I just think Kovalev is going to have a hard time connecting on ward. Ward still looks da.mn good defensively as the reflexes are still there and Kovalev doesnt have fast hands. Ward counters him all night and wraps him up when he gets close. Ward by decision.
the great thing is we will actually find this out, instead of getting duped into thinking it could happenand fantasising about it.
no super joe waited till his kovalev was 40something and halftanked, so ward would have to "technically" wait for that to happen. superjoe is on par with those other 40something atg destoryers like that guy who beat up old duran, or the one who struggled with 40 year old leonard. This is very different - only way you cant see that is if you cannot fathom what prime means.
In short - No! Ward will be outboxed And out-punched! Still a damn good ang "must watch" fight, though...
I think Kov is going to fight cautiously and just nail the hell out of him when he gets his opening. He's not going to chase anything. He's going to adapt to the fight and when he gets a spot he is going to break it. He's going to beat him down and then knock him out in the later rounds.
Its because both are special fighters and so many factors come into play: how much of the old ward is there? How does kovalev deal with a slick, talented fighter who isn't over 40? How does the weight difference effect ward? Etc. Real tough one
Damn if hr does he instantly becomes a top 20 ATG and if he beats beterbiev, Stevenson and the other top guys he's a top 10 atg and the greatest of his generation
70/30 in reality that Ward will win a decision, though the boxing public will see it as a 50/50. Ward isn't going to let Kovalev touch him. Taking punishment from Ward as Kovalev goes in will just make it easier for Ward to score more points. Ward by UD all the way.