by David P. Greisman

Sergey Kovalev is looking toward a potential clash with Andre Ward that could take place later in 2016, a fight that would see Kovalev defend his three light heavyweight world titles against the undefeated former 168-pound champion.

While Ward hasn’t done much at all recently to show that he’s still one of the best boxers in the world, Kovalev nonetheless holds him in high regard.

“If we going to fight with Andre Ward, it’s going to be a really big test for me,” Kovalev said at a post-fight press conference after his rematch win over Jean Pascal. “Therefore I would like this fight because Andre Ward is a great boxer and a great champion in super middleweight division, and he’s Olympic champion. He’s a very smart fighter. He’s a big test. I not avoid any fight like Chickenson [a derisive nickname for lineal 175-pound champ Adonis Stevenson].

Andre Ward returned to the ring last June after 19 months away from the ring due to an injury and then a prolonged battle to leave now-deceased promoter Dan Goossen. Ward is now signed with Roc Nation Sports and is scheduled to face unbeaten light heavyweight contender Sullivan Barrera on March 26 in Oakland. This will be Ward’s first bout as a full-fledged 175-pounder since he won a gold medal in the 2004 Olympics in the light heavyweight division, which in the amateurs has a limit of 178 pounds.

His win over Paul Smith in June had a contractual weight limit of 172 pounds. Ward came in slightly less than that and stopped Smith, bringing his record to 28-0 with 15 KOs.

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