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Where to watch Andre Ward vs. Sergey Kovalev in the Bay Area

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By the end of tonight, boxing could have a new pound-for-pound king. Will he be from the Bay Area?

Oakland’s Andre Ward, who once reigned undisputed atop the 168-pound super middleweight division for almost four years, is putting his undefeated record on the line at the new T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on Saturday. His opponent: fellow unbeaten dynamo Sergey Kovalev of Russia, who has possessed at least a portion of the 175-pound light heavyweight world title for the same amount of time.

With the amount of quality wins on Ward’s résumé (Carl Froch, Chad Dawson) and Kovalev’s CV (Bernard Hopkins, Jean Pascal twice), the winner has a rock-solid argument for grabbing the crown Floyd Mayweather once wore as the best fighter in the world regardless of weight class. (Many pundits including this one have Nicaraguan flyweight knockout artist Roman González assuming the spot for the moment.)

It would be easy to label Ward vs. Kovalev as a classic boxer vs. puncher matchup since the former has stopped just two of his last 10 opponents while the latter boasts an 84 percent knockout percentage among his 30 wins. However, such analysis would neither do justice to Kovalev’s deep amateur background and ability to set up his battering ram of a right hand, nor to Ward’s uncanny ability to use distance and timing to make foes pay dearly for their mistakes.

Three question marks to keep in mind entering tonight’s superfight:

  • Though Ward will enter the ring as the slight favorite, Kovalev presents the biggest challenge of his career, no pun intended. The Russian has fought at the 175 pound-limit for the majority of his career, and while Ward showed he could fend off a power-punching light heavyweight like Sullivan Barrera with his ring IQ, Kovalev won’t be fooled as easily—at least on paper.
  • Referee Robert Byrd faced mounds of criticism in 2007 when he allowed Hopkins to essentially bully a noticeably smaller Winky Wright with a series of veteran tactics on the inside—namely headbutts, holding, and sapping his legs by leaning on him over 12 rounds. Such memories resurfaced when boxing fans went on social media this week and pleaded with Byrd not to allow either of tonight’s combatants to do the same. To the referee’s credit, he actually replied and vowed to “keep control of the fight.”
  • Ward hasn’t faced much trouble in his two bouts since leaving the super middleweight division, and perhaps that’s why he hasn’t been as mobile around the ring as in previous clashes. In August, he was more flat-footed than usual against Alexander Brand, switching from an orthodox to a southpaw stance periodically to make his opponent stop and think. Therefore, it would behoove Kovalev to pressure Ward into the ropes from the opening bell and test the Bay Area star’s surgically repaired right knee and right shoulder immediately. Ward’s trainer, Virgil Hunter, and his counterpart, John David Jackson, have their work cut out for them.

Prediction: Kovalev tries to push the issue early to see if Ward’s body can withstand an elite light heavyweight’s imposition. The Russian might even land a right-hand bomb in an exchange. But Ward’s strength and conditioning work with famed nutrition guru Mackie Shilstone, his years of ring savvy, and his signature focus will carry him through to the middle rounds. That’s where Ward will once again figure out the appropriate distance to stay out of Kovalev’s “kill zone” while landing his own pinpoint lasers and picking up enough points for a decision victory.

PAY-PER-VIEW TELEVISED CARD (starts at 6pm)

  • Light heavyweights: Sergey Kovalev (30-0-1, 26 KOs) vs. Andre Ward (30-0, 15 KOs), 12 rounds, for Kovalev’s WBA, IBF, and WBO world titles; Ward +145, Kovalev -115.
  • Junior welterweights: Maurice Hooker (21-0-2, 16 KOs) vs. Darleys Perez (33-2-1, 21 KOs), 10 rounds; Hooker -400, Perez + 270.
  • Light heavyweights: Isaac Chilemba (24-4-2, 10 KOs) vs. Oleksandr Gvozdyk (11-0, 9 KOs), 10 rounds; Gvozdyk -161, Chilemba +121.
  • Middleweights: Curtis Stevens (28-5, 21 KOs) vs. James De La Rosa (23-4, 13 KOs), 10 rounds; Stevens -1667, De La Rosa +700.

HOW TO WATCH WARD-KOVALEV IN THE BAY AREA

Bay Area fight fans who haven’t made the trip out to Sin City can either watch the pay-per-view portion of the card at home starting at 6pm (HBO has set the price range at $54.99-$59.99 plus fees and taxes depending on your local cable provider) or at several establishments that we’ve taken the time to delineate for you below.

It’s not all pay-per-view. Four fights will air on the same pay-per-view channel and on HBO Boxing’s YouTube channel for free starting at 4pm. The action includes the pro debut of two-time U.S. Olympic gold medalist Claressa Shields, who faces former amateur standout Francheon Crews in a four-round middleweight bout.

As luck would have it, one of these local spots is nice (or rich enough) to have the show for free. Yes, FREE. Scroll down to find out which one.

If you’re aware of any other places, leave details in the comments section. Please make sure to call before you go in order to confirm the cover charge, hours open, seating, and possible age restrictions.

 

SAN FRANCISCO

Abbey Tavern
4100 Geary Blvd.
San Francisco, CA 94118
(415) 221-7767
$20

Danny Coyle’s
668 Haight St.
San Francisco, CA 94117
(415) 558-8375
$20

Jillian’s at Metreon
175 4th St.
San Francisco, CA 94103
(415) 369-6100
$20

Napper Tandy
3200 24th St.
San Francisco, CA 94110
(415) 550-7510
$10 prepaid; $15 door

SOUTH BAY

Buffalo Wild Wings

1620 Saratoga Ave. (Westgate Center)

San Jose, CA

(408) 370-6701

FREE

The Blue Chip
325 S. 1st St.
San Jose, CA 95113
(408) 971-2898
$15 (includes drink ticket)

EAST BAY

Ricky’s
15028 Hesperian Blvd.
San Leandro, CA 94578
(510) 317-0200
$20

Ryan Maquiñana is a full member of the Boxing Writers Association of America and a voter for the International Boxing Hall of Fame. Follow him on Twitter @RMaq28 or email him at [email protected].