SPORTbible Fight To Watch: Andre Ward Vs. Sergey Kovalev II

The first meeting produced a highly debatable decision as Andre Ward eked out a unanimous decision victory against Sergey Kovalev - despite hitting the canvas, and on Saturday night, early hours for us U.K folks, they rematch with the light-heavyweight titles up for grabs.

Amid the fall-out of the official confirmation of Floyd Mayweather coming out of retirement to fight Conor McGregor, one of the most eagerly awaited fights goes down tonight.

Ward will be making the first defence of the WBA, WBO and IBF light-heavyweight titles after dethroning Kovalev while inflicting him with his first professional defeat.

_{Kovalev will be seeking to regain his world titles. Image: PA}

As well as the trio of world titles, the vacant coveted Ring Magazine belt is also on the line.

The first fight was effectively dubbed as the immovable object against the unstoppable force. Ward's masterful boxing pitted against the brute power of the self-proclaimed 'Krusher.'

And it was the power of Kovalev who struck early. He dropped Ward in the second round to earn a crucial 10-8 round. Though Ward made the necessary adjustments while finishing the stronger to eventually dethrone the Russian.

While the judges verdict divides opinion, Ward was confident he'd get the nod but fully aware that the fight was close especially facing a deficit from the knockdown.

"If you look at the end of the fight I walked around the ring with my hand raised. You know, I knew it was close, I knew that I had to get out of a deficit, I knew that - you just never know," Ward said in a media round table ahead of the rematch

(Watch Kovalev storm out of the pre-fight press conference:)

_{Credit: HBO}

Needless to say, Kovalev wasn't happy with the decision. Lambasting the 'politics' of the sport. And ahead of the rematch, the former light-heavyweight ruler is not only predicting a victory, but also stunningly vowing to finish Ward's boxing career.

"I will finish [Ward's] boxing career because like, right now, I'm already in a corner and I don't have like another way except like get a victory over him, it's a necessary victory."

_{Ward forced to pose for pictures on his own after the presser. Image: PA}

Not only are these the two elite fighters in their division, but they are also two of the best fighters in the sport, and tonight they go head-to-head once again in one of the most eagerly anticipated rematches of the year.

Who you got - the slick approach of Ward or the heavy-hitting puncher Kovalev.

Let us know your predictions in the comment section below.

Nasir Jabbar

Nasir Jabbar is a journalist at SPORTbible. He graduated from Bath Spa University with a BA in Media Communications. He's a combat sport aficionado, and has contributed to MMA websites AddictedMMA and CagePotato. Nasir has covered some of the biggest fights, while interviewing the likes of Conor McGregor, Michael Bisping and Anthony Joshua. He's also an avid Bristol City fan.

@https://twitter.com/NasJabbar