Former super middleweight champion Andre "S.O.G." Ward rightfully belongs to the light heavyweight division, claims Sergey Kovalev's coach, John David Jackson.

Jackson told Boxing Scene that Ward should be fighting in the 175-pound weight class and not in the 168-pound division.

"He's [Ward] going to fight guys his size. He's in the right division now. He cleaned out 168 and he's got nothing to prove there. He can't make 168. He grew and 175 is the way to go," Jackson said.

The trainer for International Boxing Federation, World Boxing Organization and World Boxing Association light heavyweight king thinks it will not be difficult for Ward to embark on this new path. Jackson reasoned that Ward's body will not adjust much as he even fought beyond that weight before he started his professional career.

"He fought as an amateur at 178 so there is no transition. What he did was get himself down to 168 and he was fighting as the bigger man at 168," Kovalev's trainer said.

"S.O.G." is eyeing a showdown with Kovalev in the latter part of 2016, if the 32-year-old titleholder successfully defends his crowns against Jean Pascal on Jan. 30 in Montreal, Canada, Boxing News 24 informed.

Basing on Jackson's statements, he must be anticipating the proposed battle between his champion fighter and Ward next fall. His remarks indicate that he is encouraging Ward to challenge the undefeated Russian-born fighter. Is Jackson that confident that Kovalev will remain unbeaten despite the threat of Ward's presence in his fighter's chosen division?

Mayweather's advice

On the contrary, boxing great Floyd Mayweather Jr. told Fight Hype that The Ring's 2011 Fighter of the Year should just stay at 168 pounds. "The Money" believes this is the best division suited for Ward.

"I think that his body is so used to fighting at 168. If that's what he's accustomed to, then that's where he should continue to fight at," Mayweather said.

The retired boxer also encouraged Ward to face Gennady Golovkin first before moving up to another weight level for the sake of their boxing fans.

"He can go to light heavyweight when they make Triple G come up to fight him at 168," Mayweather said.

Ward had already called Golovkin to fight him, but he shared on Fight Hub that his proposal was immediately turned down.

The ongoing issue is that the International Boxing Organization, WBA and IBF middleweight champ does not want to face him at 168 pounds nor is he "relevant" yet for "Triple G," who aims to unify the middleweight division, per a Boxing Scene report.

Should Ward wait for Golovkin or prove that he can also reign in the light heavyweight division? Whose advice shall he pick?

Related