Was GGGs performance the blueprint for kovalev against ward?

[Madison Boxing]

First off Brook is not slick, if he is then we need to find a better word to describe Ward.

You sound like someone that hasn't been watching the sport for long. If it was as simple as bum rushing Ward to beat him then I'm sure one of the world class trainers in his opponents corner would have figured it out.

You forget one thing, no one likes getting hit and no one likes feeling the force of a punch upside their head. If your reckless and eat a few punches, you're going to become hesitant to go in the same way. Kovalev doesn't look like a guy that wants to eat punches so your bull rush strategy will not favour him. Kovalev needs to first clearly hurt Ward before any plans of rushing in for a finish.

ive been watching the sport many years my friend, one of the few true boxing fans on this site. no cause the trainers don't do the fighting, no one has the power or size that kovalev has. Cobra had his limitations but he got stuck into him and lost by a round on two scorecards. Maybe if he was more aggressive early he might have clinched another round and it would have been a draw

[Ray Corso]

Brook couldn't deter GGG, at least for the first 5 rounds. If Koval jumps in to quick without landing he will get hit with Andre left hook and I believe Andre's hook can hurt him. Andre's right isn't a great punch technically but he has some pop in the left. I've seen Koval get shook before but follow up punches weren't thrown.
If Andre gets Kovals respect then we have a fight, if Andre can't get respect then an ugly fight will ensue.

Ray

[deathofaclown]

Andre Ward is very strong and a natural LHW now. Carl Froch is a pretty strong guy and Ward bullied him, i'd imagine he is even stronger now he's at his natural weight. So i don't think Kovalev can just bully his way through Ward that easily. Besides, Ward's boxing skills are too good to have someone walk through them.

I'd also say Kovalev has looked a bit vulnerable through his career at times, even against some average fighters. I do think he can be hurt too.

On the flip side, i think Kovalev has the power to hurt anybody. I don't think Ward will be able take any flush shots from him. Also Ward looked a bit more open since he come back, i noticed he got hit with the jab quite a bit too. Ward will need to be razor sharp in this fight. If he lets Kovalev get successful with the jab and at the distance he likes, i think it will be lights out for Ward.

This fight will be won on skill from Kovalev if he wins. Not reckless brute force. He doesn't even fight like that. He's very measured.

[Earl-Hickey]

He needs to storm forward as soon as first bell rings and go full ******. Don't give wars any time to think and no respect blast him out first round before you give him angles

[daggum]

difference is ward will be hugging and jumping into kovalev constantly. slick boxing stuff

[Larry the boss]

Ward aint Brook man

[Larry the boss]

People complain and say GGG looked bad, lost a couple rounds and sloppy, but at the end of the day he stopped the guy in 5 rounds and did him some serious damage. To me, it was a good performance and xactly the tactics you should use against someone who's power you don't respect.

My opinion is that kovalev should just follow what GGG did, and walk forward throwing big shots until one does damage, don't worry about winning rounds. Its safe to say that at LHW andre ward couldn't crack an egg, hence he couldn't put away a 40 year old alex brand so hes not going to hurt kovalev when he comes forward. If kovalev just comes straight forward, loading up on shots I think this fight could look pretty similar to the one we saw on Saturday night, the difference being that kell brook has the stomach for a fight and andre ward doesn't, so he may quit before the towel gets thrown in potentially.

What do others feel the game plan for kovalev should be?

Man has been fighting his entire damn life and you post this?

[Larry the boss]

Kovalev is no dummy, he isn't going to try to rush in and bombard Ward with shots. Ward has enough power to keep him honest, and if Kovalev tries to rush in he'll be playing right into Ward's hands as Ward would love to get him on the inside and stay right up on him, that's what you do to power punchers. JDJ nor Kovalev are going to go into the biggest fight of Krusher's career underestimating their opponent, whether it be his power or strength. They would be in for a rude awakening if they did

ding, ding,ding.....we have a winner

[eco1]

Let's be real, if Brook didn't break his orbital bone it would have been a different fight.

Breaking your orbital bone is kind of a fight changing injury.

uhuh

yeap, he broke it himself by himself alone with no help from no one else. Sweet Lord, the things i have to read.

I was rooting for Brook, now i am a Golovkin fan too.
The guy has it.

[Madison Boxing]

Man has been fighting his entire damn life and you post this?

hes been boxing (and fouling) not proper fighting, andre clinches rather than exchange punches. Hes said in the past that he doesn't believe he should be in hard fights cause of his health (although hes happy to beat up people like brand and smith).