Kovalev vs. Ward 2016: Start time, live TV schedule, and fight card for Saturday’s PPV event

One of the most highly anticipated matches of 2016 will pit Sergey Kovalev against Andre Ward, and the bout will headline Saturday’s card from the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. The event will be televised via HBO pay-per-view, and while it contains some big names on the undercard, it’s worth tuning in for the main event on its own.

Kovalev and Ward are two of the best fighters in the sport, and if titles are what matters to you, the fight will be for the WBA, WBO, and IBF light heavyweight championships. The pay-per-view card is set to begin at 9 p.m. ET on Saturday, with an undercard featuring the professional debut of two-time Olympic gold medalist Claressa Shields getting underway at 7 p.m.

The only way to watch the main card will be via pay-per-view, and you can find information on how to order here. The first two hours of the undercard will be freeview and streamed online via the HBO Sports YouTube channel.

This is the first massive test for Kovalev, who fought Isaac Chilemba before this bout. Chilemba pushed Kovalev all 12 rounds, and with Ward’s similar technical approach, it was probably good that Kovalev had that fight before this one. Not a hugely technical fighter, Kovalev was taken into deep waters by Chilemba but was never in danger of losing the fight.

Ward is certainly favored for this fight — and he should be after the Chilemba fight. He’s simply a better boxer with more ways to win the fight and frustrate his opponent en route. Ward is a master strategist, and it’s hard to see a winning game plan for Kovalev.

By that same token, Kovalev is the toughest fighter Ward has faced over the years. Kovalev will be a true test for Ward, who has won all 30 of his professional bouts. He’s had tough ones before, including a matchup with Sullivan Barrera, though he was rarely in trouble in that fight — same as Kovalev overall.

Saturday’s fight could go either way, but Ward seems like a safer pick.

Here’s a full look at the fight card, as well as all the information you need to watch the action.

Pay-per-view card

Light heavyweight: Sergey Kovalev vs. Andre Ward
Light heavyweight: Oleksandr Gvozdyk vs. Isaac Chilemba
Middleweight: Curtis Stevens vs. James de la Rosa
Super lightweight: Maurice Hooker vs. Darleys Perez

Freeview telecast

Heavyweight: Darmani Rock vs. Brice Ritani-Coe
Middleweight: Claressa Shields vs. Franchon Crews
Featherweight: Tyler McCreary vs. Vincent Jennings
Junior welterweight: Sonny Fredrickson vs. Gabriel Duluc

All times Eastern

Time: 7 p.m. (free undercard), 9 p.m. (pay-per-view card)

Location: T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas, Nevada

TV: HBO pay-per-view

Online streaming: YouTube (free undercard)