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03/28/2024 06:50:46 am

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Boxing News & Rumors: Sergey Kovalev's Trainer Thinks Andre Ward Is Too Weak For His Fighter

Sergey Kovalev (L)

(Photo : Getty Images) Sergey Kovalev (L) punishes Jean Pascal during their light heavyweight bout in March 2015.

The trainer of current light heavyweight unified champion Sergey Kovalev, John David Jackson, said that reigning super middleweight titlist Andre Ward would be too weak to fight his fighter at 175 pounds.

Boxing News 24's Dan Ambrose indicated that Jackson pointed out the 31-year-old American's lack of punching power and flawed technique as his possible downfall when he eventually faces the undefeated Russian late this year or early in 2016.

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Ambrose said that Jackson had been studying Ward's fights ever since rumors of a match between him and his fighter went out since the final quarter of last year. The former middleweight boxer had claimed to know "four basic flaws" in the unbeaten American's boxing style that will allow Kovalev to knock him out if ever they see each other in the ring.

Jackson then said that he had nothing against Ward. It is just that his trainer, Virgil Hunter, had not corrected those "mistakes", which can easily be exposed and capitalized by hard-hitting boxers like Kovalev, as per East Side Boxing.

"You think with one of Sergey's shots, is he gonna be able to stand around with him? When Sergey gonna hit you he'll change your whole perception of a fight," said Jackson.

However, Kovalev thinks that Ward has the skills to really challenge him at the light heavyweight decision when the latter finally decides to move up in weight.

"He's a fighter on a high level. He's an Olympic champion. He's the best right now in the super middleweight division," Kovalev told Boxing Scene. "Right now, I'm in the light heavyweight division and Andre Ward is still in super middleweight. This is a sport. I'm open to fight anyone."

There were rumors that Roc Nation Sports, who handles Ward, and Kovalev's promoter, Main Events' Kathy Duva, have already had quite a few meetings with regards to the two 6-foot fighters' potential bout.

It is speculated that it might happen early next year although Gennady Golovkin's acceptance of a middleweight unification bout with David Lemieux this October might force Ward to face Kovalev this year.

Ward and his camp had been targeting a match with the Kazakh brawler this fall, but GGG decided on unifying the middleweight belts first after he fell out of the Floyd Mayweather Jr. sweepstakes this September.

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