50/50, it's as even as it gets, but I'm standing by Kova late stoppage while behind on the cards, but I will give Ward his full credit if he takes it WAR Kova!!!
A few things make me pick Kovalev: 1) He carries that power for the FULL twelve. 2) Ward's last decent opponent/scrap was against Carl Froch. FIVE YEARS AGO! 3) Kov is CONSTANTLY fighting the best AND beating them. 4) Ward has slowed down and not looked great at LHW. 5) Ward has never seen this kind of power, where Kov has had a glimpse of this style in Hopkins. I see Ward getting rocked early on, not being able to execute his game plan, overwhelmed, and stopped around the 10th. Fantastic fight between two of the very best. We should be overjoyed that this fight is happening!
His best win is against a FORTY NINE year old hopkins. There isn't another fighter on his record that comes close to wards level. That's not to say ward is still on the same level he was before his lay off either only time will tell, But Kov hasn't fought anybody truly great lets be honest.
Ward's best win at LH is against a 34 year old nobody. The truth is fighting against Smith, Brand and Berrera do not prepare you to fight kovalev.
They prepare you as much as fighting chilemba prepares you for fighting against ward. Wards best win at LH takes nothing away from the fact he has fought at much higher level at a lower weight class, To assume his best win at LH negates that previous experience is silly such experience is priceless.. The weight jump for ward is one hes naturally grown into. Hes not eaten up to the weight he simply can't make his old weight anymore. Kovalev has looked very good fighting the opposition hes faced, even though hopkins was old as hell he showed he has great boxing ability, But the fact remains hes never faced anybody remotely close to wards level. a 49 year old hopkins is no comparison. Kovalev for me is still an unknown quantity and for that reason i have to look at this as a 50/50 fight.
But they have a very similar style. Who has Ward beaten since Froch that was decent? Dawson was drained Smith was obese
Style maybe yes they have some similarities but you are fighting a man with 49 year old reflexes, vitality and desire. I am sure ward will have the same style at 49 but he sure as hell won't be anywhere near as good. Just look at roy jones. You are right ward hasn't fought anybody truly great since froch, But the fact remains he did beat froch and convincingly. The point is such win's still have relevance to his ability's regardless if hes had time out, That time out may have taken its toll, Can he still perform at the same level? We don't know, But people seem quick to write off wards prior accomplishments like they are meaningless and have no relevance which is silly. Those world level experiences don't just leave you they are extremely valuable and relevant to this fight. I see kov similar to wilder in the way hes looks great against lower level opposition but we don't know how things will go when he gets in with another elite fighter. He might dominate he might not.
Chilemba has fought at a much higher level than Ward's recent opponents and is a very tricky and awkward customer who is well versed in spoiling his opponent's work. Yes Ward has fought credible opponents 5 years ago. I repeat 5 years ago. Wards fans can't seem to get their head around that that is a considerable length of time. I'd also argue he has looked slower and easier to hit since his step up to LHW. He also failed to impress against a 40 year old nobody where he was consistently missing his target.
Taking the Kovalev fight suggests the fires are still burning pretty bright... as we all know, there are easier (albeit less lucrative) fights out there for Ward. As for not being as impressive, I tend to agree. But will 95% of the best of Ward be enough? We'll see soon enough!
Couldn't agree more,Ward may have gone up a weight class but truth is he could have always fought at that weight,the tune ups were just that and I expect him to be better for it,why get into a war with a Beterbiev or Fonfara to tune up,Ward knows what he's about and I've the upmost respect for him taking on someone that the lineal champ has ducked.
Not really due to it being five years ago and Kovalev is a hell of a lot more physical and stronger than Carl. You simply cannot prepare for a man like Kovalev by fighting the Paul Smith's of this world.
I don't think this will be a problem. I disagree with those who say Ward has looked bad at 175. I think he understandably was a little rusty but overall as a fighter I think he is just as good as he ever was. Whether that is enough remains to be seen though because Kovalev is a more difficult challenge than any of Wards previous opponents
He's going to have to bring his best performance since signing with Roc Nation in order to beat Kovalev. The most important thing for him is to avoid getting hit with anything flush for 12 rounds. It's a very tough feat to accomplish, but if he's on his A+ game than I think it's at least possible.
