FightHype.com

JOHN DAVID JACKSON INSISTS ANDRE WARD WILL NEED PLAN B AND C ONCE KOVALEV HITS HIM; NO CONCERN ABOUT SWITCHING TO SOUTHPAW

By Percy Crawford | October 20, 2016
JOHN DAVID JACKSON INSISTS ANDRE WARD WILL NEED PLAN B AND C ONCE KOVALEV HITS HIM; NO CONCERN ABOUT SWITCHING TO SOUTHPAW

"He tends to make a couple of mistakes from that stance, but he uses it as a ploy sometimes. It works because it's effective with other fighters. I don't think it will be effective against Sergey...the first time he gets hit, all of that may go out of the window and if they have a plan B or plan C, they may have to go to that and do something different," stated John David Jackson, world-class trainer of unified light heavyweight champion Sergey Kovalev, who spoke more about their upcoming showdown with undefeated former world champion Andre Ward. Check it out!

PC: Do you feel like you have a grasp for Andre as far as his tendencies and when he likes to switch from orthodox to southpaw and vice versa? Do you think you have a feel for when he likes to do that or not do it?

JDJ: Percy, I can't tell you when he likes to do it because he will do it at the drop of a hat during the fight, but I can tell you this, he is more comfortable out of the right-handed stance. And when he turns southpaw and Sergey hits him with a good shot, I guarantee you that he will automatically turn back to his right-handed stance because that's his safety zone. When he turns southpaw, it's because he's trying to frustrate his opponent and he's so far ahead, he just wants to do different things to them. But he's not as comfortable fighting southpaw because if he was, he would probably come out in round one and do it. As soon as he gets hit by Sergey with a good shot…because once he turns southpaw, I can say, "Okay Sergey, now you need to step on the gas peddle. Don't make him think he could do that to you." And that could make him go right back to fighting right-handed. So once he turns southpaw, you can tell he's ahead. He tends to make a couple of mistakes from that stance, but he uses it as a ploy sometimes. It works because it's effective with other fighters. I don't think it will be effective against Sergey because the punching power that Sergey has will make Andre say, "You know what, let me go back right-handed and see if I can take him to school from the right-handed stance."

PC: In your mind, how important was it for your fighter to be in the States training for this fight?

JDJ: For Sergey, it's a peace of mind because back home, he would have people tugging at him wanting tickets. He was trying to be a promoter, he was trying to be a ticket seller, and all of his focus now is on the fight. That's all he needs to focus on. The fight with Chilemba was a blessing in disguise. It wasn't his best fight, but it made him realize that all he needs to do now is be a fighter, not a co-promoter or ticket seller or manager and trainer. His goal now is to be the fighter that he is and let everyone else do their job. Being in America is even better for him than being back home and I think the Chilemba fight was a blessing for him because it made him realize that I'm the fighter and let me concentrate on being the fighter and that's it.

PC: We know what fighters go through for these big fights like this. As a trainer, what are your days and nights like while you're preparing your fighter and breaking down footage?

JDJ: Listen, in the day and age we're in now with modern technology, it makes getting footage of your opponent so much easier. For me, I don't just look at Andre's fights. Andre, thank goodness for us he has blessed us…he likes to show a lot of what he does. He shows his technique and his style and the things that he does. So I watch a lot of those videos and watch the things that he likes to do and the things that Virgil is showing him to do; those types of things. Me myself, I don't put those types of things out there for the public to look at because if you're a smart trainer…I watched every trainer. I watch what they do. I want to see what they're teaching. A lot of trainers, believe it or not, and you probably know this, they have bad habits, so when they teach you, they are teaching you the wrong way because a lot of them have never been a boxer. So they may show you a stance that is wrong or show you to hold your hands the wrong way. They may be showing you the right method, but the wrong way to do it. Virgil has a lot of stuff out there and Andre has a lot of stuff out there. So I watch not only the fights, but I watch what they do and the techniques that they use and it allows me to break them down and understand them a lot more. And for this fight, I watch what he does and, listen, I respect what he does. I love his style because I was a boxer myself and I wasn't a puncher. So I understand where he's coming from. I have always respected Andre, but even more so now that I really understand what he does in there. And what he does is what makes him as good as he is. So I just took time to watch other films and not just fight films on techniques that they use and work on. Believe it or not, it's helped me out a lot to understand what kind of fight he will probably fight come fight night. But you know, the first time he gets hit, all of that may go out of the window and if they have a plan B or plan C, they may have to go to that and do something different.

PC: It's funny you mentioned the footage that they put out. I asked a fighter not too long ago if he ever worried about putting too much out, whether it be sparring, jump roping, or like you mentioned, just going over techniques in the gym and he said he never thought about it like that. Do you think fighters are getting caught in the social media trap of putting out more than you should?

JDJ: Percy, I agree with the way you stated that because I guess I'm an old school guy. I don't want anyone to know what I'm doing or what I'm thinking (laughing) before fights except for my fighter. Once my days are done as a trainer and it's over, I want the next generation that I've taught to come along and teach the next person in line what I taught them. It's like George Benton was my trainer and he had myself, Evander, and Pernell. He left that for one of us to leave on to the next generation and I guess that was me. When my days are done, I want that young guy to be able to say, "I was taught this by John David Jackson. Now let me teach it to this generation." There aren't too many teachers left in boxing because the art form has kind of left. Most of these young guys want a guy to give them some flashy mitt work, but they are not teaching them anything. They just want to look really nice and look flashy and that's all they doing. These guys don't want to hit the heavy bag in a proper stance and throwing the proper punches and how to hold your hands properly. It's a lost art. I like to teach guys where there is a lesson learned for the next generation. I don't want to put stuff out there on the internet for people to see what I'm teaching unless I'm charging $29.99 or something (laughing).

PC: This fight is really a treat for the fans. I can't wait until November 19th. best of luck to you guys. Is there anything else you want to add before I let you go?

JDJ: Listen, just keep doing what you're doing brother. I love the work that you put out there. You give the fighters and the trainers a chance to voice there opinions and tell the people how it really is, so just keep doing what you're doing brother. And anytime that you want to talk and I'm available, we'll work it out.



[ Follow Percy Crawford on Twitter @MrLouis1ana ]

MARCH 18, 2024
MARCH 17, 2024
MARCH 14, 2024
MARCH 12, 2024
MARCH 11, 2024
MARCH 07, 2024
MARCH 04, 2024
FEBRUARY 29, 2024
FEBRUARY 27, 2024
FEBRUARY 22, 2024
FEBRUARY 19, 2024
FEBRUARY 15, 2024
FEBRUARY 12, 2024
FEBRUARY 08, 2024
FEBRUARY 05, 2024
FEBRUARY 01, 2024
JANUARY 31, 2024
JANUARY 30, 2024
JANUARY 29, 2024
JANUARY 25, 2024
JANUARY 22, 2024
JANUARY 18, 2024
JANUARY 15, 2024
JANUARY 12, 2024
JANUARY 11, 2024
JANUARY 08, 2024
JANUARY 04, 2024
JANUARY 01, 2024