Would you consider Ward/Kovalev 1 a classic?

No....

 

Classic in the sense of two high level fighters at their best duking it out, yes.

 

No. I didn't like the way it was officiated by the ref. Every time Ward got in his preferred range he was immediately placed in a chokehold. Kovalev looked a bit lackadaisical in the second half of the fight, and Ward looked overly cautious for much of the fight as well. There's not much replay value in it.

 

Ward-Kovalev I was very good boxing that led to more very good boxing.

It was a fight the sport needed, it was easily the most significant contest of 2016, and it produced quality competitive action. Not every fight can be sublime, but we always hope that the prestige matchups will at least make for engaging viewing, and this one delivered on that front (certainly much moreso than, say, Mayweather-Pacquiao).

 

No

Ward has never been in a classic.

 

A classic case of a foreign fighter getting shafted in Vegas.