Sergey Kovalev vs Andre Ward: 5 reasons to watch

Kovalev-Ward mirrors De La Hoya-Trinidad in magnitude

Remember when elite, undefeated, pound-for-pound fighters at (or near) their respective peaks were eager to fight each other? If such a concept seems like a mirage or a practical joke, you can be forgiven. But make no mistake, Sergey Kovalev-Andre Ward is a genuine A-level match-up, a potentially historic fight that fans could be revisiting for years to come.

Oscar De La Hoya-Felix Trinidad was billed as the “Fight of the Millennium.” Entering the contest, De La Hoya was 31-0 with 26 knockouts and was the WBC welterweight champion; Trinidad sported a glossy 35-0 mark with 30 stoppages and held the IBF strap. Everything was at stake: undefeated records, world titles and pound-for-pound supremacy.

Kovalev-Ward matches De La Hoya-Trinidad in this sense. A unified championship is on the line, as are both men’s perfect records. In terms of the actual bout, though, Kovalev-Ward promises to be even more compelling, and that’s because of the threat of Kovalev’s power and how he will inevitably draw Ward — who has a completely contrasting style — into a fight. How Ward copes with that will prove fascinating. Sure, De La Hoya and Trinidad were both tremendous punchers, but they never meshed as expected.

One facet where Kovalev-Ward will fall well short of De La Hoya-Trinidad is pay-per-view revenue. The “Fight of the Millennium” generated 1.4 million buys and the guaranteed purses for De La Hoya and Trinidad were 21 and 8.5 million, respectively. But in no way should this diminish Kovalev-Ward. And even though De La Hoya-Trinidad was hardly a classic, it’s controversial verdict (a majority decision for Trinidad) is still hotly debated. Don’t be surprised if Kovalev-Ward gives fans and pundits argument fodder for years.