Sergey Kovalev vs Andre Ward

[Ezzard]

Had Kov the winner 115-113.

Not a robbery but when the home guy wins these kind of fights there is always a smell.

SKY need to talk to their commentary team. It's fine for them to go with Ward but one of the team needs to take the other position in a close fight. It was really poor. Just ignoring Kov's success.

[Ian1973]

Had Kov the winner 115-113.

Not a robbery but when the home guy wins these kind of fights there is always a smell.

SKY need to talk to their commentary team. It's fine for them to go with Ward but one of the team needs to take the other position in a close fight. It was really poor. Just ignoring Kov's success.

It was shocking and it's not the first time either.

[Ezzard]

You mean the commentary?

[Ezzard]

It felt to me that they gave every close round to Ward. Then once he won a couple back to back they basically ignored Kovalev's work.

Paulie liked Ward and gave lots of reasons why. That's fine. But someone else on the team in such a close fight needs to start a discussion.

These rounds are so close maybe Kov is winning them?
Why does everyone else think Kov is winning?
Is there a different way to interpret what Paulie thinks?

But mostly the way the action was called by Adam Smith...he just needs to stay open-minded to both fighters.

Don't want to be overly critical. But it wasn't a good show. Similarly everyone in the studio was saying the same things.

[Covfefe]

It felt to me that they gave every close round to Ward. Then once he won a couple back to back they basically ignored Kovalev's work.

Paulie liked Ward and gave lots of reasons why. That's fine. But someone else on the team in such a close fight needs to start a discussion.

These rounds are so close maybe Kov is winning them?
Why does everyone else think Kov is winning?
Is there a different way to interpret what Paulie thinks?

But mostly the way the action was called by Adam Smith...he just needs to stay open-minded to both fighters.

Don't want to be overly critical. But it wasn't a good show. Similarly everyone in the studio was saying the same things.

Whilst I agree broadly, how can you expect people to have a different view, sometimes people see the same things. You just can't plan for something like that to have the voice asking questions.

[samwbr]

It felt to me that they gave every close round to Ward. Then once he won a couple back to back they basically ignored Kovalev's work.

Paulie liked Ward and gave lots of reasons why. That's fine. But someone else on the team in such a close fight needs to start a discussion.

These rounds are so close maybe Kov is winning them?
Why does everyone else think Kov is winning?
Is there a different way to interpret what Paulie thinks?

But mostly the way the action was called by Adam Smith...he just needs to stay open-minded to both fighters.

Don't want to be overly critical. But it wasn't a good show. Similarly everyone in the studio was saying the same things.

They didn't want the racist Russian to win. Subjectively it plays a part in their thinking, would never admit it but I think it's true.

[hitman_hatton1]

Adam Smith spent the whole fight commentating on other peoples' scorecards. He could've done that sat on his arse at home and given me his ringside seat

when HBO are so laughably bad u gotta call it out.

lederman should have lost his job after scoring de la hoya-molina to molina.

[el_grande_mauro_mina]

Last time I heard whining this loud - I was at the departures lounge at Beijing airport.

(Runs off back to the OT )

[Ezzard]

It felt to me that they gave every close round to Ward. Then once he won a couple back to back they basically ignored Kovalev's work.

Paulie liked Ward and gave lots of reasons why. That's fine. But someone else on the team in such a close fight needs to start a discussion.

These rounds are so close maybe Kov is winning them?
Why does everyone else think Kov is winning?
Is there a different way to interpret what Paulie thinks?

But mostly the way the action was called by Adam Smith...he just needs to stay open-minded to both fighters.

Don't want to be overly critical. But it wasn't a good show. Similarly everyone in the studio was saying the same things.

Whilst I agree broadly, how can you expect people to have a different view, sometimes people see the same things. You just can't plan for something like that to have the voice asking questions.

They are professionals. It's a TV show. They kept saying these rounds are close and hard to score but they were all so pro-Ward. For the sake of good TV they need to be more fluid. They clearly have some TV training.

I don't think anything will change.

[Ezzard]

It felt to me that they gave every close round to Ward. Then once he won a couple back to back they basically ignored Kovalev's work.

Paulie liked Ward and gave lots of reasons why. That's fine. But someone else on the team in such a close fight needs to start a discussion.

These rounds are so close maybe Kov is winning them?
Why does everyone else think Kov is winning?
Is there a different way to interpret what Paulie thinks?

But mostly the way the action was called by Adam Smith...he just needs to stay open-minded to both fighters.

Don't want to be overly critical. But it wasn't a good show. Similarly everyone in the studio was saying the same things.

They didn't want the racist Russian to win. Subjectively it plays a part in their thinking, would never admit it but I think it's true.

Didn't bother then when it was Floyd...or anyone else who has made a racist comment.

[billy nelson]

For once I thought the scores where spot on

[Horse]

115-112 Kovalev

[T w_savage]

I thought Kovalev edged it. All the wrestling tired him out an took the snap out of his punches late on but I thought he landed more significant blows.

Adam Smith spent the whole fight commentating on other peoples' scorecards. He could've done that sat on his arse at home and given me his ringside seat

Smith talked over the action, seemed to miss the fight completely. Certainly missed kovalev work, never kept with the action..

I had Kov by 3 but thought it no robbery.

[ShadrachSimmo]

It felt to me that they gave every close round to Ward. Then once he won a couple back to back they basically ignored Kovalev's work.

Paulie liked Ward and gave lots of reasons why. That's fine. But someone else on the team in such a close fight needs to start a discussion.

These rounds are so close maybe Kov is winning them?
Why does everyone else think Kov is winning?
Is there a different way to interpret what Paulie thinks?

But mostly the way the action was called by Adam Smith...he just needs to stay open-minded to both fighters.

Don't want to be overly critical. But it wasn't a good show. Similarly everyone in the studio was saying the same things.

Whilst I agree broadly, how can you expect people to have a different view, sometimes people see the same things. You just can't plan for something like that to have the voice asking questions.

They are professionals. It's a TV show. They kept saying these rounds are close and hard to score but they were all so pro-Ward. For the sake of good TV they need to be more fluid. They clearly have some TV training.

I don't think anything will change.

It's painful to listen to. So repetetive. I wonder if any of them gave Kovalev the 2nd round 10-8?

[Horse]

He's terrible. Talks for the sake of it to fill what he perceives to be 'dead air' and then once in a mindset, won't deviate for anyone or anything.

Adam Smith is the worst commentator I've heard.

Nick Halling got a lot of stick, but he talked far less rubbish than Smith and he seemed to wield less influence on the other commentators than Smith does.

When Smith is talking his nonsense the other commentators seem obliged to follow his lead.

[Ian1973]

He's terrible. Talks for the sake of it to fill what he perceives to be 'dead air' and then once in a mindset, won't deviate for anyone or anything.

Adam Smith is the worst commentator I've heard.

Nick Halling got a lot of stick, but he talked far less rubbish than Smith and he seemed to wield less influence on the other commentators than Smith does.

When Smith is talking his nonsense the other commentators seem obliged to follow his lead.

This. Plus the fact that an American is on the commentary team you get the feeling the others feel uncomfortable about criticising the American fighter.

Malignaggi talked rubbish all night.

[keithmoonhangover]

It felt to me that they gave every close round to Ward. Then once he won a couple back to back they basically ignored Kovalev's work.

Paulie liked Ward and gave lots of reasons why. That's fine. But someone else on the team in such a close fight needs to start a discussion.

These rounds are so close maybe Kov is winning them?
Why does everyone else think Kov is winning?
Is there a different way to interpret what Paulie thinks?

But mostly the way the action was called by Adam Smith...he just needs to stay open-minded to both fighters.

Don't want to be overly critical. But it wasn't a good show. Similarly everyone in the studio was saying the same things.

Wasn't it just that like the judges, they though Ward won the fight?

[Ezzard]

Despite it being close it kind of feels like a worse result than maybe it should.

Kov winning would have been a shot in the arm for a more entertaining style of boxing. Instead it's Ward and his awful methods that have been rewarded. I'm surprised at how disappointed I am.

UFC seems to get more mainstream column inches...and boxing just anointed another guy guaranteed to turn off any news fans tuning in.

[Ezzard]

It felt to me that they gave every close round to Ward. Then once he won a couple back to back they basically ignored Kovalev's work.

Paulie liked Ward and gave lots of reasons why. That's fine. But someone else on the team in such a close fight needs to start a discussion.

These rounds are so close maybe Kov is winning them?
Why does everyone else think Kov is winning?
Is there a different way to interpret what Paulie thinks?

But mostly the way the action was called by Adam Smith...he just needs to stay open-minded to both fighters.

Don't want to be overly critical. But it wasn't a good show. Similarly everyone in the studio was saying the same things.

Wasn't it just that like the judges, they though Ward won the fight?

The judges had it by 1 point. Even if you think they're right that slim margin of difference was not represented in the commentary.

[keithmoonhangover]

It felt to me that they gave every close round to Ward. Then once he won a couple back to back they basically ignored Kovalev's work.

Paulie liked Ward and gave lots of reasons why. That's fine. But someone else on the team in such a close fight needs to start a discussion.

These rounds are so close maybe Kov is winning them?
Why does everyone else think Kov is winning?
Is there a different way to interpret what Paulie thinks?

But mostly the way the action was called by Adam Smith...he just needs to stay open-minded to both fighters.

Don't want to be overly critical. But it wasn't a good show. Similarly everyone in the studio was saying the same things.

Wasn't it just that like the judges, they though Ward won the fight?

The judges had it by 1 point. Even if you think they're right that slim margin of difference was not represented in the commentary.

.
I had Ward by one or two rounds. I might be in the minority, but I thought the commentators were right. I guess it's is just one of those marmite fights.

[Ezzard]

It's fine to have it either way. It's not fine to spend the whole fight from round 3 onwards talking one guy up when you admit that the rounds are close. It's not the first time...

[Counter-puncher]

He's terrible. Talks for the sake of it to fill what he perceives to be 'dead air' and then once in a mindset, won't deviate for anyone or anything.

Adam Smith is the worst commentator I've heard.

Nick Halling got a lot of stick, but he talked far less rubbish than Smith and he seemed to wield less influence on the other commentators than Smith does.

When Smith is talking his nonsense the other commentators seem obliged to follow his lead.

This. Plus the fact that an American is on the commentary team you get the feeling the others feel uncomfortable about criticising the American fighter.

Malignaggi talked rubbish all night.

I don't think the nationality of a fighter can possibly make smith any more inept

In boxing terms, he couldn't find his own arse if you gave him a detailed map and a gps compass of infinite precision

[Counter-puncher]

This one I am totally on the fence

Me too

[Ian1973]

I watched the American HBO version of the fight and the commentary was biased towards ward I thought even though they had kovalev winning what was the sky commentary like , biased or fair

Incredibly biased towards Ward. They barely mentioned anything Kovalev did at all.

[Ian1973]

I watched the American HBO version of the fight and the commentary was biased towards ward I thought even though they had kovalev winning what was the sky commentary like , biased or fair

Incredibly biased towards Ward. They barely mentioned anything Kovalev did at all.

I'm a little shocked at that myself who did the sky team have winning HBO had kovalev by 4 rounds I think

Ward. All of them except Johnny Nelson who had it level.