Andre Ward isn’t ready for Kovalev says Abel Sanchez

By Boxing News - 10/24/2016 - Comments

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By Allan Fox: Light heavyweight champion Sergey “Krusher” Kovalev’s former trainer Abel Sanchez thinks unbeaten former super middleweight champion Andre “SOG” Ward (30-0, 15 KOs) isn’t ready to take on a top 175lb fighter like Kovalev (30-0-1, 26 KOs), and he expects him to lose their fight on November 19 on HBO pay-per-view at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Sanchez thinks the 32-year-old Ward was a great fighter many years ago when he was in the Super Six tournament from 2009 to 2011, but that fighter no longer seems to exist. Ward has changed, and Sanchez has seen that. Further, Sanchez feels that Ward is taking too quick of a step up in facing the 33-year-old Kovalev in just his third fight since moving up to light heavyweight.

In terms of preparation, Ward’s preparation for the Kovalev fight has been poor. Ward has only fought once against a real light heavyweight since moving up to the division in 2015. The only true 175lb fighter that Ward has fought since making his comeback last year was Sullivan Barrera. Ward’s other two fights in his comeback have come against arguably mediocre super middleweights in Alexander Brand and Paul Smith. It’s anyone’s guess why Ward and his promoters at Roc Nation Sports decided to use super middleweights to get him ready for a fight against Kovalev. It seems they’ve done things backwards. The types of opponents that Ward has been facing are guys that would get him ready to fight at 168 against champions like James DeGale, Badou Jack and Gilberto Ramirez.

Sanchez said this to Hustleboss.com about his belief that Kovalev will beat Ward:
“I still think Andre hasn’t done enough to get ready for Kovalev,” said Sanchez. “Since his great days in the Super Six tournament years ago, I don’t think he’s done enough and is sharp enough. Kovalev is heck of a fighter. Kovalev is a big dude. He’s a 175 pounder. He’s never fought below that. He’s very strong. He has heavy hands. I think he boxes well enough to thwart any charge Andre would have. I think if he fights like he fought Hopkins and keeps to the outside, then he beats Andre by decision. He’s very determined. He works very hard. He has heavy hands, and he’s the type of guy that you’re going to have to do something to stop him. He’s the type of mean-spirited and mean-hearted guy that it going to hurt you. Andre is a professional. Andre was a great fighter at one time. I don’t know if that greatness is back yet. He’s going to fight to his ability. I’m sure Virgil [Hunter] is going to have him very well prepared. I just wish he had a couple of more fights, tough fights to prepare him sharpness-wise for him to move up to 175. Andre is going to put up a heck of a fight, and I wouldn’t be surprised if he wins. But if you’re asking me who I think is going to win based on activity, I think it’s Kovalev. Don’t count Andre out. He’s a heck of a fighter,” said Sanchez.

It’s going to be difficult for Ward to do much against Kovalev if he stays on the outside and throws his powerful jabs all night long. Kovalev has a long reach, and he’s good at connecting with his jabs with a lot of power. Ward isn’t a come forward type of fighter. He can attack with single shots, but that’s not going to be enough for him to beat Kovalev.

It’s too bad that Ward didn’t get the proper experience for the Kovalev fight.

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