LAS VEGAS -- Andre Ward has done just about everything in boxing except the one thing that truly defines fighters these days -- headline a pay-per-view card in this gambling city.Its been a long time coming but he can check that off Saturday when he meets Sergey Kovalev in what might be the best fight of what has been a down year for the sport. The two meet for Kovalevs light heavyweight titles in a rare matchup of unbeaten fighters in their prime.Ive been here so many times for so many fights. I just wasnt fighting, Ward said. The difference is Im the headliner now and it feels good. What this town represents for the sport of boxing, its an honor to be headlining here.The fight is a classic clash of styles, pitting the slick-boxing Ward against a big puncher who has knocked out almost everyone put in front of him. Its also a Cold War reprise of sorts, with Ward a 2004 American Olympic gold medalist and Kovalev coming from Russia without much love for his challenger.Im going to deal with the elephant in the room: This is Russia vs. the USA, Wards manager, James Prince, said at the final prefight news conference this week. And the best of Russia cant beat the best of the United States of America. In nothing!Actually, Kovalev has fought most of his career in the U.S., has a home in Los Angeles and has made himself fluent in English. But this is boxing, and theres a pay-per-view to sell for $64.95 to fans who havent reached into their wallets for recent bouts.The fight itself needs no extra hype. Oddsmakers slightly favor Ward for his ability to win a decision, but neither fighter has lost and Kovalev is always just one big punch away from ending any fight.I will try to make it an interesting fight, Kovalev said. If Andre Ward wins the fight all boxing fans will lose some interesting fights in the future because his fights are boring. If I win they will see interesting fights again.Ward has fought only three times in the last three years because of an injured shoulder and a court dispute with his late promoter, Dan Goossen. Hes a former 168-pound champion now comfortable at 175 pounds, and has not lost a fight, amateur or pro, in 20 years.If theres a knock against him its that hes defensive minded and has rarely fought outside his hometown of Oakland, California. Hes also never captured the hearts of casual fight fans, even while long being considered one of the top pound-for-pound fighters in the world.Everyone has their own journey and this is how the chips fell, Ward said. I think its just a good thing its happening now. Just finding the right opponent has something to do with it. Something where people want to come and travel from around the country to see the fight.The right opponent seems to be Kovalev, who came to America from Russia seven years ago to try to make his mark in boxing. He fought on undercards in small arenas for years before finally becoming a regular attraction on HBO, largely because of his knockout power.Hes even more popular at home in Russia, where promoters say the fight will be televised live on state-run broadcaster Channel One.America gave me opportunity, Kovalev said. Its two great countries for me. I love both countries, which is why I have two houses, Russia and America. Im very comfortable with the people and the boxing in America.Both fighters are 30-0, though Kovalev has 27 knockouts to 15 for Ward, who was the last American to win a boxing gold medal when he did it at the Athens Olympics 12 years ago. Ward counters that power with better speed, more experience, and the confidence that not having lost since the age of 13 can give a fighter.Hes a good boxer and obviously he can punch, Ward said. Hes stubborn and Im stubborn. Whos going to break? Thats what it comes down to. Its about going out there and doing it and Ive done it my entire career.Adidas Nmd r1 Herre Tilbud . Third-seeded Murray had the easiest path to victory on New Years Eve, barely breaking a sweat during his 6-0, 6-0 win over 2,129th-ranked Qatari wildcard recipient Mousa Shanan Zayed. Adidas Nmd r1 Herre Danmark . Pierce was ejected in the third quarter of Indianas 103-86 win Monday. George Hill stole a bad pass and was going in for a layup, and Pierce hustled back and appeared to be trying to wrap him up. http://www.dknmdskotilbud.com/adidas-nmd-herre-outlet-danmark.html . -- The proud fathers huddled near the Dallas Stars dressing room, smiling, laughing and telling stories while wearing replica green sweaters of their sons team. Adidas Nmd Tilbud .Y. - Jerome Samson scored once in regulation and again in the shootout as the St. Adidas Nmd Dame Udsalg . -- If this was Aaron Gordons final home game at Arizona, and it almost certainly was, then he went out in style.AUSTIN, Texas -- This week, Texas will launch what state officials say is the nations largest effort to track brain injuries among young athletes.The University Interscholastic League, Texas governing body for public high school sports, is partnering with the ODonnell Brain Institute at UT Southwestern Medical Center for the project, from which they hope to gauge whether rules or equipment changes are improving player safety and what more can be done to protect athletes.A state as large as Texas, which has more than 800,000 public high school athletes, would be a key step in developing a national database of brain injuries in youths, officials say. Already, the federal Centers of Disease Control and Prevention is seeking federal funding for such a database.Until we understand what the frequency of concussions is across the state, or a region of the state, we cant determine when rule changes, equipment changes or things like recovery programs are really being effective, said Dr. Munro Cullum, a professor of psychiatry, neurology and neurotherapeutics who will lead the study.All 50 states in recent years have passed rules or laws to address concussions in youth athletics from research to protocols for identifying concussions and setting rules for return to play. The CDC has estimated that up to 3.8 million concussions occur in sports and recreational activities each year, but some experts wonder if tthose numbers underestimate total brain injuries, as some individuals may not seek treatment for mild or moderate symptoms.ddddddddddddhe Texas program will track about two-dozen sports, from football to girls soccer, recording what caused an injury, recovery time and other data.Other states have researched head injuries, too.In Michigan, which requires schools to report concussions, a recent concussion study showed 755 schools reported 4,452 head injuries in the 2015-2016 school year. Football had the most- 1,907 -- and girls basketball ranked No. 2 with 454.It tracked details such as whether the injury occurred in practice or a game, whether the athlete had to miss class and how long it took them to return to competition. That research is being shared with Michigan State Universitys Institute for the Study of Youth Sports.The Texas study will collect more concussion data than it has before, University Interscholastic League deputy director Jamey Harrison said. Currently, Texas requires only one school from each district report concussions as part of a weekly injury reporting system, though each school in the football playoffs is required to report concussions.Right now its a sample that is just a snapshot. Its not scientific, Harrison said. We need to move beyond that. ' ' '