No love lost as Ward and Kovalev resume hostilities
Seven months after first fight, Gareth A Davies in Las Vegas hears how anger has taken root
The animosity between Andre Ward and Sergey Kovalev ahead of their second meeting in Sin City to decide the leading light-heavyweight in the world has been palpable this week. The top two pound-for-pound prizefighters in the sport will tonight settle their heated conflict at the Mandalay Bay Events Center.
After a controversial first encounter seven months ago, in which the undefeated American, Ward, claimed the World Boxing Organisation, World Boxing Association, International Boxing Federation and Ring magazine titles in a highly disputed points victory, the dislike between the two men and their teams has descended into slanging matches, claims and counter-claims of underhand tactics on both sides, and an air of chaos whenever they have shared space at the promotion’s set-pieces. This fight is about supremacy, and bragging rights between two men with vastly different styles: Ward the boxer, and Kovalev the puncher.
The Russian stormed out of a news conference on Thursday after wagging his finger at Ward and demanding that the American “be prepared”, admitting that his sense of injustice over the first fight, and allegations from the other team that he is a racist have meant he has prepared for this battle like no other. The message was clear when he stepped on to the dais: his cap bearing the word “war”.
“I really don’t like this man and I will take it out on him from the first round,” said Kovalev, whose only career defeat was to Ward last November, on a night when the Californian claimed his triumph in a see-sawing contest after being knocked down in the second round. Ward knows how to win – ugly, or otherwise.
“I felt empty after round five in the first fight, I was over-trained,” explained Kovalev. “When I see his face, I want to punch him. I want to smash his face. I don’t like this guy. Him and his team are liars. He said he gave this rematch as a present to the boxing fans. Don’t lie. It was in the contract that he must give me a rematch or retire.”
Kathy Duva, Kovalev’s promoter, said it was only the second time in history that the No 1 and No 2 pound-for-pound fighters ranked by The Ring magazine have fought each other. Duva believes the tension between the two men could produce a classic second fight. “Somebody suggested to me earlier this week that right before Marvin Hagler-thomas Hearns,
Hearns in particular didn’t like Hagler. They just didn’t like each other. You saw what happened there. The three greatest rounds in boxing history. That could happen if Andre Ward wants to engage. Sergey is not going to let it be boring, or let Ward wrestle.” Ward remains supremely confident. “I plan on him not liking me even more after the fight. I’m cool with that. I don’t dislike the guy. I honestly do have a disdain for my opponents because they’re trying to come and hurt me, literally. But he has a family and I want him to go home safe to them afterwards. But I don’t like a lot of his ways, things I’ve heard him say, though. I’ve never called the man a racist. He has said things and done things with racial overtones. That’s as far as I take it. I don’t know what’s in his heart.”
If the fight goes the championship distance, I expect Ward to retain his titles on points, but Kovalev’s power will be a potent force for the first half of the fight.
Meanwhile, in Germany tonight, Paul Smith (38-6, 22 KOS), the eldest of the four boxing brothers from Liverpool, makes a third challenge for a world title when he faces champion Tyron Zeuge (20-0-1, 11 KOS) for the WBA super middleweight crown.
Andre Ward v Sergey Kovalev is live on Sky Sports 1