Andre Ward is planning a more decisive win over Sergey Kovalev

By Mark Crellin

Watch Andre Ward tell Sky Sports News HQ how he's paying no attention to Sergey Kovalev's comments ahead of Saturday's light-heavyweight title fight

Andre Ward says it will be Sergey Kovalev who hits the deck when the pair square off in Saturday night's eagerly-awaited rematch in Las Vegas, live on Sky Sports.

Ward won their first fight via a unanimous points decision last November and finds it bizarre that the build-up talk for the rematch centres on the fact he was knocked down in the second round, rather than his fightback over the remainder of the bout.

And the WBA, IBF and WBO light-heavyweight champion expects to win in more comprehensive fashion on Saturday.

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He told Sky Sports News HQ: "I am done with all the canvas stuff.

"I have gotten up and it is his turn to touch the canvas now. He needs to see what that feels like.
"He landed a good shot, but it is amazing to me that people will talk about the knockdown and then just stop there. They won't talk about
what happened after.

"They won't ask him 'why didn't you finish him, if you are this big puncher?'

"They haven't asked him those kinds of questions, over the years, and it has done him a disservice.
"He feels like when he hits a rough spot in his career, he can't answer a certain question. Everybody is going to give him a soft landing spot."

The fact his win in the first fight has aroused such controversy irritates Ward, who added: "It's not the first close fight in boxing.

"It was a nip-and-tuck type of fight. People are going to have opinions about it, but this is the beauty of our sport. We can run it back, and that is what we are getting ready to do.

Highlights of the first exciting light-heavyweight clash between Ward and Kovalev last November

"In my heart, I felt like I battled back and did enough to win. I closed out the last round, which is what won me the fight on two of the three judges' scorecards.

"We are getting ready to run it back and he is going to get a better version. He said he is going to be a better version this time around, so it's going to be a great fight and that's what I want.
"Let's see if he can back up the tough talk."

Ward also rejected the idea that the result of the first fight means Kovalev will have more motivation than he does.

Sergey Kovalev has vowed to get his revenge over Andre Ward this weekend

"We've all got something to prove," he said. "I am not resting on my laurels. We took care of business and once the rematch was imminent, the work started.

"He is not the only person that is hungry, he is not the only person that has something to defend.
"It's not about talking, you have to show people, and that is what we plan to do on June 17.

"I expect a hard, tough fight and I predict a tremendous victory. I've got to have it and I want to do it in a better fashion this time."