Kovalev vs Ward...all about the gameplan

[incredible_22]

Talking to the boxing heads I know they look at Hopkins vs Kovalev as a key to Ward vs Kovalev. I think thats wrong due to one factor....John David Jackson. He knew Hopkins inside and out and Kovalev was able to implement the game plan perfectly.

Hunter and Ward worked together so long and have had to adapt to whats going on in the fight (both as fighter and coach), that the win or loss would be on if they can execute the most effective gameplan.

In my opinion Ward's camp will devise a plan to give Kovalev angles, make him guess and try to take him into deep waters.
Kovalev's camp will have a plan to get Ward in trouble early. To keep him at range for the right hand and not let Ward smother him.

This fight is a boxing fan's dream of two undefeated fighters, in their primes, with a great clash of styles. Thoughts?

[Madison Boxing]

people overrate ****** hunter as a trainer and a tactician, ****** hasnt seem to have done much good with any other fighters, doubt hes got somemaster plan up his sleeve.

[boliodogs]

My thought is Kovalev should win it because he is great at using both hands with speed, accuracy and exceptional power. Ward has a great left and a mediocre right. Kovalev only has Ward's left to worry about. Ward has to worry about Kovalev's right and his left.

[SplitSecond]

If Ward comes out to fight as a southpaw or changes sometime early I think that will throw everyone off.

[al-Xander]

Everyone has a game plan until they get punched in the face.

[Redd Foxx]

Talking to the boxing heads I know they look at Hopkins vs Kovalev as a key to Ward vs Kovalev. I think thats wrong due to one factor....John David Jackson. He knew Hopkins inside and out and Kovalev was able to implement the game plan perfectly.

Hunter and Ward worked together so long and have had to adapt to whats going on in the fight (both as fighter and coach), that the win or loss would be on if they can execute the most effective gameplan.

In my opinion Ward's camp will devise a plan to give Kovalev angles, make him guess and try to take him into deep waters.
Kovalev's camp will have a plan to get Ward in trouble early. To keep him at range for the right hand and not let Ward smother him.

This fight is a boxing fan's dream of two undefeated fighters, in their primes, with a great clash of styles. Thoughts?

Good analysis. I fully believe that the Kovalev camp's #1 goal is to get and keep Ward at a workable range. JDJ has even alluded to it (perhaps without even knowing he did). Kovalev can't work inside and you don't learn that in a single camp.

The biggest problem they can give Ward, IMO, is to throw and take a quick step back like they did with Hopkins. But, you can't be all that effective offensively when you're doing that and Ward is something that Hopkins isn't, he's a guy who can bully and be physically dominant inside.

Expect Kovalev to have a lot of new tricks and looks. Problem is, it's hard to imagine him out-thinking and out-strategizing the strongest mental game in the biz. Sergey MUST find a way to create opportunities because this isn't going to be a Pascal who stands in front of him, if I know Ward, he is going to be an opponent who has already set up a labyrinth that he plans to force Kovalev to negotiate.

[jmrf4435]

Kovalev has some great minds around him.

I think Kovalev is going to win this

[Jc8804]

Every round is the fight. I think kovalev trained for stamina. I expect kovalev to have a 5-1 lead half way through. Kovalevs jab and straigjt punches will be very effective

[MDPopescu]

...

In my opinion Ward's camp will devise a plan to give Kovalev angles, make him guess and try to take him into deep waters.
...

... in 'giving angles' there's also a certain "mechanics" involved, and that's what Kovalev does: he assesses opponents' mechanics and then counters... badly...

If Ward comes out to fight as a southpaw or changes sometime early I think that will throw everyone off.

... Ward switched vs Brand... and his leading right was pure shit, doe...

Good analysis. I fully believe that the Kovalev camp's #1 goal is to get and keep Ward at a workable range. JDJ has even alluded to it (perhaps without even knowing he did). Kovalev can't work inside and you don't learn that in a single camp.

The biggest problem they can give Ward, IMO, is to throw and take a quick step back like they did with Hopkins. But, you can't be all that effective offensively when you're doing that and Ward is something that Hopkins isn't, he's a guy who can bully and be physically dominant inside.

Expect Kovalev to have a lot of new tricks and looks. Problem is, it's hard to imagine him out-thinking and out-strategizing the strongest mental game in the biz. Sergey MUST find a way to create opportunities because this isn't going to be a Pascal who stands in front of him, if I know Ward, he is going to be an opponent who has already set up a labyrinth that he plans to force Kovalev to negotiate.

Kovalev can't work inside because the "Russian school" doesn't teach inside working 'per se'; it teaches a variety other techniques aimed to deny and counter the opponent's attempts to bully and/or jump inside for clinches...