I think Ward will get past Barrera tomorrow because of the skill disparity. Then the Kovalev fight will start becoming an actual possibility. But here's the problem, Andre Ward will almost surely lose to Sergey Kovalev and most likely by knockout. Foster-Frazier Foster-Ali Gomez-Sanchez Trinidad-Hopkins Pacquiao-Morales Hearns-Hagler Duran-Hearns Jackson-McClellan Arguello-Pryor Robinson-Lamotta Napoles-Monzon What do all these fights have in common? They featured two absolute top level p4p fighters in or near their primes where there was a size disparity. The guy moving up in weight almost loses. That's just how boxing is. The bigger guys are strong, they punch hard, they walk through shots. They're bigger, that's just how it goes. Duran-Leonard Mosley-DLH Robinson-Lamotta These are some high profile fights where the little man actually did win. And none of those three fights were clear except for Robinson destroying Lamotta who is the GOAT. If Ward beats Kovalev that would be extremely impressive and really a fabulous win.
you forgot a couple major ones on the little guy ledger Leonard-Hagler(!) Pacquiao - De La Hoya* Hopkins - Tarver Floyd - Canelo *DLH was past prime but was favored to win 3-1 or so.
That is a good call because Kovalev is good and getting better. He knows that all he has to do is tighten up a few rough spots and Ward will not be able to handle him. He even stated after the Pascal fight that Ward could take his time and think that he eluding to the fact that he wanted to get a little more boxing knowledge under his belt. I will be watching to see how Ward handles the heavy hands of Berrera. If he can deal with that, then the Kovalev fight is going to be very interesting.
If Jack Reiss is the referee then you know for sure that Ward was asking for all kinds of concessions and got most of them! Reiss have proved his incompetence already so Sanchez and Barreras camp should of asked for a Smoger. It better not be Lawrence Cole either. Over the past few years that man has shown incompetence and is dangerous for the fighters.
Floyd Canelo is tainted by the Catchweight and the fact that there was a clear skill disparity. So yes Floyd was smaller and won, but is Canelo really that skilled? Especially in comparison to Mayweather? I thought about the Hagler Leonard fight, but it happened in 87 instead of 81-85.
I don't think he is. Kovalev is a superb fighter. I think their skills are about even. I'm picking the bigger man to win in that case.
Good ****ogy. We'll know more after tomorrow night. It Ward impresses it's a 50/50 fight or 55/45 in Kovalev's favor imo. If Ward struggles but wins it's 85/15 a Kovalev win for me.