Kovalev and Ward - both passed their primes

[ValMar]

It was obviously. Both of them saw the better days. I am not sure whether Beterbiev and Gvozdyk are championship material. I expect the great battles at LHW next year.

[jezzamundo]

Ward seems to be a little past his prime, though that may be more to do with ring rust and lack of quality opposition to keep him sharp. He looked better as the fight went along and I'd expect him to win a rematch more clearly.

Kovalev was simply made to look human by fighting a great fighter - same as happened to Carl Froch, except Sergei did much better. Kovalev is definitely still in his prime.

[Badhusker]

Ward seems to be a little past his prime, though that may be more to do with ring rust and lack of quality opposition to keep him sharp. He looked better as the fight went along and I'd expect him to win a rematch more clearly.

Kovalev was simply made to look human by fighting a great fighter - same as happened to Carl Froch, except Sergei did much better. Kovalev is definitely still in his prime.

Exactly what I would predict also. Well said.

[Ian1973]

Neither are past their prime.

[Ricky_]

Ward got a bit of a pasting in the first half and spoiled his way through the 2nd.

Kovalev scored a big knockdown but Ward became too slippy for him to find the trigger in the 2nd half.


As a result neither man got the iconic and historic victory that was on offer in this fight.

GGG is clearly better than both p4p.

[ValMar]

Ward got a bit of a pasting in the first half and spoiled his way through the 2nd.

Kovalev scored a big knockdown but Ward became too slippy for him to find the trigger in the 2nd half.


As a result neither man got the iconic and historic victory that was on offer in this fight.

GGG is clearly better than both p4p.

This match was something like Mayweather-Pacquiao - on the highest level, but rather boring. It was an average performance, nothing more....

[jezzamundo]

Ward got a bit of a pasting in the first half and spoiled his way through the 2nd.

Kovalev scored a big knockdown but Ward became too slippy for him to find the trigger in the 2nd half.


As a result neither man got the iconic and historic victory that was on offer in this fight.

GGG is clearly better than both p4p.

This match was something like Mayweather-Pacquiao - on the highest level, but rather boring. It was an average performance, nothing more....

It was definitely a better fight that Mayweather-Pacquiao - more competitive and more exciting. I've said on another thread that it may have been the best fight I've seen live - certainly not the most exciting, but the highest quality. There was some rough-housing, but both were guilty of it and I thought it added an interesting extra element to the contest.

[Ian1973]

GGG is clearly better than both p4p.

I would agree with that. GGG is number one right now.

[ValMar]

Ward got a bit of a pasting in the first half and spoiled his way through the 2nd.

Kovalev scored a big knockdown but Ward became too slippy for him to find the trigger in the 2nd half.


As a result neither man got the iconic and historic victory that was on offer in this fight.

GGG is clearly better than both p4p.

This match was something like Mayweather-Pacquiao - on the highest level, but rather boring. It was an average performance, nothing more....

It was definitely a better fight that Mayweather-Pacquiao - more competitive and more exciting. I've said on another thread that it may have been the best fight I've seen live - certainly not the most exciting, but the highest quality. There was some rough-housing, but both were guilty of it and I thought it added an interesting extra element to the contest.

Yes, I meant about lack of excitement....

[ValMar]

GGG is clearly better than both p4p.

I would agree with that. GGG is number one right now.

Same here I think if GGG had of fought ward on last night's showing GGG would of KOd ward

Ward is too huge for GGG........

[jezzamundo]

I would agree with that. GGG is number one right now.

Same here I think if GGG had of fought ward on last night's showing GGG would of KOd ward

Ward is too huge for GGG........

Ward would deservedly be the favourite, but I don't think it's an insurmountable task for GGG. Ward is only 1.5 inches taller with 1 inch longer reach than GGG. Stepping up from 160lb to 175lb in one fight is probably too big of an ask, especially against someone as good as Ward, but if GGG could fight at 168lb first that could make it more realistic. A 172lb catchweight would make sense, although with the no-catchweight-for-title-fights talk from GGG's team, it would be more impressive if they made the fight at the full light heavyweight limit. Regardless, GGG's team should focus on getting the Canelo fight first.

[jezzamundo]

Same here I think if GGG had of fought ward on last night's showing GGG would of KOd ward

Ward is too huge for GGG........

Not really before last night he was 8 pounds heavier not that big a jump and I think GGG hits harder than kovalev

That's a really big call - I know Abel Sanchez has said the same, as have others, but still, to say that a middleweight hits harder than a notoriously big punching light heavyweight is a really huge call.

[Syntax Error]

Neither seemed past their prime to me.

It was evenly matched contest between 2 men with contrasting styles.

Kovalev was never going to blow Ward away & Ward was never going to easily outclass Kovalev.

[BAD INTENTIONS]

Neither seemed past their prime to me.

It was evenly matched contest between 2 men with contrasting styles.

Kovalev was never going to blow Ward away & Ward was never going to easily outclass Kovalev.

Kovalev nearly did blow ward away!

No he didn't.

Ward instantly recovered and responded very well.

Where are Kovalev fans getting their reality?

Ward was squared up to the jab in round one, and Kovalev jabs hard.
The KD was one that usually leads to a GTS KO.
Ward got up immediately and finished the round in his right mind.
And he had a good round 3.

[SFW]

If ifs and buts was candy and nuts we'd all have a merry Christmas

[Enlightened-One]

Yes he did he was hurt and down if kovalev landed the same shot again after ward got up the fight would of been over

If ifs and buts were candy and nuts...

[BAD INTENTIONS]

Kovalev nearly did blow ward away!

No he didn't.

Ward instantly recovered and responded very well.

Where are Kovalev fans getting their reality?

Ward was squared up to the jab in round one, and Kovalev jabs hard.
The KD was one that usually leads to a GTS KO.
Ward got up immediately and finished the round in his right mind.
And he had a good round 3.

Yes he did he was hurt and down if kovalev landed the same shot again after ward got up the fight would of been over

Yes, but if you understand sports, you would realize what you are talking about is fantasy.

He was only able to land one of those punches for a reason.

Ward realized Kovalev has the faster hands and took that option away.

[SaadOffTheDeck]

I don't think they're past their prime. Ward probably has the highest ring iq in the sport and kovalev is much better physical fighter than Andre.

[SFW]

Yes he did he was hurt and down if kovalev landed the same shot again after ward got up the fight would of been over

Yes, but if you understand sports, you would realize what you are talking about is fantasy.

He was only able to land one of those punches for a reason.

Ward realized Kovalev has the faster hands and took that option away.

oh please don't start with you don't understand the sport crap i understand it just fine pity you don't , so what you're saying is that kovalev could floor a fully alert ward but not one that had been dazed and floored is that right?

Apparently not. Since he didn't.

[BAD INTENTIONS]

oh please don't start with you don't understand the sport crap i understand it just fine pity you don't , so what you're saying is that kovalev could floor a fully alert ward but not one that had been dazed and floored is that right?

Ward got knocked down because of a tactic that didn't work.
Not because of alertness.

If you understood the sport, you would realize that's why Ward's right hand went away for the rest of the fight.
You would be able to see Ward circling away from the right the rest of the fight,
instead of standing in front of Kovalev like the first 2 rounds.

Your scoring and reaction to a close fight says what needs to be said.
Don't worry Lederman agrees with you.

[BAD INTENTIONS]

oh please don't start with you don't understand the sport crap i understand it just fine pity you don't , so what you're saying is that kovalev could floor a fully alert ward but not one that had been dazed and floored is that right?

Ward got knocked down because of a tactic that didn't work.
Not because of alertness.

If you understood the sport, you would realize that's why Ward's right hand went away for the rest of the fight.
You would be able to see Ward circling away from the right the rest of the fight,
instead of standing in front of Kovalev like the first 2 rounds.

Your scoring and reaction to a close fight says what needs to be said.
Don't worry Lederman agrees with you.

he got knocked down because he got hit very hard shot ,you can still be hit circling to the right that's hardly cutting edge tactics is it you move to the right and then you're moving into the jab! i don't think you even know what the original debate was about you just wants to make smart arse comments what's the term keyboard warrior .......

Of course, you can get hit circling away from the right, but it usually makes the punch hurt less,
and it makes the opponent have to reach more, leaving them more open to counters.

Ward tried to counter Kovalev's jab with a right, but he found out that Kovalev sits on that punch.
It's a great tactic because it makes fighters scared to counter his jabs.

Also, Kovalev is about as prime as he is going to get.

[Syntax Error]

Kovalev nearly did blow ward away!

No he didn't.

Ward instantly recovered and responded very well.

Where are Kovalev fans getting their reality?

Ward was squared up to the jab in round one, and Kovalev jabs hard.
The KD was one that usually leads to a GTS KO.
Ward got up immediately and finished the round in his right mind.
And he had a good round 3.

Yes he did he was hurt and down if kovalev landed the same shot again after ward got up the fight would of been over

And if Donald Trump hadn't been elected & if Telly Savalas had hair & if Bernie Ecclestone wasn't fabulously wealthy, would he still have a good looking young wife?

You can go on forever with what ifs.

[Syntax Error]

Yes he did he was hurt and down if kovalev landed the same shot again after ward got up the fight would of been over

And if Donald Trump hadn't been elected & if Telly Savalas had hair & if Bernie Ecclestone wasn't fabulously wealthy, would he still have a good looking young wife?

You can go on forever with what ifs.

Have even read the thread if not f@ck off , because if you had you would understand why I said it

Get over yourself d!ckface!

[Kalan]

It was obviously. Both of them saw the better days. I am not sure whether Beterbiev and Gvozdyk are championship material. I expect the great battles at LHW next year.

I thought they both looked better than ever and should be prime boxers for several more years... When they get to be 36 or 37 they might start slowing down.. Right now they're too young to be past their best.. However both Lomachenko and Walters are younger.. That should be even better.

[GPTM1403]

Fights like this rarely ever happen until one or both are past their prime, it takes time to build up to being a name, it takes time for the rivalry to build, it takes longer when one is at a different weight and ultimately what you get is the older versions fighting each other, tends also to make for a better fight.