Based on whatever Kovalev ends up bringing to the ring, the first four rounds are likely to be really competitive; once those get out of the way, I see Ward settling into his groove, and boxing Kovalev's ears off the rest of the way.
I'm guessing Kovalev will take 4 rounds total, maybe 5, even though I predict Ward will outbox him by a clear margin. Judges these days view power very favorably and Kovalev will be helped in that regard.
It's a funny one this, whilst I think of it as a 50/50 fight, as in I can't see who is going to win, I don't think that necessarily means it's going to be a close fight. Either Ward is going to be able to neutralise Kovalev in which case it'll be a fairly wide UD for Andre, or he ain't and Kovalevs offense will cause him to go into a Hopkinesque survival mode for a wide Kovalev UD or possible KO. There's other scenarios of course, Kovalev could start strong but Ward take over once he starts to adjust to Sergeis movement and timing, or Ward could start to tire late a la Froch, particularly if it's a very physical fight...
Ah, anyway ... my inability to decide is what makes this so intriguing for me ... either way I think it's a clear victory for one guy or the other.
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