Comments Thread For: Kovalev Admits: I Hadn't Watched Andre Ward Much Before 2016

[Madison Boxing]

before 2016 he had over 25 fights....he saw him fight

no one ignores a guy dominating in a division right below them is my point, especially an undefeated, gold medallist

That 168 division was a joke division back then

[GGG Gloveking]

By the time Kovalev burst on the scene, Ward was in the midst of his lawsuits and inactivity. Makes sense. Glad he is taking the time to go back and study him.

Exactly! If Kovalev wants to see the most fighting Ward has done in that time frame, he needs to read court transscripts...

[GGG Gloveking]

before 2016 he had over 25 fights....he saw him fight

no one ignores a guy dominating in a division right below them is my point, especially an undefeated, gold medallist

Why would Kovalev be studying Ward back then when he wasnt a champ yet then? He should have been studying the top guys in his own division rather than some guy in a lower weight class. I mean, this is all speculative but I see no reason whatsoever for Kovalev in 2011 to even be thinking about Ward. Kovalev was still fighting in Russia, and Lafayette, LA, and the Playboy Mansion then. Fighting for the WBA NABA title and that kind of sh it. Hed have been ****** to be watching Ward

[therealpugilist]

Why would Kovalev be studying Ward back then when he wasnt a champ yet then? He should have been studying the top guys in his own division rather than some guy in a lower weight class. I mean, this is all speculative but I see no reason whatsoever for Kovalev in 2011 to even be thinking about Ward. Kovalev was still fighting in Russia, and Lafayette, LA, and the Playboy Mansion then. Fighting for the WBA NABA title and that kind of sh it. Hed have been ****** to be watching Ward

studying a fighter and watching some fights or footage is two different things.

boxers are really some of sports only true "world" champions....these are global athletes

Many of these guys have known, or known of each other since their amateur days


Kovalev never reached the level ward did as an amateur but it just doesn't sound realistic


also Ward was on HBO when Kov was trying to get there....he saw him fight before 2016


its more likely than not

[Gary Coleman]

Wait, what?

HE had better hope HE'S lying.

[ruedboy]

That's understandable. Most of SOGGY's fights are appreciated better via radio rather than tv.

[JimmyD729]

That's understandable. Most of SOGGY's fights are appreciated better via radio rather than tv.

Best comment of all time

[Jim Tom]

James Toney used to say that and I believed him. He said that there's no point in studying an opponent as the opponent can change his style on the fight night. Much better to force the opponent to fight your fight.

If Ward was a concussive puncher knocking everyone out you'd expect Kovalev to watch his fights. But watching Ward fights is not much entertainment, so I believe him.

Don't believe it man, even Floyd lies about not watching opponents. You can't train without knowing what your opponent does. This is the reason why Kovalev used to say 'if Ward holds me I will break his arms'. He knows how Ward fights from hours and hours of footage. James Toney was talented but part of training would be watching fights of opponents. It's commonly agreed in boxing that once fighters get hit they revert back to their original ways of fighting hence the need to watch opponents.

[Beercules]

Exactly! If Kovalev wants to see the most fighting Ward has done in that time frame, he needs to read court transscripts...

[Jim Tom]

Why would Kovalev be studying Ward back then when he wasnt a champ yet then? He should have been studying the top guys in his own division rather than some guy in a lower weight class. I mean, this is all speculative but I see no reason whatsoever for Kovalev in 2011 to even be thinking about Ward. Kovalev was still fighting in Russia, and Lafayette, LA, and the Playboy Mansion then. Fighting for the WBA NABA title and that kind of sh it. Hed have been ****** to be watching Ward

These guys are professionals, boxing is what they do for a living. Training is not all about going to the gym and running on the streets. Watching fights is a big part of the programme. Most fighters have huge libraries of fights, thank God for You Tube the use of video tapes and DVDs is becoming less and less.