Thursday 17 November 2016 10:56, UK
Andre Ward has told Sky Sports News HQ that Sergey Kovalev is a "big bully" who is in danger of underestimating the threat he faces this weekend.
Ward will challenge Kovalev for the WBO, IBF and WBA 'super' light-heavyweight world titles on Saturday night, live on Sky Sports, in one of the most eagerly-awaited fights of recent years.
The duo are unbeaten, both ranked among the top pound-for-pound fighters in the world, and the formidable Kovalev says that, as usual, he is ready for a "street fight" in Vegas.
That would be fine with Ward, who thinks the Russian will be in for a shock when the pair begin to trade blows.
"I am just going to be me," said the 32-year-old American.
"I am not putting too much stock in anything that he does well or does not do well. He is going to be the best version of himself Saturday night and I am just prepared for war.
"Whatever it is going to take to leave with those three titles and become a five-time world champion, is what I am willing to do.
"I would not say [it will be] a street fight. I don't know how much of a street fight he is really going to want when the fight really starts.
"Just like the mistake that a lot of my opponents have made, he has this type of fighter that he thinks he is going to be fighting, and it is going to be different than what he thinks.
"He is a big bully and he talks a good game.
"He tries to intimidate with 'he does this, I am going to do that'. Well, do it, and then see what happens.
"For every action that he has in there, there is going to be a reaction and he just needs to understand that."
Retired former world champion Carl Froch thinks Ward should take on another great fighter, Gennady Golovkin, in the future but the American had another idea.
"I'd like to see Carl Froch fight Gennady Golovkin," he said. "I heard rumours he may be coming out of retirement!
"I think that ship has sailed [himself fighting Golovkin], that was the point in moving up.
"I pushed hard for that fight, unfortunately it just didn't happen. I think it would have been a great fight."
