Kovalev-Ward, who have you got?

Kovalev's "Man Bag"

Kovalev's "Man Bag"

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According to a poll by Dan Rafael (ESPN) a week and a half ago, out of nearly 22,000 votes, only 7% of boxing fans were interested in this compared to Canelo-Golovkin and a May-Pac rematch.



This is nuts to me because this fight is a big one featuring two top 5 (RING rated) P4P fighters. Besides a May-Pac rematch (a super fight that was terrible the first time) it's the second biggest fight in boxing, according to the poll. With Canelo-Golovkin almost certainly off the table for this year, this fight is supposed to be delivered to us at the end of the year. Kovalev faces Chilemba next in July as his last fight before he's to meet Ward and Andre will have one more fight as well, not sure who or when yet.

Who've you got? I know Roc Nation wants Ward in with Kovalev ASAP because they want a return on their investment, so one more fight a piece for each (according to Duva) and then they're getting it on. I'm obviously a Kovalev fan, he's one of two of my favorite fighters. I'm favoring Kovalev over Ward and have this one at about 60/40 due to Kovalev's size, serious power and his underrated ability to box, his underrated hand and foot speed, and the gameplan that John David Jackson (best trainer in the game right now imo) will have for him against Ward.

Ward will be by far Kovalev's toughest test, and I'm not even going to say on paper. He will be. He's that good. In his last fight against Barrera he didn't look great but if he brings his A-game and is healthy, he'll be a serious handful for anyone in the division.
 
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nac386 said:
The poll showed that 7% of the fans were more interested in this than any other fight (Canelo vs GGG, May vs Pac, etc). That is completely different.
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Yeah, I'll reword what I said in the original post. It was between those 3 big fights.
 
Sunfish said:
Ward.
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I think if Ward is 90% of his best he wins a decision. He is simply more talented than Kovalev with footwork, angles, and he actually utilizes his jab better as well. He can fight well off his back foot and neutralize the fact that Kovalev always wants to control the action. This is a fight where I'm interested to see the betting lines a few hours before the contest.
 
RascalBird said:
I think if Ward is 90% of his best he wins a decision. He is simply more talented than Kovalev with footwork, angles, and he actually utilizes his jab better as well. He can fight well off his back foot and neutralize the fact that Kovalev always wants to control the action. This is a fight where I'm interested to see the betting lines a few hours before the contest.
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Kovalev has a good jab too and it's very stiff and powerful. He's knocked guys out with his jab (to the body) and scored knockdowns with it. Kovalev can also fight off the back foot as well, just not AS well as Ward can. He knocked Hopkins down off the back foot while stepping back as Bernard rushed in head first with a right hand to the temple.

 
I'm curious to see Ward in with a big puncher he can't outmuscle and rough up on the inside.

50 - 50 fight.
 
Kovalev's "Man Bag" said:
Kovalev has a good jab too and it's very stiff and powerful. He's knocked guys out with his jab (to the body) and scored knockdowns with it. Kovalev can also fight off the back foot as well, just not AS well as Ward can. He knocked Hopkins down off the back foot while stepping back as Bernard rushed in head first with a right hand to the temple.

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No doubt Kovalev is one of my favorite fighters, and he does have a good jab. I just don't think he has movement to bother Ward. I can't wait to see it, and Kovalev winning by KO isn't out of the question. He's a nasty finisher of fights. I honestly think he carried Hopkins somewhat, and could have knocked him out.
 
Kovalev will be too much for Ward, lets see dem roughhouse tactics against Krusher:eek:
 
I also wonder if Ward has enough pop to keep Kovalev honest. And if he's got anything in his right hand anymore.

That said, he's still by far the best boxer Kovalev has fought and pure boxers usually seem to do well against boxer punchers.
 
stuff jones said:
I'm curious to see Ward in with a big puncher he can't outmuscle and rough up on the inside.

50 - 50 fight.
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He will do both of those to Kovalev.

Ward is a bull.
 
stuff jones said:
I also wonder if Ward has enough pop to keep Kovalev honest. And if he's got anything in his right hand anymore.

That said, he's still by far the best boxer Kovalev has fought and pure boxers usually seem to do well against boxer punchers.
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He'll definitely need to get Kovalev's respect early, and you bring up a good point about Ward's right hand. Ward does have pop, no questioning that. But I agree with John David Jackson about him not having enough power to keep Kovalev off of him. If he thinks he can just clinch up with him and bully him around then he's mistaken. Kovalev wrestles when he trains after sparring like Gennady does. I've seen him doing Greco-Roman wrestling in his regimen, which really requires a lot of upper body strength.
 
PUO3 said:
He will do both of those to Kovalev.

Ward is a bull.
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When has he demonstrated he can bully a large light heavyweight? He's always had the size advantage professionally in the past.
 
stuff jones said:
When has he demonstrated he can bully a large light heavyweight? He's always had the size advantage professionally in the past.
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Like when Froch was the same height with a longer reach?
 
stuff jones said:
When has he demonstrated he can bully a large light heavyweight? He's always had the size advantage professionally in the past.
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I was actually surprised that he was able to outmuscle Barrera in the clinch at times in their fight. Barrera being the bigger man. I still don't see him being able to do it to Kovalev though.
 
stuff jones said:
When has he demonstrated he can bully a large light heavyweight? He's always had the size advantage professionally in the past.
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Oh he was bigger than Dawson, Green, Kessler, Froch? Or Barerra if youd like. Weird.

Just call it a hunch.
 
stuff jones said:
Right. Which has to do what with strength exactly?

Kovalev will be the strongest man Ward has fought.
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You said size advantage. If we are changing the goalposts I agree kovalev will be the strongest.
 
stuff jones said:
Right. Which has to do what with strength exactly?

Kovalev will be the strongest man Ward has fought.
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Doesnt matter. Wards vastly more talented inside and he will do what he wants there.

They arent lifting weights. Inside fighting is much more about ability than people care to believe.
 
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