sergey has faced ismael Silakh, Cleverly, Hopkins, Pascal twice, Chilemba, with a few okayish B level opponents thrown in the mix.

Ward has faced NOT only less opponents in the last three years here's who he has faced, Edwin rodriguez(who missed the weight), paul Smith(missed the weight and is a C level fighter being generous),Sullivan barrea(getting better tbf) and now Alexander Brand.

Taking talent aside how on earth is Ward even slightly prepared for Kovalev?

Discuss.

You are right, this fight isn't a 50-50 fight. Ward has far more tricks in the bag, is stronger, is more accurate and will simply destroy Kovalev. Ward is elusive, can tie up opponents, has a good jab and inside game. All Kovalev has is power. He's a one trick pony who moves in straight lines. That works against C-Class opposition and old men like Hopkins not elite fighters like Ward. After Andre Ward takes away what Kovalev has and knocks him out then you will start claiming that Kovalev was a hype job.

[Sun_Tzu]

The guy Kovalev fought today was there to win from the first round until it was over and got beat min 8-4. I think most people thought Kovalev was gonna blow Chilemba out, I get that but most people didnt know who Kovalev was fighting. I still stand by my prediction that Kovalev beats Ward 8-4 when they fight. he may stop him but i think it goes 12.

That being said, my record for calling fights sucks so Ward may knock kovalev out.

[MDPopescu]

The guy Kovalev fought today was there to win from the first round until it was over and got beat min 8-4. I think most people thought Kovalev was gonna blow Chilemba out, I get that but most people didnt know who Kovalev was fighting. I still stand by my prediction that Kovalev beats Ward 8-4 when they fight. he may stop him but i think it goes 12.

That being said, my record for calling fights sucks so Ward may knock kovalev out.

Nope: Chilemba is Kova's stablemate; he was in there for an educated sparring with a view to that supposed Ward fight. (Kovalev had Chilemba dropped very badly in the 7th, but immediately stepped off the pedal...)

[soul_survivor]

Ward will frustrate the hell outta Kovalev, be stronger on the inside and win an ugly decision. I feel the fight is 60/40 in favour of Ward,

[Robbie Barrett]

Barrera was a good tune up for a Kovalev fight.

[Sun_Tzu]

Nope: Chilemba is Kova's stablemate; he was in there for an educated sparring with a view to that supposed Ward fight. (Kovalev had Chilemba dropped very badly in the 7th, but immediately stepped off the pedal...)

What? Chilemba is from Kovalevs's camp? How is that even sanctioned?

[MDPopescu]

What? Chilemba is from Kovalevs's camp? How is that even sanctioned?

... Chilemba is a Duva's fighter... Didn't you know that? Fuck, man...

later edit: http://www.mainevents.com/#!isaac-chilemba/c1u1y