Ahead of Sergey Kovalev’s light-heavyweight unification defence against Andre Ward, we asked Paul Smith to reveal his own experience of facing the masterful American.
Smith travelled to Oakland, California, last year to take on Ward, but was comprehensively stopped in the ninth round.
Kovalev will defend his WBO, WBA 'super' and IBF world titles against former super-middleweight supremo Ward this Saturday at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, live on Sky Sports, and Liverpool's Smith has offered his own insight into facing the Californian.
How do you plan for Andre Ward?
The game plan that most fighters adopt is to go in there, absorb the sharp stuff early on and look to catch Ward on his chin. The majority of fighters only have a puncher's chance against Ward - that's a fact - myself included. I knew if I landed a clean shot though, I could hurt him - you certainly can't out-box him.
What was he like in the build-up to the fight?
In the very first press conference, he was great. He came over, shook my hand and showed me respect, but he clearly was not in fight mode. When fight week came, there was a bit more needle, no nastiness, but you could tell he meant business and was a lot more serious.
What is Ward's best shot?
His jab is a class punch and he likes to follow it up with a straight right hand to the body. When he throws his jab, he leaves it out there and it always causes problems for the opponent. The straight shots as well are quality, they are the basic fundamentals but he has mastered them.
Does he have any weaknesses?
I believe that Ward can be hurt. Like anyone else, he is a human being with two arms, two legs and he has been down before against Darnell Boone early on in his career.
It showed that he hasn't got a granite chin so to speak and it gives fighters like Sergey Kovalev the belief that they can hurt him - it's his only vulnerability.
Did Ward surprise you in any way?
He was a lot better than I was expecting and after the first round, I knew that I was in with someone at the top level. He's a classy operator and I have no shame in admitting that he is levels above - he's one of the greats of our time.
With that, he doesn't necessarily come out to his own plan, he looks at what the other fighter does first and will negate and nullify them. He makes sure you can't get your good stuff on.
Has Ward's inactivity in recent years affected his performance in the ring?
For me, he is actually better than he once was, his age and experience have made him better. Ward has always been a top athlete in great shape and his fitness hasn't faded - he's just added experience to the mix. A lot of fighters now are better in their thirties than their twenties and he falls into that category.
Your prediction for the unification showdown?
I have to say Ward on points. It may not be the fireworks display that people expect, Ward will go out and break Kovalev down with his jab and will happily take 12 boring one-sided rounds to show his class and win the fight.
Kovalev is a lot better than people make out and can box, but Ward is a level above and is out there on his own.
I wouldn't be surprised if Kovalev does catch him because he is a devastating puncher and one of the pound-for-pound best, but I'm expecting a wide points decision for Ward.