Was Ward still rusty up until the second Kovalev fight?

[Shaolin Sword]

In my opinion he looked like chit during his comeback until the second Kovalev fight he had no right hand and his movement was chit.

he looked like chit against barrera, Brand and Smith as well as Kovalev 1.

Kovalev 2 was the fight that it seemed like he had shaken off the rust after 2 years away from the sport.

[Sadiqkingofko]

He looked amazing in the Kovalev rematch, but I think Kovalev if he has better conditioning he walks through 175 and becomes a player at 200, but to answer your question, probably