Is there a growling feeling that Ward can beat Kovalev?

I favor Kovalev but if Ward can get back to where he was at the time of the Dawson fight I give him a great chance

Vs Barrera I thought he looked slower and was less sharp. I also felt Barreras jab got in too much. Kovalev doesnt need many shots to hurt a guy bad and Ward isnt going to be able to avoid all night

I got Kovalev by stoppage in a close fight

 

The only time I get a growling feeling is when there's a full moon.

But I expect Ward to make it difficult for Kova, certainly when he has the ref on his side.

 

75-25 Kova.

 

I don't think he'll shell up. I think he'll out box him in the pocket, jabbing his way in slipping the big shots and hoping the damage can't be inflicted up close.

Kov is absolutely prime as is Ward.

 

He had his power late on against Hopkins though.

 

Really a pic em fight with a slight lean towards Ward.

 

This is a fight to savor. A fight that has been a long time coming and is a true pick-em-fight. Both guys are going to face opponents of a higher-level than they have ever faced before. Anybody who says they 'know' who's going to win is full of ****, or has an agenda.

Might be the best fight of the year.

 

I think Ward wins and makes it look easy. I believe he'll come in stronger than Kovalev and surprise everybody including Sergei who thought it'd be the other way around. Ward wide UD.

 

I don't know if it's going to be an exciting fight. Its a bout featuring Andre Ward.

But it's no doubt the most significant fight legacy wise in years. Nothing really comes close to it.

 

I actually feel sorry for Ward, he had to take this fight after backing himself in a corner even though he didn't really want it deep down.

He's going to have to kiss his kids goodbye for the last time on November 19th when The krusher finally gets his hands on him and prove to the world that it was a mismatch from the beginning

 

It's as close to a 50/50 fight on paper as you can get. People has felt this way since it was first announced.

Both guys are prime. Both are roughly the same height. Both are well-schooled in fundamentals. Ward is faster and defensively better. Kovalev is more powerful and offensively better.

It's the best matchup in boxing. Ward could win a decision with a slight chance of TKO and Kovalev has a good chance to win by KO/TKO and a decent chance at a decision.

 

When the fight was first mentioned, especially after Ward fought Smith, I thought Kovalev would just walk through him. I'm not so sure now. As the fight gets closer, especially after seeing him against Barrera, I'm starting to think he'll just find a way to turn it into a snooze fest, frustrate Kovalev and steal the rounds. Of course, with Krusher's power, It can be over any time. Ward will have to exhibit close to perfect defence and fight fully focused for 12 rounds. I suspect he can.

I'm leaning towards Ward by a very close decision in a dull fight.

 

I find it hilarious how certain people are already making, or attempting to make via subterfuge subtle excuses for Ward if he loses. Being the 168 World champion does not signify you can defeat Kovalev, defeating Kessler or Froch (brawlers/sluggers with slight technical abilities) does not signify you can outbox Kovalev (a superior technician, elite boxing pedigree, great point scorer as well). Winning the Super six tournament does not signify you can clean out the lightheavy weight division, or defeat Kovalev. Are you telling me Abraham, Kessler, Froch can outbox Kovalev? Give me a break atsch A 49 year old Hopkins can outbox Froch, Kessler or Abraham, easy work for Hopkins, these three one dimensional plodders are getting severely overrated, but what does one expect from boxing fans

Also Dawson was drained when he fought Ward, after he fought ward, he got TKO'd by Stevenson in the first round, and lost to Karpency later, what does this tell you about Wards victory over Dawson :think

Regardless this will be a fun match to watch, no matter how SHORT it is.

 

Look, Ward is definitely very talented, but I think his style is wrong for dealing with a stronger boxer with crushing power like Kova. He's like Ward's worst nightmare.

 

If Ward is at his best then I would slightly favour him, but we won't know until fight night how much the inactivity over the past four years has hampered him.

I agree with a previous poster that the Ward-Hopkins comparison is a little off. Whilst there are some similarities between them, Ward is a more versatile fighter than the latter day Hopkins.

For me, the decider will be how Ward handles Kovelev's power, or rather, how he handles the mere thought of his power. Kova is a good boxer, he is fundamentally solid and has a great grasp of distance, timing and pacing. However, what also helps make him look an even better boxer than what he is is the effect he has on his opponents mentality, and subsequently, their fighting style. His opponents often go into survival mode, retreating for dear life, reducing their output to a bare minimum, fighting with no real game plan and being reactive rather than proactive. When you have an opponent with this mindset, it is easier for you to be the boss in the ring as there is less danger and you can therefore take more risks and look good doing it. Ward can not afford to fall into this pattern. He is the better boxer and has the ability to beat Kova if he fights the right game plan and doesn't make any big mistakes. To do this he has to be wary or Kova's power, but not scared of it. He needs to be more of a back foot fighter and not tussle on the inside as much as he sometimes does, but he can't be in full on back foot, low output, no risk mode.