Kovalev vs Ward: 5 keys to victory for Sergey Kovalev

4) Seize the initiative early

Those who are picking Andre Ward to beat Sergey Kovalev are counting on the American to seamlessly replicate his Super Six form when once against faced with an elite opponent. Even if this does happen, Kovalev backers can still feel confident for a couple of reasons: Kovalev will be the best opponent Ward has ever faced, and Ward last tangled with an elite foe in September of 2012, fighting only four times since.

Because of this, Kovalev will want to seize the initiative early and put Ward under pressure. Sure, Ward dusted off some cobwebs when he beat Sullivan Barrera and Alexander Brand, but those fights served no benefit other than perking up his muscle memory. Kovalev possesses power the likes of which Ward has never felt, and the Russian must make his more skilled foe understand that from the opening round.

Kovalev is a calculating — almost eerily so — destroyer, and he must start this fight in characteristic fashion. Indeed, Ward is also the best opponent Kovalev has ever faced, but the “Krusher” can’t afford to show Ward too much respect. If Kovalev is more reactive than proactive over the first four rounds, he’ll fall behind and be in trouble.

This doesn’t mean that Kovalev needs to come out early blasting all of his artillery. Far from it. Rather, what Kovalev should do is focus on establishing his jab, holding the center of the ring and dictating the terms of exchanges. Kovalev-Ward will be a fight filled with subtle shifts and tactical adjustments; for Kovalev to win, he needs to force Ward to be the first one to abandon his “Plan A.”