Kovalev will duck Ward

[TheBoxingXpert]

Trust me. SOMETHING will go wrong. Injury. Testing positive. Boxing politics. Being forced into fighting Braehmer instead. Whatever happens, I just have a very bad feeling that Kovalev is pulling out of this fight. He knows that he's going to lose here and he wonders if it makes any economical sense for him to lose his first major fight. Get ready for it...

It could be that it happens, though. It would make me respect Kovalev's courage a lot if it does.

[just the facts]

I don't think so. Kovalev doesn't seem to be like g string (make a lot of noise but always come up with an excuse not to fight good fighters). The proposed Stevenson fight was more of a network/$$$$ thing. Those problems aren't there with a Ward matchup. However, with Kovalev being Duvas only big earner, it can't be ruled out.

[IMDAZED]

Great. As if we don't have enough people praying the fight doesn't come off (hiding under the guise of "Ward won't fight him"), now we have this. Let's just keep the optimism.

[TheBoxingXpert]

Great. As if we don't have enough people praying the fight doesn't come off (hiding under the guise of "Ward won't fight him"), now we have this. Let's just keep the optimism.

We might as well prepare for the worst. Wilder vs. Povetkin didn't happen, due to the Eastern fighter taking illegal drugs. Ward vs. Golovkin didn't happen, due to the Eastern fighter not wanting it. Walters vs. Lomachenko didn't happen because the Eastern fighter overpriced himself. I have a very bad feeling that Kovalev will follow the pattern...

[Jimmy 23]

Kovalev is not Pu$$y G.

[Redd Foxx]

. Injury. Testing positive. Boxing politics. Being forced into fighting Braehmer instead.

How are any of those going to be Kovalev "ducking"? People are seriously abusive with that word lately. You're banned from using it for 60 days.

[boliodogs]

Kovalev was ready to fight Ward the second Ward moved up to 175. REMEMBER! It was Ward who wanted practice fights before he fought Kovalev. It's Ward who is making this fight take a long time to happen. Kovalev would have fought Ward much earlier and he would fight Ward tomorrow or any day Ward decides he is ready to fight.

[The Big Dunn]

I doubt highly that Kov doesn't fight. I think the fight is going to happen as planned unless Brand upsets Ward, which I doubt.

This is HBO's biggest and most important fight in 2016. It would be devastating to the network and the sport's credibility if the fight didn't happen.

The 4 most anticipated fights of the year-ggg/canelo, Thurman/Porter, Wilder/Povetkin and Fury/Wlad 2 have all been postponed for one reason or another. Do we really need the 5th to be as well?

[boliodogs]

Great. As if we don't have enough people praying the fight doesn't come off (hiding under the guise of "Ward won't fight him"), now we have this. Let's just keep the optimism.

I'm a Kovalev fan and I'm praying the fight does come off because I think Kovalev will knock Ward out.

[Jubei]

What a pathetic thread from an even more pathetic person.