Comments Thread For: Sergey Kovalev-Andre Ward: Pre-Fight Report Card

[BIGPOPPAPUMP]

by Cliff Rold - Four years ago, having gone through the Super Six minefield and becoming the first man to stop then lineal light heavyweight champion Chad Dawson in a super middleweight title fight, Andre Ward looked like the heir apparent. Following the wild round robin years of the 1980s featuring a relative parity of elite talent led by Sugar Ray Leonard...
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[Corelone]

Way over rating Andre's power. It's more accuracy and precision with him. He's not hurting people with glancing or off target shots. C at best.

[..David..]

Loved the analysis i see it the same way, i think this fight its gonna be decided on the clinches, if kovalev can hurt ward while on the clinches then he has more than a big chance, if he gets frustrated, heatbutted, forearmed etc... he will be for a loong night and Ward get a Decision ... and i do think thats what is gonna happen.

Still im hoping for a great fight

[BattlingNelson]

Good stuff from Cliff.

[MDPopescu]

Good stuff from Cliff.

He has both fighters rated at A+ for "imponderables"...

[Tatabanya]

The way I see it, Kovalev wins only if he hurts Ward BAD at the very beginning, a bit like Tito Trinidad did with Fernando Vargas. If he manages to floor Ward heavily soon, then he can win. Otherwise I am picking Ward on points in an ugly affair.

[Cheek busting]

lol if kovalev doesn't have A+power, then who the hell does?

[TheTruthOfIt]

Ward doesnt have power. At SMW he was at best a B. At LHW a C maybe.

Ward knows he has a punchers chance of KO so realistically is taking this to points decision.

Kovalev will know this and either trade points for punishment of Ward of keep points and grind him down at a slower rate.

If Kovalev beats Ward then no doubt GGG would at 168 CW. If Ward beats Kov on points its possible hed do the same against GGG. This is quite an interesting fight to speculate GGG vs Ward outcome.

Whoever wins this will be at least no2 P4P atm.

[bojangles1987]

I agree with a lot of this. I'm fascinated by the battle of jabs tonight, because both fighters are really good at mixing them up to the head and body. That feels like the possible key to the fight. Kovalev needs it to keep Ward at comfortable range and set up his offense. Ward needs it to keep Kovalev uncomfortable and get inside.

Ultimately I do think Ward's style gives him the advantage. He's built to neutralize fighters like Kovalev. Definitely not confident about that pick, though.

[TheWinners]

lol if kovalev doesn't have A+power, then who the hell does?

Good question. Perhaps Stevenson's left hand? But I'd say Kovalev has A+ power and Ward B- power at lhw.