Thought Ward was smaller..

Agreed.

Kovalev looked like **** in his last fight - probably due to the lack of meldonium. I'm pretty sure Ward will be the stronger and better conditioned fighter in this contest - especially considering Kovalev wont have his power pellets to fall back on...

 

Kovalev is used to controlling the pace and distance in his fights. Ward will make Kovalev fight at the range and pace that he wants. I won't be surprised when Kovalev starts fighting off the back foot, which he is not used to.

 

Kovalev won a wide decision and hurt Chilemba. Not bad over the 3rd or 4th best LHW in the world.

 

All Kovalev has to do is land. Ward just doesn't have the firepower to hang in there. This is for the LightHeavyweight championship of the world. Not the Featherweight Championship. Kovalev is a big man with a big punch.

 

This idea that Ward is strong is BS. He's not. He's a slick fighter with a lot of skill. But he can't hurt a fly.

 

As a flag waving American, I'm going with Ward over Putin's Puppet Kovalev!

 

You act like Kovalev is Bob Foster. I haven't seen this huge punch you speak of. Kovalev beats people up not "one punch" stops them. Ward is about three levels higher than anyone Kovalev has fought. Class will tell.

 

The fight will be essentially over if Kovalev starts fighting off of the back foot. Personally, I wouldn't be surprised to see Kovalev get stopped in this one. He only knows how to fight coming forward and I expect he'll eat a TON of jabs to the body and left hooks upstairs...

 

LMAO.

Chilemba isn't even in the same solar system with Ward skillwise.

 

Ward has the best defense in the game. What will the TOMATO KAN Krusher do when Ward takes his #1 [and only] weapon away from him?

 

You don't hurt people with your strength. Still, Ward has more than enough power to keep Kovalev honest, if he ends up eating too many counters he'll be KO'd.

 

He might not hit hard, but the strength is real.

Just like Holyfield, Bradley, and if we want to go old school, Gene Fullmer, some guys are disproportionately strong when it comes to clinching and infighting than their punching power would indicate. Kovalev's not going to have an easy time if he can't pick Ward off from smothering his distance and making it ugly.

 

kovalev is incredibly strong, he just doesnt look it. but i have to say ward is strong himself, in the clinch, ward is better but not stronger.

 

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I watched a thing about Naseem today and the penny dropped about straight forward and back fighters,Naseem with his footwork and angles was a nightmare to face,I think both Kovalev and GGG have faith in their chins and plough forward in the knowledge that it's always worked,I'll be interested to see how it works against Ward?