They say timing is everything.
In the sport of boxing, this idea rings true like the piercing sound of the opening bell. More so than any other sport, timing in the ring is critical. Proper timing can determine whether a fighter finishes a bout celebrating on top of the ropes or lying unconscious underneath them.
The timing in prizefights is often subtle. A small feint of the shoulder can create a major opening. A lateral step in the right direction can help close the show.
Unfortunately though, when it comes to boxing, promoters and networks often spend too much time focusing on timing outside the ring. That’s why we often see an endless stream of ‘tune up’ fights for star fighters. Instead of matching the best against the best, there always seems to be a three-fight build-up necessary before boxing fans are presented with a good, competitive fight. And oftentimes, some contract dispute, sanctioning issue or injury tanks the ‘big fight’ before it happens and resets the buildup back to square one.
The time for Sergey Kovalev vs Andre Ward is now.
There’s never been a better time for a matchup between the two best light heavyweights on the planet (sorry Adonis Stevenson). 2016 has been a year of blockbuster mismatches such as Canelo Alvarez vs Amir Khan and Gennady Golovkin vs Kell Brook.
Outside of the bouts between Keith Thurman and Shawn Porter and Francisco Vargas vs Orlando Salido, this year’s Fight of the Year candidates read like a list of Electoral College electors. It’s just a bunch of names that only hardcore insiders will recognize.
Saturday’s PPV bout between Kovalev (30-0-1, 26 KO), the WBA, IBF and WBO Light Heavyweight Champion, and Ward (30-0-0, 15 KO) is epic. The relatively small media build-up doesn’t match the significance of the fight. Kovalev and Ward are not media savants like Floyd Mayweather Jr. or Oscar De La Hoya. Inside the ring though, they have the chops to be just as legendary.
The Russian-born unified light heavyweight champ like a real-life Ivan Drago (minus the ‘roids). By all accounts, he punches like a heavyweight. In 31 fights, 26 men have been knocked unconscious or unable to continue. One man, Roman Simakov, tragically lost his life due to injuries suffered in the ring with Kovalev.
In recent years though, Kovalev has proven that he is not just a brawler. Against Bernard Hopkins, a master boxer even at his old age, Kovalev shocked everyone the way he dismantled, dominated and out-boxed his opponent. Everyone knew about the power of the man called “Krusher” but the patience and the timing of the straight right hands surprised many viewers. Since that bout two years ago, Kovalev has continued to display that his skills as a tactician are legit.
When it comes to ring tacticians though, nobody does it better than Ward. The 2004 Olympic boxing gold medalist has been a technical marvel as a professional prizefighter. Ward initially gained a legion of doubters due to his standard diet of fish food opponents as an upcoming prospect. However, Ward proved himself by winning the Super Six World Boxing Classic by defeating Mikkel Kessler, Allan Green, Arthur Abraham and Carl Froch. Throw in a victory against Sakio Bika in between and Ward ran the super middleweight gauntlet and emerged unscathed.
Ward seemed to be destined for superstardom, but injuries, his hesitation to fighting outside of Oakland and beef with his former promoter, the late-Dan Goosen, kept his profile lower than his skillset deserves.
With just 15 knockouts on his ledger, timing has always been essential for Ward. He knows when the jab, when to go to the body, when to circle and when to clench. After years of low activity, Ward finally knew when it was time to make the leap to light heavyweight and once again attempt to prove his greatness.
The build-up bouts are out the way. Kovalev looks a little more human after allowing Isaac Chilemba, an extremely poor man’s Andre Ward, to last the distance in his last bout. Against Sullivan Barrera and Alexander Brand, Ward has looked dominant, but a little lower and a little more hittable than in year’s past. Also, if you go back into his early history, Ward’s chin was tickled enough to give him crazy legs more than a time or two.
Still, make no mistakes about it. These fighters are undefeated and in the peaks of their careers. The bout will signify only the third-time that two top-five-rated fighters (by The RING) will match up against each other.
Though it may not have the mainstream star power or billing as Mayweather vs Manny Pacquiao or even Avarez vs Miguel Cotto, the fight is much more important. It will crown an undisputed pound-for-pound king.
Who will emerge victorious? Will it be the punishing puncher or the brilliant boxer? My pick? “S.O.G” Andre Ward picks himself off the canvas en route to a hard-earned decision victory. Ward’s timing is simply better than the champion’s. And if timing is everything, now is the time for Ward to hear the sweet words, “…and NEW!”
Follow Ishmael and In the Clutch on Twitter @IshmaelSistrunk
