Earlier this week, Andre Ward finally confirmed the news boxing fans had been eagerly waiting for – his rematch with Sergey Kovalev is officially going ahead.Following their close encounter back in November, ‘Krusher’ is adamant that he’s not going to let the judges take a win from him when they meet in June after reiterating that he didn’t lose their initial contest, especially since he knocked the ‘Son of God’ down for the first time in his career.
REMATCH
As expected, there’s been plenty of trash talk already between the pair.
SIGN UP NOW
Want to become a GMS writer? Sign up now and submit a 250-word test article: http://gms.to/haveyoursay4
Ward told Kovalev to leave the excuses at home this time as he puts his light heavyweight titles on the line, while Kovalev has claimed that he’ll end the ‘Son of Judge’s’ boxing career when they next fight.
Now, a former victim of Kovalev’s has spoken out about the fight and has predicted that a trilogy could be on the cards, something Ward’s trainer Virgil Hunter has also claimed.
Speaking to BoxingScene.com, Bernard Hopkins claimed that the rematch will go down like Muhammad Ali’s rivalry with Joe Frazier, and is 50% sure that a third encounter will happen down the line if it’s another close fight – despite the result.
B-HOP PREDICTS A TRILOGY
He said: “ I am going to go on record right now and say that this fight will happen like Joe Frazier and (Muhammad) Ali. Not necessarily the outcome but they will fight three times.
“I look at this fight where it will be so close that Sergey might get a decision or Andre gets a decision and then there won't be a need for a third fight but I see a fight that will go down to the wire to the point where it will be split and they will fight again and it will be for all the marbles. I see a fight happening like that.”
Many have claimed that Ward found his groove in the second half of the fight with Kovalev, and figured the Russian out and it’s why the rematch could convincingly go in the American’s favour.
However, that’s not a theory Hopkins agrees with.
He added: “Will it be easier in the second fight? I don't think it's going to be easier. I don't think any fight with Sergey will be an easy fight based on his size and his punch and he will always have that (potential) one punch knockout that can get you in trouble.
"Ward knows that and he knows he has to avoid that right hand. If he takes the right hand away from Sergey then he has a good chance of making the fight not as hard or as difficult as the first one but I see this fight easily, easily.
"I won't be surprised if it won't go that way but I won't be surprised - over 50% (probability), that this fight happens three times.”
While fans may be picking their sides for who to support when they meet, you can be sure every one of them will be happy to see the warriors go at it for a third time, if it needs to happen.
Do you agree with Bernard Hopkins? Will there be a trilogy fight between Andre Ward and Sergey Kovalev? Have YOUR say in the comments section below.
Do YOU want to write for GiveMeSport? Get started today by signing up and submitting an article HERE: http://gms.to/writeforgms