Far too often boxing lets itself down when the best fighters avoid each other. The sport is littered with examples throughout history. On Saturday night though two of the finest fighters of this generation in Sergey Kovalev and Andrew Ward put their legacies on the line in a bid to be crowned the pound for pound number one pugilist on earth.
Physical titles on the table seem irrelevant given the magnitude of the contest. For the record, Kovalev enters as the unified Light Heavyweight Champion and Ward the named challenger. Neither man has been defeated in a clash billed as the puncher vs the boxer.
However, to simply class Kovalev as a heavy hitter would be unjust. After destroying Nathan Cleverly to acquire his first world championship belt three years ago, ‘Krusher’ has swept aside respected opponents including Jean Pascal and Isaac Chilemba. He also showcased tremendous ability to outbox future Hall of Famer Bernard Hopkins in a manner of victory many did not expect two years ago.
Whilst Kovalev has many facets to his arsenal, there is no doubt that Ward is the superior boxer. Having won gold at the Athens Olympics, the Californian has not lost a fight since the age of thirteen. Ward’s 2011 ‘Super Six’ tournament victory at 168lbs also showcased a level of talent which led to many classing him as one of the best fighters on the planet.
Ward’s career since this triumph has been dogged with inactivity due to promotional differences and injury. Momentum and profile have therefore suffered as he now aims to make up for lost time. In contrast, Kovalev is on a crest of a wave and looking to take advantage of the golden period he is currently enduring.
In this classic 50-50 bout, both men deserve credit for agreeing to the matchup in what is boxing’s biggest fight of the year.
Article courtesy of Neel Khagram
@BehindTheFight
www.behindthefight.com
Physical titles on the table seem irrelevant given the magnitude of the contest. For the record, Kovalev enters as the unified Light Heavyweight Champion and Ward the named challenger. Neither man has been defeated in a clash billed as the puncher vs the boxer.
However, to simply class Kovalev as a heavy hitter would be unjust. After destroying Nathan Cleverly to acquire his first world championship belt three years ago, ‘Krusher’ has swept aside respected opponents including Jean Pascal and Isaac Chilemba. He also showcased tremendous ability to outbox future Hall of Famer Bernard Hopkins in a manner of victory many did not expect two years ago.
Whilst Kovalev has many facets to his arsenal, there is no doubt that Ward is the superior boxer. Having won gold at the Athens Olympics, the Californian has not lost a fight since the age of thirteen. Ward’s 2011 ‘Super Six’ tournament victory at 168lbs also showcased a level of talent which led to many classing him as one of the best fighters on the planet.
Ward’s career since this triumph has been dogged with inactivity due to promotional differences and injury. Momentum and profile have therefore suffered as he now aims to make up for lost time. In contrast, Kovalev is on a crest of a wave and looking to take advantage of the golden period he is currently enduring.
In this classic 50-50 bout, both men deserve credit for agreeing to the matchup in what is boxing’s biggest fight of the year.
Article courtesy of Neel Khagram
@BehindTheFight
www.behindthefight.com
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