Andre ward have the experience of fighting powerful guys. He beat Arthur abraham, Mikkel kessler, and Allen green. He was able to take away there main weapon. By effectively taking them out of there gameplan. I see ward being able to use his inside fighting to win the early rounds but Kovalev will have his moments. I see ward winning 8 rounds to Kovalev 4. It will be a great fight to watch but ward technical boxing ability will win him this fight.
What Kovalev has been showing is just characteristic as that shown by the few fighters from Eastern Europe ( as Yuri Arbachakov, Kostya Tszyu, Klitschkos, Golovkin ) that has/had been successful in pro boxing--power and good boxing fundamentals. But those qualities are adequate only against certain types of fighters. For example, Chatchai Sasakul was able to beat Arbachakov with better boxing skills; Vince Philipis and later Ricky Hatton was able to over power Tyszu and Lennox Lewis, Lamont Brewster and Corrie Sanders were able to stop the Klitschkos. I think Ward has the talent and the tools to defuse Kovalev. In one of his better nights, Ward can pitch a no hitter against the overrated Russian.
I like Kovalev a lot b/c (like an Edwin Valero), he's a P4P puncher AND has a really violent, high volume style.
He doesn't look to hit you with one punch and put you away, he's constantly working and busting you up.
SOG is too stingy though. He'll be able to mess with Kovalev's rhythm, not let him work the volume and stick the jab in his face.
If they end up on the inside, Ward will beat him up there. IMO, Ward is by far the best inside fighter in the game right now, he'll tear you up and frustrate in that arena.
It's a great fight, and obviously Kovalev can hurt Ward and it's likely he might do it at some point. Other than that, I don't see him taking too many rounds of SOG.
Odds are No. Ward is to smart to stand toe to toe. Ward will counter him, and move away from his power. Kovalev does have the power to hurt any one, and has a punchers chance, and could hurt Ward, but outboxing him won't happen
Ward by UD 116-112
I think Kovalev could definitely give ward a run for his money. Naturally a bit bigger, extremely heavy handed, and he's way better technically than he gets credit for. Kovalev was a world class amateur so you know he can box.
His power always gives him a punchers chance, but can he win 7 rounds vs Ward?
