By Steve Kim

This past Monday night from Russia, Sergey Kovalev (30-0-1, 26KOs) scored a workmanlike, if unspectacular, twelve round decision over Isaac Chilemba. While he scored a knockdown in the seventh round and had the challenger hurt on a couple of other occasions, it was a far cry from the usual dominance the public has come to expect from 'the Krusher'.

But his trainer, John David Jackson, told BoxingScene.com - "It's exactly what I needed because it allows Sergey to see that he needs to prepare a whole lot better when he fights (Andre) Ward. Anything less than that, the chances of winning definitely goes down."

Kovalev is slated to face Ward on November 19th. Ward faces the overmatched Alexander Brand on August 6th.

"We needed that work," Jackson continued. "I've always been confident of a victory over Ward. Don't get me wrong it wont be an easy fight but I've always said from day one that I've been with Sergey, I knew they would fight and I've been more than secure in my knowledge of a victory."

"But it's not going to be an easy fight by any stretch and I'm not thinking,'Oh, we're going to blow Ward out.' No, Ward has been around, he was basically undefeated as an amateur and to be an undefeated amateur with all those bad decisions and thing of that nature. For him to make it through, it speaks volumes for him right there.

"He's undefeated as a pro, a very dangerous fighter. He's not a big puncher which works to our advantage, his chin is not the best which works for our advantage. But he's very difficult to fight and he has his own way of beating people and  making them fight the way he wants. We have to be on top of our game for this fight and neutralize his strengths and exploit some of his weaknesses."

The fight with Chilemba was the first time Kovalev had fought in his home country in nearly five years and according to the trainer it brought about some extra issues leading into this event.

"The biggest adjustment was he had a lot of his friends and family pulling at him wanting tickets, waiting to see him, go here, go there and do this and do that and it took away his training a little bit,"explained Jackson, who is now back in the States.

"And I think he may have over-looked Chilemba just a little bit. He knew he was going to beat him but think he figured he was going to blow him out. Chilemba's never been knocked out so for him to be the first would've been great but Chilemba proved it once again, he's a durable opponent.

"Hopefully, Sergey learned a big lesson you can't knock everybody out - especially if you're trying to knock them out. If a knockout comes, it comes. If not, get the victory."

Steve Kim is the news editor for BoxingScene.com.