Kovalev game plan for Ward?

[Redd Foxx]

2-punch combinations. He needs to throw light or feinted punches in order to get Andre to commit to the counter, then nail him with the 2nd punch (the real punch). It's something you'll see skillful hard punchers like Canelo and others do to great success. It gets your opponent to open up and become susceptible to big shots. Something that will be critical against the notoriously hard to hit Ward.

[M Bison]

If he does this Ward will pick him apart. I agree with OP, don't give Ward any space, and employ a maidana like tactic on him. His gameplan against Bhop won't work on Ward.

Wards game is the inside game though he is the master of the clinch and dirty inside tactics, he either picks him apart with counters or he loses.

[BattlingNelson]

Kovalev will want Ward to stand still, so he can kill him.

[Redd Foxx]

This idea that some have, that Kovalev can pick Ward apart from the outside, doesn't make a lot of sense. What's the one area in which Kovalev excels above all else? Power. Power is limited at the end of your range and you don't want to over extend against a power puncher who can cover distance quickly. Not only can Ward move but he can throw effective combinations while doing it.

If you want to see what picking Ward apart from the outside gets you, watch the Dawson fight. If rangey Chad's 5" reach advantage was ineffective, Kovalev isn't going to find it any easier with 1".

Again, Kovalev has 1 clear advantage here, power. His challenge here is to get that power on Ward's chin as cleanly. He's got to get him to open up. Kovalev is unlikely to do that via slick defense so he's got to do it offensively.

[massa of demos]

Wards game is the inside game though he is the master of the clinch and dirty inside tactics, he either picks him apart with counters or he loses.

Ward is a jack of all trades. His boxing ability on the outside is on a different level than Kovalev. This is why I've always said that GGG would be a far harder fight for Ward than Kovalev. GGG can also fight on the inside and outside and is a much better boxer than Kovalev, Kovalev is more of a mid-range/long-range fighter, that is very reliant on his jab and straight. Kovalev ais tailor made for Ward imo. The only way I see Kovalev winning is if he goes all out and fights like he has nothing to lose, if he fights patiently, and tries to box with him like he did with Bhop he's going to look lost against a guy with Ward's boxing ability.

[M Bison]

This idea that some have, that Kovalev can pick Ward apart from the outside, doesn't make a lot of sense. What's the one area in which Kovalev excels above all else? Power. Power is limited at the end of your range and you don't want to over extend against a power puncher who can cover distance quickly. Not only can Ward move but he can throw effective combinations while doing it.

If you want to see what picking Ward apart from the outside gets you, watch the Dawson fight. If rangey Chad's 5" reach advantage was ineffective, Kovalev isn't going to find it any easier with 1".

Again, Kovalev has 1 clear advantage here, power. His challenge here is to get that power on Ward's chin as cleanly. He's got to get him to open up. Kovalev is unlikely to do that via slick defense so he's got to do it offensively.

Power is amplified when a guy is coming into your shot.

I think you massively overrate Wards boxing ability.

[Butt stuff]

Maidana's mauling style would've been great but he's not maidana, he's too neat and polished.

[STAX ON DECK]

punch thin air

then eat punches for lunch,, brunch,, and dinner from a true technicician,,

[Redd Foxx]

Power is amplified when a guy is coming into your shot.

I think you massively overrate Wards boxing ability.

It's as if you've never seen Ward box or you don't understand what you're seeing. Ward doesn't just move in straight lines and walk into punches. He almost never does that and when he does rush forward, it's when he's got a guy on the retreat. If you fight him in the way you're describing, his head will never be where you're expecting it to be, you'll get counted, and after that he's either gone out he's bullying you inside. The guy has made a career of it. You really haven't noticed?

Kovalev has avenues to win but they certainly aren't in playing on the outside and avoiding exchanges. Kovalev is a guy who must plant his feet to be effective. He's going to have to be in-range and applying power. That's the man's bread and butter.

[dan_cov]

I actually think Kovalev can have very good success boxing in there.
Ward might have the best jab in boxing right now but Kovalev's ain't too far behind & unlike Wards its extremely damaging and he has a lot more that comes behind it.

Its Ward who has to show me something if a guy as slow and as basic as Barrera can land regular I don't like his chances vs Kovalev.
He seems to be changing his style too I think that suits Kovalev.
You want sit in mid-range and let this guy lead? Trust me you don't.
And what is Brand being brought in for? That guy ain't going to compare you for what Kovalev brings.

Kovalev has a very good boxing brain he showed this when he fought B-Hop who has a lot of similar defensive tendencies to Ward. Flashing the right hand, leap in behind the left hook/uppercut as he goes to slip it. I see that working all night vs Ward.

I think Ward see's things but when he gets in there its going to be a lot different to how he broke it down.
What I think it comes down to is Ward is a bit too textbook. I like that Kovalev has a slight crudeness I think it works great for him and will here.
He's not a robotic Kessler or Froch who come forward in straight lines, up right, constantly foot crossing & overextending. Kovalev controls range very well & closes the gap very fast. That is another thing I think people aren't looking at, Kovalev has fast feet for a big lad & is very explosive when he needs to be and he does without overreaching and squaring up unlike Froch and these other clumsy guys Ward has fought.

I like Kovalev by decision.