Ward vs. Kovalev II

[ClivePatrickLyons]

Hard to envision a scenario where ward legitimately beats kovalev. Sergey is obviously the bigger puncher, he's also faster and the more skilled boxer.

He legitimately beat him the first time around and if Kovalev was the bigger puncher, faster and more skilled, how did Ward win more than 6 rounds? Ward will beat Kovalev more than legitimately in a rematch.

Ward didn't win 6 rounds.

Ward did not win 6 he won 7/8 definatly so yes more than 6

[Tanzio]

He legitimately beat him the first time around and if Kovalev was the bigger puncher, faster and more skilled, how did Ward win more than 6 rounds? Ward will beat Kovalev more than legitimately in a rematch.

Ward didn't win 6 rounds.

Ward did not win 6 he won 7/8 definatly so yes more than 6

Watch it! Saad's gonna kick your ass, just as soon as he can drag his off the sofa bed and maneuver through the empty liquor bottles on his shag carpet.

[ClivePatrickLyons]

Ward didn't win 6 rounds.

Ward did not win 6 he won 7/8 definatly so yes more than 6

Watch it! Saad's gonna kick your ass, just as soon as he can drag his off the sofa bed and maneuver through the empty liquor bottles on his shag carpet.

Mate not him too there is another member who wants to do the same we all boxing family

[caldo2025]

First I thought the first fight was super close. Kovalev looked like he was going to have a easy night through the first two rounds, but Ward showed he's a great champion and ended the fight as the stronger fighter. I personally thought Ward did enough to win, but also felt Kovalev could have gotten the nod as well. Not a robbery at all, a very close fight.

I personally would love to see a rematch. With that being said, Ward wins a rematch clearly with no controversy. Ward now knows Kovalev is soft to the body and can ZAP his energy by focusing more to the body early and taking away Kovalevs power late.

In the first fight, I keep hearing Kovalev was landing the bigger punches, although I agree that was the case for about the first 4 rounds, but Kovalev lost alot his power mid fight and wasn't troubling Ward that much, due to Ward breaking him down both body shots (the most over looked aspect of that fight).. Ward being the smarter fighter will start where he left off and win the rematch more convincing.

I completely agree. Just like Floyd used to do at some point in his fights, Ward figured Kovalev out around the 6th round and made him ineffective the rest of the way. I agree, we should see the rematch resemble the second half of the fight.

But one huge factor will be the Ref. It's no coincidence that Kovalev dominated the first half of the fight when Robert Byrd effectively controlled the action and broke up clinches quickly. When Byrd ran out of gas midway in this fight, his lack of control clearly benefitted Ward's style and sapped Kovalev of his stamina at the same time. I've never seen a ref do such a poor job and manage a fight so differently from the way it started to the way it ended. Byrd either ran out of gas and is too old for this type of action fight or he had other motives.

But I think the ref is one of the biggest factors going into a rematch between these two.

[Tanzio]

First I thought the first fight was super close. Kovalev looked like he was going to have a easy night through the first two rounds, but Ward showed he's a great champion and ended the fight as the stronger fighter. I personally thought Ward did enough to win, but also felt Kovalev could have gotten the nod as well. Not a robbery at all, a very close fight.

I personally would love to see a rematch. With that being said, Ward wins a rematch clearly with no controversy. Ward now knows Kovalev is soft to the body and can ZAP his energy by focusing more to the body early and taking away Kovalevs power late.

In the first fight, I keep hearing Kovalev was landing the bigger punches, although I agree that was the case for about the first 4 rounds, but Kovalev lost alot his power mid fight and wasn't troubling Ward that much, due to Ward breaking him down both body shots (the most over looked aspect of that fight).. Ward being the smarter fighter will start where he left off and win the rematch more convincing.

I completely agree. Just like Floyd used to do at some point in his fights, Ward figured Kovalev out around the 6th round and made him ineffective the rest of the way. I agree, we should see the rematch resemble the second half of the fight.

But one huge factor will be the Ref. It's no coincidence that Kovalev dominated the first half of the fight when Robert Byrd effectively controlled the action and broke up clinches quickly. When Byrd ran out of gas midway in this fight, his lack of control clearly benefitted Ward's style and sapped Kovalev of his stamina at the same time. I've never seen a ref do such a poor job and manage a fight so differently from the way it started to the way it ended. Byrd either ran out of gas and is too old for this type of action fight or he had other motives.

But I think the ref is one of the biggest factors going into a rematch between these two.

I agree. Krusher got away with entirely too much holding and grappling on the inside. It was the only way he could avoid getting ground into horse meat.

That is not to say that Ward did no grappling. Ward was Ward. But I think Byrd decided to let Krusher do the greco judo thing rather than deduct points and rather than give Krusher what he was incessantly holding for; breathing room.

Krusher appeared at times to be man handling Ward across the ring and to the ropes, but what he was doing was expending energy and falling into Ward's web. In the last third of the fight Ward had far less respect for Krusher's power as a result.

Great fight by two of the best boxers of this era. Could have gone either way. Imo, the correct combatant was awarded the W.