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A potential Fight of the Year candidate awaits boxing fans on November 19th as unified Light Heavyweight champion Sergey Kovalev defends his titles against former super middleweight king, Andre Ward .
Boxer vs Puncher
Known as the Krusher for his knack of knocking out his opponents, Sergey Kovalev has 26 knockouts in 30 total wins. Ward, on the other hand, is one of the sport’s best boxers. He’s accumulated a professional record of 30-0 with 15 knockouts. In his last 10 bouts, Ward has recorded just two knockouts. On the other hand, Kovalev has failed to stop just two fighters in his last 10 bouts.
Their game plans are as obvious as their records. Kovalev would love to engage Ward in a slugfest for the ages. Ward, meanwhile, will be looking to hit and not get hit by the power punching Russian Krusher. With two fighters who excel in their respective fighting styles, this one’s pretty much a toss-up in the truest sense of the word. The oddsmakers agree.
Hard To Pick
Ward opened as a -150 favorite against Kovalev’s +120. Again, these are two Top 5 pound for pound fighters fighting each other in their primes. But in a close call like this, experts tend to think that the safer money is with the better boxer which in this case is Andre Ward. Two months later, the lines have narrowed further at -137 to +110 but still favor Andre Ward.
As for the method of victory, the oddsmakers have set Ward winning by decision at +110 and Kovalev by KO or disqualification at +200. Many boxing experts feel that if the fight is going the distance, it will favor the boxer Ward while if it’s ending abruptly, it’s gonna be the hard hitting Kovalev who comes out victorious.
Weight Difference
Weight will not be an issue for Andre Ward but without doubt he will be facing a naturally bigger man on November 19. This will only be Ward’s third bout at light heavyweight while Kovalev has resided here since 2009. And Kovalev won’t be just another light heavyweight in the roster, he is the best in the division and is the hardest hitter in the weight class. Sure Ward is an expert in not getting hit, but once he gets hit will be the question. How Ward takes Kovalev’s punches will be the key in this bout. If he can take Kovalev’s punches though, the Krusher may be in for a long night.
Can Box Too
By Saying that Kovalev will primarily win by KO doesn’t mean he can’t box. Kovalev famously outboxed Bernard Hopkins in a career defining fight in 2014. That victory though is a two way school of thought against Andre Ward. Kovalev dropped Hopkins but couldn’t finish him off. So Ward, being a sound technical boxer like Hopkins, could go the distance with Kovalev too and have the better shot at beating Kovalev.
Having said that, the longer this fight goes, the more it favors Andre Ward. If this fight is going the distance, Andre Ward is going to pick up that decision win.
