Who won? Kovalev or Ward?

[Master]

Andre Ward survived a second-round knockdown to beat Sergey Kovalev on points and claim the Russian's IBF, WBA and WBO light-heavyweight titles.

American Ward, 32, won the battle of the unbeaten fighters by 114-113 on all three ringside scorecards in Las Vegas.

Ward landed some good punches but withstood pressure from Kovalev, 33, who was unhappy with the US judges.

"I agree they support their boxer but honestly, this is sport. Don't make it like politics," he said.

Asked whether he would face Ward again, Kovalev replied: "Sure - and I'll kick his ass."

But Ward felt he was worthy of his 31st professional victory.

"In a tight fight, he's going to feel like he got robbed. I'd have been been disappointed. But we got the belts tonight," he said.

"That was the first time in my career I got dropped. I'm pleased with the way I responded."

Kovalev's promoter Kathy Duva said she would use the rematch clause in the contract for a second fight.

"He won the first six rounds so I don't know how he could lose a decision,'' she said.


The clash between the skilful Ward and hard-hitting Kovalev was billed as the fight of the year, and lived up to expectations.

Ward had said he could finish the former super-middleweight champion early, but was left on the canvas in the second round by a stinging right-hander.

He eased his way back into the contest and landed a good left in the seventh round which jolted Kovalev.

Ward won all of the last six rounds on two scorecards, and five of six on a third , to inflict his opponent's first defeat in 32 fights.

"It was a fight of my life,'' said Kovalev. "I am disappointed in the judges' decision. He got maybe a few rounds, I agree with that. I kept control. I lost maybe three rounds the whole fight.''

The judges appeared to favour Ward's counter-punching against the aggressive style of Kovalev.

"We were a little careless with that knockdown in the second round, but we landed the cleaner punches,'' said Ward's trainer Virgil Hunter.

Andre Ward fights back to beat Sergey Kovalev on points in Las Vegas super-fight - BBC Sport

[Mark TKO]

My first thought after watching it was a draw and maybe Kovalev if it had to go to one them.

But no complaints with ward getting it.

Rematch all the way

[vidgil]

I had it 7-5 Kovalev, but could easily see it 6-6 with Kovalev getting the 114-113 nod.

But I can't see 7-5 Ward. Way too close to be called a robbery, but I think the wrong man got the nod.

Gandalf I had it exactly the same as you, only I gave Kovalev the 12th round.

[TitoFan]

Even the ref agrees with the majority.

[Freedom]

Doug Fischer (from The Ring website)

I think we need to be outraged when judges play favorites. I don’t think it should be a problem when American judges are assigned to a fight between an American and foreign fighter. It shouldn’t have to come down to nationalities.

Boxing officials should be professional and fair regardless of where they are from. We just need better, more honorable judges.

Amen.

[Gandalf]

It was a close fight. In a situation like that everyone needs to be paying close attention, but it does say something when the vast majority of writers and posters think Kovalev won and yet 0% of the judges think Kovalev won. There is a discrepancy there and frankly it is all too common in an unregulated and probably corrupt sport like boxing. You saw it on the undercard more glaringly and then in the main event too. Where there is money the cards are likely to follow.

[p4pking]

Is Ward really that much more marketable than Kovalev though? I don't know why he'd be worth putting the fix in for when you look at how often the guy's been fighting, who else is out there for him to fight, the numbers he's previously done etc.

[Paul Kevin]

Kovalev Got Robbed In Sin City after Horrendous Decision by Judges -

[X]

I don't see what all the fuss is about.

Unlike some, I thought it was a fantastic fight. I understand why some people disagree, because there was only one glancing knockdown, a lot of mauling and then a somewhat controversial decision with no clear winner.

This was a real chess match, you could see both fighters thinking on their feet in there and the quality of the work was exemplary.

Kovalev was excellent. His power clearly shocked Ward at the beginning (I mean, buckling an elite fighters legs with a JAB!) and he was clearly on top in the first half of the fight. His stamina was very good, considering the amount of clinching and wrestling there was, although he did slow down a bit later on. Excellent power, relentless advance and he showed he is much much more than just a banger. Some of the feints he produced were top drawer and he varied his attack quite nicely. He is the only fighter I have seen who could tie Ward up inside properly.

If there is a rematch, I thought his feet were the worst thing about his performance. He does have slow feet, and I definitely thought that there were times when he was chasing Ward around the ring rather than cutting him off. He allowed Ward just a bit too much space and time in the second half of the fight. He also looked like he could walk through Wards best shots all night.

Thos was a career defining performance from Ward. Rocked, busted up and knocked down, you could see he was physically shocked by Kovalev's power. I suspect there was a bit of ring rust to get knocked off too.

Hats off to him, you could see him thinking on his feet in there, playing very fine margins and adjusting the game plan on the hoof. Only the very best fighters in history have been able to do that. Wards ring intelligence was extraordinary. This wasn't quite Ali/Foreman, but I really respect how Ward dig in, sucked it up and ground his way back in.

hand and foot speed, technique and bravery in spades from the guy. He landed eye catching shots in the second half of the fight.

He is also a 'mysterious' fighter, like many of the great old timers; every time you clinch the guy, his elbow is mysteriously in your face. If he misses with a shot, his forearm mysteriously follows through and hits you. Whenever he is close to you, his head is mysteriously rubbing against your face. 😗
I ABSOLUTELY see why there is disagreement about the decision. The truth is there wasn't a clear winner and whoever lost the decision had every right to feel shortchanged. Kovalev with his early dominance Andy constant pressure and aggression (who was never obviously hurt) ..... or Ward with a gutsy comeback, fighting ugly, picking nice shots and setting the template for the 'distance' the fight was waged at.

I thought Ward shaded it, but this fight was a toughie to score. So many rounds were close that we could have had a razor fine unanimous decisions, a draw or even a hugely lopsided decision to either guy.

I really don't see that the loser's stock has fallen at all with this defeat. Sometimes you are on the wrong end of tight decisions.

The real scandal, which has been lost in the ether, was the unbelievable draw that the US fighter got in the previous bout!

[erics44]

@Paul Kevin is disgusted in the decision

[Primo Carnera]

@Paul Kevin is disgusted in the decision

'With' the decision. If you're gonna start reading an intellect like Paul Kevin's post, you're going to have to be more grammatically correct.

[Pastor John]

The fight could have gone either way, but I had it for Ward just as the judges. In the rematch, I see Ward boxing 12 rounds like he did in the second half of this fight. I feel like Kovalev caught him like that in large part because of Ward's long time period between fighting quality opponents. This Ward clearly is not as athletic as he was pre-injuries, but his ring IQ is on another level than most fighters.