Andre Ward promises career-best performance Saturday vs. Sergey Kovalev after weigh-in

LAS VEGAS - Sergey Kovalev and Andre Ward both heard their fair share of boos from the sizable crowd on hand at Friday's weigh-in at the MGM Grand Garden Arena.

Both men also have contingents who have traveled for the summit meeting to decide the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world. Ward's fans from Northern California; Kovalev's supporters from Russia.

There's been some bad blood during the promotion, and Saturday (9 p.m. ET, HBO PPV), they'll settle matters in the middle of the ring.

"It's simple, he don't like me, and I don't like him," Ward, who weighed 175 pounds, bluntly stated. "At the end of the day he's a champion. So I respect him as a champion - he's a great champion. And I'm a great champion as well.

" … I'm not leaving Las Vegas without them belts. I believe tomorrow night is going to be my best performance the fans have ever seen."

That's saying something for a man who has not tasted defeat since he was 12 years old. Ward cleaned out the super middleweight division, and now seeks to dethrone Kovalev, who holds three light heavyweight titles.

"I don't care at all (about being the underdog)," Krusher Kovalev said after also tipping the scales at 175. "Tomorrow we'll find out who's the best. Tomorrow is Krush Day. Of course, I'm going to be knocking him out. That's my goal."

And Kovalev has knocked out many top-shelf opponents on his way to eight consecutive defenses of his unified light heavyweight titles. But none of those foes compare to Ward.

The 32-year-old Ward, who will be fighting at the light heavyweight limit for just the third time, showed off an impressive physique after a grueling camp with world-renowned strength and conditioning guru Mackie Shilstone.

Kovalev, too, was obviously fit and ready. After stepping off the scale, he screamed while flexing for the crowd.

He's been waiting for this moment. So, too, has Ward, and boxing fans all over the world.

Saturday night can't come soon enough.

(Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)