When WBA Super World super middleweight champion Andre Ward (28-0, 15 KOs) fought Paul Smith (35-6, 20 KOs) on June 20 at the Oracle Arena in Oakland, California, few thought the former BBBof C British super middleweight champion would defeat the reigning and defending lineal champ. No one questioned Smith’s resilience. And the fact that Ward hadn’t fought in a year and a half might have been a factor. But in terms of ring savvy, which Andre Ward has in spades, it looked like he would be too much for the Liverpudlian to handle.
Having seen Ward up close and personal and in action, Smith is of the opinion that if Ward fights unified WBA/IBF/WBO light heavyweight champion Sergey Kovalev (28-0-1, 25 KOs), as has been reported, Ward beats Kovalev by “a wide margin.”
“Someone with Ward’s trickiness is what you need to beat Kovalev,” Smith told BoxingScene.com. “If you’re going to stand there with a basic, orthodox style Kovalev will tag you. It needs someone slick and slippery who can negate what Kovalev does. Ward is the best at shutting his opponent down and stopping whatever they want to do.”
Roc Nation Sports, who handles Ward, and Main Events, who handles Kovalev, have had “preliminary discussions” about a potential match between these two champions. Ward has agreed to move up in weight and fight at light heavy, and if everything goes according to plan, the fight may happen before the year is out.
Andre Ward vs. Paul Smith can be seen here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wE80POrgzJE
This article was penned by the author who is not related to the WBA and the statements, expressions or opinions referenced herein are that of the author alone and not the WBA.
