default-cbs-image

WBO, WBA and IBF light heavyweight champion Sergey Kovalev (30-0-1, 26 KOs) will put his belts on the line against former super middleweight champion Andre Ward (30-0-0, 15 KOs) in the most anticipated fight of the year on Saturday night in Las Vegas.

Ward is making his first attempt at the light heavyweight titles that Kovalev has defended successfully eight times since earning the WBO belt in 2013. The hard-hitting Kovalev is known for his knockout power, while Ward is arguably the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world behind tremendous technical talent and defense.

The oddsmakers like Andre Ward to become the new light heavyweight champion, making him a slight -150 favorite over Kovalev at +120. Ward has looked solid in his return to the ring after a near two-year layoff, knocking off the rust with three wins since coming back to boxing in 2015. Kovalev had his worst performance of his career in his most recent title defense against Isaac Chilemba with a rare decision victory for the Russian superstar.

The props available for Kovalev-Ward reflect the oddsmakers' belief that Ward will be victorious, as the fight going the full 12 rounds to a decision is -175 while a stoppage is +125. The odds on Ward winning the fight by a decision victory are 21-20 (+105) while the best odds for a Kovalev win is by KO/TKO/DQ at 2-1 (+200).

If Kovalev wins by knockout, oddsmakers expect it to happen between the sixth and ninth rounds, as those four rounds each are getting 18-1 odds for Kovalev winning then.

Here is the full list of the prop bets on the board for Kovalev-Ward, courtesy of Bovada:

Ward in Round 1 -- 80/1
Ward in Round 2 -- 70/1
Ward in Round 3 -- 55/1
Ward in Round 4 -- 40/1
Ward in Round 5 -- 35/1
Ward in Round 6 -- 35/1
Ward in Round 7 -- 35/1
Ward in Round 8 -- 35/1
Ward in Round 9 -- 35/1
Ward in Round 10 -- 40/1
Ward in Round 11 -- 40/1
Ward in Round 12 -- 55/1
Ward on Points -- 21/20

Kovalev in Round 1 -- 40/1
Kovalev in Round 2 -- 40/1
Kovalev in Round 3 -- 28/1
Kovalev in Round 4 -- 22/1
Kovalev in Round 5 -- 20/1
Kovalev in Round 6 -- 18/1
Kovalev in Round 7 -- 18/1
Kovalev in Round 8 -- 18/1
Kovalev in Round 9 -- 18/1
Kovalev in Round 10 -- 20/1
Kovalev in Round 11 -- 22/1
Kovalev in Round 12 -- 28/1

Kovalev on Points -- 9/2

Draw 20/1

Ward by KO, TKO or DQ 6/1
Ward by Decision or Technical Decision 21/20
Kovalev by KO, TKO or DQ 2/1
Kovalev by Decision or Technical Decision 9/2
Draw or Technical Draw 20/1