Andre Ward vs. Sergey Kovalev II on June 17

[Master]

I actually thought Ward won the first fight and considering he got knocked down early, he won it fairly well. And after that knockdown, considering he came up a weight he coped with Kovalev's power brilliantly.
Add to that , he wasn't just beating a champion in the weight above, he was beating a guy who dominated the division and should be given immense credit for that.
I have been very critical of Ward's inactivity, but there's no denying he is a special fighter, and I think he'll win again on points exactly like he did the first time.

I agree with everything except your scoring of the 1st fight and your prediction on the 2nd.

I thought ward won

I didn't want him to, Id take the destructive nature of Kovs style every day of the week over wards spoiling tactics

I have a feeling it will be different this time tho

I had it a draw and I wanted Kov to win.

I could not fail to be impressed with the way Ward came back from the first 2 rounds and admire his heart to dig deep and comeback. Reminiscent of JMM against Manny Pac the first time they fought.

[Master]

Andre Ward has confirmed he will rematch Sergey Kovalev on June 17 after controversially outpointing the Russian in their first fight.

'SOG' was knocked down in the second round by 'Krusher,' before adjusting his tactics to rally late in the fight.

Despite improving, many felt the Russian edged it, with the knockdown the decisive factor, leading to Kovalev's team demanding a rematch and now Ward has granted one.

"I'm going to keep it short & sweet, you got what you asked for, now you have to see me JUNE 17. This time leave the excuses at home. #EARNED," said Ward on social media.

Ward remained undefeated by triumphing last time out in Vegas, handing Kovalev the first defeat of his career (each judge scoring the fight 114-113) in the fight that was supposed to confirm the pound-for-pound king.

Kovalev has campaigned on social media for a second chance at the light heavyweight World titles he feels he wrongfully lost, claiming Ward won a 'robbery' and mocking Ward's nickname by calling him 'Son of Judges.'

The rematch, which will take place at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas, is bound to generate more hype second time around and HBO will hope the PPV event will top the 160,000 buys it produced last time.

Andre Ward vs Sergey Kovalev 2 is on! SOG vows to silence Krusher's 'excuses' after controversial victory in first fight

[Batman]

First time round I wanted Kov to win, I think I scored it very very narrowly to Kov, I may have been a bit biased in my scoring as well.

Ward did well and impressed me, no way was it a robbery.

This time round I want Kov to win, I think Ward will win and it'll be easier for him than the first time.

[chris6878]

Ward already knows what to expect. He will win much easier this time and make Kov look bad. Only way Kov wins is by Ko, or multiple KD's

[Alpha]

I had it 6 a piece. The knockdown gave Kovalev the win in my opinion.

[powerpuncher]

I had it 7-5 for kovalev plus the knockdown. I thought that kovalev did enough to deserve the decision, but I wasn't one of the many people who cried robbery. Why does it seem like everyone on this thread think that it wasn't a robbery? I swear I was the only one at the time saying that the decision was fair.

[J_Undisputed]

I have to see how the camps go. With the early rumors out of krushers camp that he wants to add a Russian coach... It's taking any edge I gave him off of motivation for revenge this time around (too many cooks spoil the broth). Ward will work on his head movement get inside another and start the hug and slug earlier and do a lot of talking between now and the fight to try to get Kovalev off his game. So I have to see what kovalevs focus is like. Everyone knows what ward brings already so I expect him to be in full bhop mode. That includes baiting Kovalev into a dirty fight and then complaining to the ref for point deductions.

[imp]

Stop calling the first fight a robbery.

Roy jones getting silver in the olympics was a robbery.

Degale and Jack was a very close fight with Jack edging it a round.

Watching the Ward vs Sergey fight i found it very close..but I felt Ward did not do enough to take that mans belts.

I see Ward adjusting this time but I wouldn't bet money on it.

[imp]

I'm a huge Andre Ward fan but just look at the end of the fight..body language tells you that he was unsure which way it was going to go.

If the belts were not on the line then he can have the win...but I just do not feel (even though it was close) that he deserved to take the belts.

Kovalev slowed down in the 2nd half of the fight and that might be his downfall in the rematch.

[imp]

Can someone post the compubox stats?

[Alpha]

WK.JPG

[Freedom]

Kind of like when Jacobs fought on American soil against GGG and lost a disputed decision...🤔

Officiating was honest in that one.

But Las Vegas is known for it's crooks.

[powerpuncher]

Kind of like when Jacobs fought on American soil against GGG and lost a disputed decision...🤔

Officiating was honest in that one.

But Las Vegas is known for it's crooks.

The officiating wasn't bad for ward kovalev. Don't know what fight you were watching if you thought it was.

[Nameless]

I say Ward wins, I hope Kovy breaks him.

[Nameless]

Stop calling the first fight a robbery.

Roy jones getting silver in the olympics was a robbery.

Degale and Jack was a very close fight with Jack edging it a round.

Watching the Ward vs Sergey fight i found it very close..but I felt Ward did not do enough to take that mans belts.

I see Ward adjusting this time but I wouldn't bet money on it.

I pretty much agree with everything that's been written here, except perhaps that I am not 100% convinced that Ward did deserve it with the scores he got handed, but that was so close that minor perspectives in judging could easily explain what. No matter what, it was a close fight and there shouldn't be any riot about whoever min/might have won that one.