Sergey Kovalev vs Andre Ward: 2016′s true superfight is one step closer

A candidate for ‘most peculiar high-end boxing contest’ took place this week, as unbeaten light-heavyweight champion Sergey Kovalev retained his WBO, WBA and IBF titles against Isaac Chilemba in Russia, near his hometown. On a Monday.

Making the bout a little more odd was the fact that Kovalev has already signed on to fight Andre Ward on November 19 in the US. That contest, between two reputable and undefeated fighters in the top 10 pound-for-pound rankings, has a lot of fight fans intrigued. The Chilemba defence, of course, did not.

While it’s not unheard of for fighters to sign up for, verbally agree or even just make public their intent to take a fight before they’ve even fought their most immediate adversary, it is of course often ill-advised.

A fighter such as Kovalev didn’t have a great deal to fear in Chilemba - who earned praise for going the distance with the champion after withstanding heavy pressure from the start but was beaten via unanimous decision - but the fact the boxing world was very much looking ahead to Kovalev-Ward can be as damaging to the first fight’s financial take as the boxer himself looking too far ahead can to his win-loss record.

What the win over Chilemba accomplished, other than giving the fearsome Russian a title defense as the all-conquering local hero on a homecoming, was free up his schedule for the fight that could define Kovalev’s standing in today’s boxing climate, especially with pound-for-pound kings such as Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao retired (for now).

Sergey’s hard-hitting light-heavy dominance vs Ward’s almost-untouchable but rusted-by-injury-woes super-middleweight game has many fans and insiders alike struggling to commit to a definitive prediction - and that’s the sort of fight that will wake up casual fans who wouldn’t normally clamour to a fight such as this without the presence of a name superstar such as Floyd or Manny.

Kovalev admitted after the Chilemba bout that the styles clash between he and Ward is what will test him more than anything to date.

“Andre Ward’s got different timing [to Chilemba],” the champion explained. “He’s faster with his legs. He’s not only good in defense but also he can attack.

“He has some defensive tricks. If saying in an advanced way, his defense is more modernized. He can feel his competitor better, he’s got better reaction. He also has good experience.

“After all, he is an Olympic champion. The last American [male] champion at the Olympics. Moreover, he is undefeated. This adds a kind of psychological pressure.

“He is the best in all the categories. But talking of power he is not a crusher. We have different styles. So that is the difference between them. They are counter-punchers.”

Despite the admission of the size of his next task, at least this is Kovalev’s next challenge and he can now begin Ward preparations immediately. Andre, on the other hand, still has his ‘keep-busy’ hurdle to come.

Ward’s light-heavyweight chapter continues on August 6 against Colombia’s Alexander Brand. Kovalev now has the better part of a month over Ward to prepare for November’s blockbuster - and while few are backing Brand to rock the boat by taking the 0 of the ‘Son of God’, Sergey has, at time of writing, sidestepped his banana peel at the very least.

On Monday, Ward was too busy with his own preparations to concern himself with Kovalev vs Chilemba.

“That [Kovalev] is obviously the end game and where we’re trying to get,” Ward told reporters. “But I didn’t watch it. I have to compartmentalize what I’ve got to do right now.

“That’s just how I operate and how I stay focused. I don’t want to juggle two opponents right now. I literally have to focus on one guy and that’s Alexander Brand on August 6. I will not take him lightly.

“If I’m not successful August 6 there is no fight down the road with me and Kovalev and I’m very clear about that.

“Furthermore it’s not just a fight for me, it’s very important for me to look good in that fight, to my standard and to my team’s standard. I have a certain amount of pressure on myself just to go out there and perform and hopefully look good doing it.

“Come August 7 I will begin to think about Sergey Kovalev and what needs to be done to beat him and to get those belts.”