Let's suppose Ward's skill defense, and speed has the early edge, can Kovalev force his physicality and the action to win it, the way GGG did on an of the night vs. a very skilled opponent if that means getting hit a bit?
That's a good question. While I don't think Ward has anywhere near the raw power required to go a-slugging with Kovalev, I do think that he has the timing to catch him if he got careless. Sometimes those shots are worse than the ones forced by a stronger opponent, because your own momentum is adding to the power of the punch. I wouldn't get too cocky if I were Kovalev.
Ward will be too strong for Kovalev. Sergei gained some pts for training in my hometown but SOG will have to many levels for Kovalev.
No, this would be completely different. Ward will never go into a shootout as Brook did, otherwise it would be a very short fight. He's a lot of things, but not stupid...
Robney, My point was GGG made Brook fight back at all times, not caring if he was hit! If Ward takes an early lead can Kovalev forget about skills and make it more of a street fight, with lots of leather flying? That is my question.
This. Besides Porter, who isn't that impressive Brook has feasted on domestic level competition. Brook was never a threat to GGG. GGG didn't even bother using defense or his jab and let Brook land on him. Against Lemieux GGG stayed behind his jab and used his footwork and timing to outbox and setup his combinations, which led to the stoppage. This content is protected
No, not going to happen. If Kovalev goes all out, Ward doesn't fight with him and exchanges leather but rather clinch like his life depended on it (and it actually might in that case)
It's often the case that when someone with power comes along that folk think it will tell everytime but as Lennox said about AJ what he's gonna do when he's up against someone he can't KO? It's not a case of Ward having a better chin than the rest cause he most likely doesn't and if Kovalev hit him clean with his power he'd go down the same as anyone but what Ward does is negate the opponents power by getting inside and makes it hard for a power puncher to land clean.
You also clearly dksab if you you think Golovkin let Brook hit him. The slipped shots Brook dodged to land his counters were thrown full force with the intent of knock out. Ingle fighters are thought to slip jabs. Nassem was great at it back in the day. Brook was waiting for that jab to counter with the chocolatey brownie right hand.. Thats why not a lot of jabs came his way. Lemieux was easy to beat with a jab because he's a limited one dimensional hooker . He has no jab , no straight shot. Just two handed swings. Thats it. That's why he eat jabs all night
I can see Kovalev winning by injury. I have a tough time seeing him winning on points, since I think that Ward is the superior technician, but Kovalev's superior power is a great X factor in this fight. Kovalev may break something of wards, cut him, knock him out, or his power could be so great that Ward can't mount an effective offense. All of those are possible avenues for the Krusher to ride to victory in this bout.
