Kovalev's performance against Chilemba was revealing to me. Kovalev cannot land anything if you take away his right hand. I saw him miss with that 1-2 so many times. Chilemba is a good fighter and a talented fighter. He arguably won against Bellew in their first fight and the Eleider Alvarez was razor thin. However, he couldn't get the nod. Andre Ward is LEVELS above Chilemba and thats a fact. I have seen all of Wards big fights and the man is smart and tricky as hell in the ring. Respectable power too that keeps his opponents thinking. I see Kovalev missing tons of shots and getting tagged with the left hand all night long. I used to think that Ward was a bit past it and Kovalev on a tear. But this fight vs Chilemba seriously has put doubt in my mind. I dont want to hear ANYTHING about Kovalev being sick or having an off night. Kovalev was fighting his style of fight. He will do the same against Ward and better than he tried against Chilemba but Ward is on another level. Ward by UD
I thought Chilemba was difficult to hit but he didnt out punch Kovalev Ward may be able to shut down Kovalevs offense but I dont see him being extremely offensive either Chilemba was pretty difficult til Kovalev landed flush and dropped him and then the fight was hardly competitive after that. I can see Ward winning the early going but hes not going to avoid everything for 12 rounds and Kovalev only needs 1 punch to change a fight
1 punch can definitely change the fight. Ward has shown a good chin. Maybe he gets dropped in a round and buzzed in another. That may not be enough to beat SOG, especially in the USA. Ward will be given the close swing rounds. Just the way it is.
Not necessarily, most agree Ward dominated FRoch but two judges had it 115-113 so your homefield advantage judges may not be so one sided for Ward I think Kovalev eventually gets him
Kovalev is likely going to fight ward more like how he fought Hopkins than how he fought Chilemba or Pascal. Kov had little respect for these guys and they couldn't hurt him. Kovalev knows that Ward like Hopkins is a great boxer so he will adjust to that level and fight cautiously and patiently. But I think even if he kov smoked a doobie beforehand and fought Ward worse than he did against Chilemba he'd still beat Ward. Kovalev will likely not do this cause he'll want to prove he is the better boxer and tactician and will want to show that he is the Monster of your worst nightmares. Kovalev by brilliant annihilation.
Ward has got it all.. he was a middleweight that had to step up to 178lbs to allow for space.. and beat Deontay Wilder's conqueror at the Olympics..
could be his undoing. Hagler fell in to this trap. He didn't want to show he could beat SRL, no, he wanted to show that he could outbox him. Huge mistake.
True, could be, but I think all of that better boxing will be serving Kovalev to set up what he loves to do best, and that is bludgeon his opponent, which is his ultimate goal. Kovalev in my opinion does not seem to be the type who is so inflexible that if what he was doing was not working he would not change it or adjust in the moment due to pride, ego, stubborness etc. His goal is to win first and foremost and to do so emphatically. I just think with a great boxer like Ward, he will fight his smartest to show he can compete on that level with the ultimate goal being to have Ward stumbling around the ring. It will certainly serve him well to fight smart, to not engage at times, to feint effectively, to be unpredictable, to improvise, all with very bad intentions at the end of his punches to throw Ward off and make the bludgeoning an "easier" affair. Kovalev has a lot of respect for Ward and knows he will be fighting one of the best fighters in recent times. Here, talking about Ward right after the Chimbela (whom he did not initially view as much like Ward) fight with a little comparison he said: "Andre Ward's got different timing. He's faster with his legs," Kovalev said. "He's not only good in defense but also he can attack. He has some defensive tricks. His defense is more modernized. He can feel his competitor better. He's got better reaction. He also has good experience. After all, he is an Olympic champion -- the last American (male) champion at the Olympics (in 2004). Moreover, he is undefeated. This adds a kind of psychological pressure. He is the best in all the categories. But talking of power he is not a crusher. We have two different styles. So that is the difference between (Ward and Chilemba). They are counterpunchers."
