By Jeff Aranow: Sullivan Barrera (17-0, 12 KOs) says he’s going to be hunting for a knockout this Saturday night in his fight against former world champion Andre Ward (28-0, 15 KOs). Barrera knows that he’s going to need to KO Ward to make sure that he doesn’t wind up on the short end of the stick in this fight.

Ward-Ward is taking place in Ward’s home city at the Oracles Arena in Oakland, California. The crowd will be on Ward’s side and rooting him on for as long as the fight lasts. Barrera feels that with his power and size advantage, he’ll be able to KO the slightly younger 31-year-old Ward.

Barrera will be taking the fight to Ward the entire time. That’s a smart thing to do because Ward’s last opponent Paul Smith fought a stupid fight by staying on the outside all night long, and letting Ward jab and pot shot him at will until Ward eventually stopped Smith in the 9th round in their fight last June.

Ward will likely be hitting and retreating immediately all night long to avoid getting hit by the harder puncher Barrera. However, Barrera is a come forward type of fighter who likes to put a lot of heat on his opponents. Ward will be using head movement and leaning back to keep from getting hit with head shots.

Ward’s body will be there for Barrera, who likes to throw body shots. Ward will need to take those shots, and find some way to neutralize Barrera’s power. He’s probably not going to be able to do it by moving around the ring. If Ward tries to smother Barrera’s work on the inside, it might not work because Barrera is very strong and big. He’s going to have the size advantage over Ward in this fight.

“I have to knock him out. It’s the main mentality I have,” said Barrera to Ringtv.com. “I’m well-prepared. I’m mentally and psychologically strong. The most important thing for me is to just be relaxed and ready. He (Ward) has to be more worried about my style. I know how to box because I was exposed to the style that many Cubans utilize, especially from a distance. But I know my strength is being able to be aggressive and to set up my punches. I’m a difficult fighter for anyone to face.”

Barrera is the harder puncher of the two by far, but he’s not that fast. Ward will have the speed advantage in this fight by a wide margin. Whether he can use his speed to get the better of Barrera remains to be seen.

Barrera is the type of fighter who keeps coming forward and throwing shots. He’s not going to just give up if he gets hit by Ward. You can count on Barrera continuing to walk forward throwing his big punches, and throwing a lot to the body. Ward is not going to be able to stop Barrera’s body shots no matter how hard he tries.

“I have skills just like Ward. I’m stronger and bigger. I know opportunities only come once, so I have to shine,” said Barrera.

I see this as a very difficult fight for Ward. He could lose the fight. Even if he wins, it’s going to be one of his toughest of his career.