IN extraordinary scenes Sergey Kovalev stormed out of the final press conference ahead of Saturday’s fight with Andre Ward at the Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas for the WBO, WBA and IBF light-heavyweight titles.
Kovalev has become increasingly incensed by Ward’s camp, particularly by suggestions that the Russian’s trainer John David Jackson considered leaving Kovalev to join Ward’s team.
The former champion, who lost a decision which he disputes to Ward in Las Vegas last year, waited out the litany of thank yous that appears standard for American press conferences. He took to the podium, jabbed his finger at Andre Ward and said, “I already said enough… You be prepared.”
And then he was off.
Ward and his camp will see this early skirmish as a victory. “I’m not going to be distracted by the talk. I’m not going to be distracted,” Andre said. “I’m locked in to what I’ve got to do.
“It’s going to be a tremendous fight. I’m expecting his best. But you’re going to see a different Andre Ward. I’m going to leave it at that.”
Watch the press conference here:
