He has been really badly managed. He has probably lost his confidence and seemingly doesn't have very good stamina. He started strong both times against Ward but then struggled and it isn't as though Ward even throws many punches. Saw a bit of Mayweather/McGregor on You Tube and it seemed a bit like Ward/Kov 2.

Should fight a durable journeyman or 2 just to learn to pace himself. Kovalev was so used to stopping fighters he didn't learn to pace himself over 12. Then step up and fight a top 10 guy and then maybe go for a title.

He is going through the Pavlik 'I don't know what to do' phase. He can put it right or his career ends.