The upcoming fight between Andre Ward and Sergey Kovalev is being touted as the biggest match up of 2016. The fight pits the former unified super middleweight champion Andre Ward against the reigning unified light heavyweight champion, with both fighters sporting undefeated records. While the odds makers have Andre Ward as a slight favorite, many see the fight as a pick em that could go either way.
In part 2 of my ?On The Ropes? boxing radio interview with John David Jackson, I discuss with him the meaning of this light heavyweight encounter and if he thinks the winner will have the claim to being boxing?s number one pound-for-pound fighter. Jackson also talks about the last big super fight, Mayweather-Pacquiao and what future he sees for both fighters. In closing, Jackson breaks down what fans can expect from the Ward vs. Kovalev. Here is what John David Jackson had to say.
Jenna J: A lot of fans feel that Andre Ward has a claim to the light heavyweight title due to him beating Chad Dawson. What do you think of that view?
John David Jackson: No, he has no claim. The only way he has a claim is if he beats Sergey. When he beat Chad, it was Chad who decided to come down, it was his mistake. Should Andre be victorious against Kovalev, then he deserves to be the best light heavyweight in the world. That?s a big test, can he do it? We?ll find out come the 19th. But no he doesn?t deserve any claim to be the best light heavyweight. We?ll see on the 19th if he deserves that claim that some fans have given him.
Jenna J: If Sergey wins, do you think he not only has the claim to be the best light heavyweight but to be the best pound-for-pound fighter out there?
John David Jackson: You can give him that. That?s such a hard mythical title to have, to prove who is the best. A light heavyweight guy can?t fight a flyweight guy. Can he make a claim to it, yeah why not? If it?s there and they give it to him, take it. If not, then be happy that you?re in the game and that you?re amongst the elite fighters that are out there that are trying to claim that they are the best. As long as you?re in the top five, you should have no problem because that a hard group to be in, and if he?s there, God bless him for it.
I really wouldn?t put too much emphasis on him trying to be the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world because it can be gone tomorrow if you don?t have a good performance. If you get it, fine, but I wouldn?t put too much into it because how long can you really hold it for? I don?t think that?s a big concern for him right now.
