Kovalev’s promoter thinks Andre Ward fight possible in 2016

By Boxing News - 07/17/2015 - Comments

ward7777(Photo credit: Tom Hogan – Hoganphotos/Roc Nation Sports) By Dan Ambrose: IBF/WBA/WBO light heavyweight champion Sergey Kovalev (27-0-1, 24 KOs) could be in the ring in late 2016 against super middleweight Andre Ward (30-0, 15 KOs). Kovalev’s promoter Kathy Duva has had preliminary discussions with Ward’s promoters at Roc Nation Sports and it was a positive talk. The fight is still a long ways off, but it’s now looking like it will happen.

For both fighters, the match-up may be the best shot they have for a big money fight in 2016. Ward is in a situation where no one wants to fight him at 168. Ward lost his best chance of a big money fight when Carl Froch retired this week without attempting to avenge his 12 round decision loss from 2011.

If Ward sticks it out waiting for a big money fight to fall into his lap, he might be waiting a long time. Facing Kovalev is the easiest fight to make for Ward that can make him money.

“We had some very preliminary conversations,” said David Itskowitch of Roc Nation Sports to ESPN.com. “We’re interested in that fight at some point. It’s only a matter of when.”

Ward and Kovalev are in the same boat. They can defend their titles against the contenders, but there’s not much there for them in their divisions. About the best Kovalev can hope for is a title defense against Artur Beterbiev, and that would be a fight that might not be worth it for Kovalev due to the risk involved. Ward can defend his WBA super middleweight title, but he’ll likely be waiting around for ages before he gets a worthwhile fight.

In the past, Ward has had fights against Chad Dawson, Froch, Arthur Abraham and Mikkel Kessler. But unfortunately for Ward, once the Super Six tournament ended, all of his big fights dried up. Inside the tournament, they were forced to fight him. But once the tournament ended, Ward’s career has slowed down to a crawl with him only fighting three times in the last four years.

“We have been talking to Andre Ward’s people all week,” Duva said to ESPN.com. “And I think we all agree the fight is going to happen. It is just a matter of when. The talks have been very amicable. They are deciding who they want to fight next. By the end of next year, maybe a little sooner, you’re going to get to see that fight.”

Ward will likely fight once more in 2015, and then another time in 2016 before a potential fight against Kovalev can take place.

Ward would be showing a lot of courage in taking on Kovalev, because he doesn’t have the same kind of punching power as the Russian fighter. Ward can get guys out of there, but he usually as to and a lot of punches before doing so. In a fight against Kovalev, Ward would likely look to smother his offense in the same way he did with Froch by taking the fight to the inside and not letting Kovalev get his shots off. Ward could also stay on the outside and use his speed to pot shot the slower Kovalev.



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