Ward vs Kovalev - Who've you got?

First topic message reminder :

I can’t let a fight as big as this weekend pass without a thread asking for folks thoughts. For me this is one of those odd fights that I am looking forward to enormously but suspect might well fail to ignite. I suspect intriguing rather than exciting may accurately describe it. Got to say since this has been announced I have been picking Ward. I rate both of them highly but just think Ward is a special talent, a lot more rounded and like Mayweather one with an exceptional ability to shut opponents down and neutralise them.
 
That being said Kovalev is no underdog or no hoper, this is a genuinely close fight, and one in which you can make an argument either way. Whilst people rightly wax lyrical about Kovalev’s power his boxing ability should not be underplayed, few since Jones have solved the numerous riddles Hopkins poses so effectively. Also he is a natural big hitting light heavy, something Ward has never faced, whilst his defence has always looked solid at super middle he is not completely unhittable. Froch had his moments where he was able to land, so one would assume Sergey will be able to do likewise. How Ward stands up to that is one of the big questions in this one.
 
Also whilst Ward is hardly an old man his career post Super six has had more stops and starts than me attempting to run a marathon. Being in the ring with Kovalev would not be a place I would want to be blowing off a dose of ring rust. Despite that, I still think Ward will be victorious, he is smart at tying up/holding on the inside and fast enough that he will score with plenty when the fight is at range. If the ref is pretty easy going when it comes to his holding inside, and thus far he has tended to get away with it, I think he will secure the win on points.
 
All of this almost certainly guarantees you can put your house on Kovalev, but irrespective of the outcome I cannot wait for this fight. A genuine talent moving up to take on the best the division above him has to offer, this is the sort of fight the sport needs more of.

Had it 117-111 Kovalev.

There is no way you can score round 10 for Ward (or 12 for that matter).

Shame as Kovalev fought a really disciplined fight. Thought Ward's inactivity showed.

Haven't seen the fight yet, but from reading comments on another website and this forum, it seems there are plenty who think Kovalev should have got the decision. Kathy Duva says there is a rematch clause which she has 30 days to invoke, she says she will be doing that.

I am surprised that they allowed all the judges to be American. Team Kovalev slipped up on that one. The fight was already in America, he's fighting an American and they have 3 American judges? Like I said, I have seen the fight yet to score it myself, but talk about fighting with the cards all stacked against you.

I'd be amazed if Ward went for the immediate rematch.

He'll probably make him wait two years and then have it in Oakland.

Just re-watched 10th. How all three judges scored that for Ward is a mystery (travesty).

From what I read there is a rematch clause.

I can't believe that they'd have the clause put into the contract but have no time stipulated as to when the rematch should take place.

Atila wrote:From what I read there is a rematch clause.

I can't believe that they'd have the clause put into the contract but have no time stipulated as to when the rematch should take place.

Let's hope so. A rematch would be a better fight but Kovalev needs three international judges.

http://www.boxingscene.com/kovalev-exercise-immediate-rematch-clause--110929

Herman Jaeger wrote:http://www.boxingscene.com/kovalev-exercise-immediate-rematch-clause--110929

Good.

I do think it's funny though that it can't be held in California or Russia, "so neutral territory will be needed".

Russia is thousands of miles away from California. Nevada borders California. Having the fight in Nevada is hardly neutral territory.

Did Kovalev even land a punch in the second half of the fight? I can see why some think he won with the first 5 rounds and the knockdown, also neither doing much in round 10. But cant see how the fight was anything over than close. I had Ward by 1 same as the judges.

Kovalev fights out of America. Most of his fans American and most of his team American. Hardly some Russian stepping into the lions den

Lance wrote:Kovalev fights out of America. Most of his fans American and most of his team American. Hardly some Russian stepping into the lions den

You make some good points but I'm sure most of his fans are from Russia, just not the one's with the money.

Lance wrote:Did Kovalev even land a punch in the second half of the fight? I can see why some think he won with the first 5 rounds and the knockdown, also neither doing much in round 10. But cant see how the fight was anything over than close. I had Ward by 1 same as the judges.

Kovalev was a mile up after six and won 10th (I also gave him 11 and 12). He was a more worthy winner. Ward did next to nothing all night.

Gutsy, though, coming back into fight.

Cant see how he won 11 or 12 myself.

Ward knicked It. Close,close fight.
Need a rematch.

I had it close but definitely Ward winning. Ward won the fight in a Bernard Hopkins style fight of landing a few punches a round while making the opposition miss consistently. Don't see how anyone could have it wide for either fighter

I have no problem people thinking Kovalev won. He did dominate early.

Good fight.

I had it a razor thin win for Ward but at least 3 rounds you could flip a coin on so wasn't fussed who won.

Pretty much agree with Mikeymax71 comment above.

Kovalev should kick himself as he let the fight go IMO.

Nice set up for the rematch.

If Ward can win on that effort, he should walk the rematch. He'll definitely improve on what I thought was a disappointing showing. Showed guts to claw his way back but it wasn't exactly great stuff.

Kovalev lost his timing rounds 7-9 but aside from that, I had him in control due to his power. Ward was throwing single shots and then falling into clinches.

hazharrison wrote:

Lance wrote:Did Kovalev even land a punch in the second half of the fight? I can see why some think he won with the first 5 rounds and the knockdown, also neither doing much in round 10. But cant see how the fight was anything over than close. I had Ward by 1 same as the judges.

Kovalev was a mile up after six and won 10th (I also gave him 11 and 12). He was a more worthy winner. Ward did next to nothing all night.

Gutsy, though, coming back into fight.

Similar to how I saw it. If you gave it to Ward then you gave him every close round. Kovalev was 4 up after 3 rounds for me with the knockdown so there’s no way Ward won the majority of the last 9 rounds. Kovalev easily won 3 of them.

That was an outright robbery

The p4p number one guy is Andre ward???

He got backed up the majority of the fight

He was constantly wrestling

Kovalev landed the better punches the harder punches and he dropped ward

That fight wasn't even close unless you were pulling for a guy and giving him rounds for doing better than he had done before

I can see 3-4 rounds you can give ward which he Stole

Awful performance from sky they are horrendously biased

If that's great boxing the sport is well and truly dead

That's nothing more than sour grapes BF88, it was a razor thin decision that didn't go the way certain posters wanted so they're calling foul. It could have gone either way.

What did ward do?
Tell me

Go check the reaction from people who aren't British or American

I couldn't care about the reaction, it was a very close fight.

Not sure I can agree with any claims it is a robbery. For a fight to be a robbery you have to watch the fight and there be no way you can reach the same conclusion as the judges. For me this fight does not fulfil this criteria. There were at least seven rounds where you could make an argument either way. Many came down to what you preferred, Kovalev trying to force the action but having little success or Ward holding and spoiling but landing a couple of clean, smart shots.

Think why opinions differ so greatly is that based on whichever of those you preferred you'd probably give nearly all of the close rounds to the same guy. Personally had no problem with Ward by a round, but would have similarly had no issue with Sergey by the same margin, it was close and hard to score, that doesn't constitute a robbery.

See you are all saying kovalev had little success but that's nonsense he was landing and regularly with the harder shots

I don't know

I prefer the aggressor the guy who makes the fight

Ward threw one jab and held he landed some Very nice jabs he missed a lot of his wild swings

There will be a slow motion video showing you this online some time this week but I know that it's all fake

Ward got hit a lot in this fight just look at his face

Sky just didn't mention it when it happened

Kovalev boxed wonderfully well controlling the distance and forcing ward on the back foot and making him lunge in and get caught when he did

Kovalevs jab was beautiful

Ooh a slow motion video, I can't wait for that.

Kovalev dominated his rounds and Ward won more rounds(in my view).

Definitely not a robbery. Close fight and again, I definitely have no problem with many siding with Kovalev. It was a very close fight and a couple of rounds were very difficult to score.

I did think Ward nicked it, but maybe a second viewing, I will go with Kovalev.

I would like to see this fight again.

AdamT wrote:Kovalev dominated his rounds and Ward won more rounds(in my view).

Definitely not a robbery. Close fight and again, I definitely have no problem with many siding with Kovalev. It was a very close fight and a couple of rounds were very difficult to score.

I did think Ward nicked it, but maybe a second viewing, I will go with Kovalev.

I would like to see this fight again.

What rounds did you give to Ward?

According to the judges a clean sweep from 7 to 12

BoxingFan88 wrote:According to the judges a clean sweep from 7 to 12

That actually true? Kovalev won 2/3 last rounds on my own card with one round 50/50. Ward seemed to win rounds for some people by making Kovalev miss but not actually landing anything himself. I really like both boxers but really can’t see how Ward won this one.

Most at least one of the judges gave him a clean sweep

The other two he lost 1 maybe 2

Official cards are online

Rowley wrote:Not sure I can agree with any claims it is a robbery. For a fight to be a robbery you have to watch the fight and there be no way you can reach the same conclusion as the judges. For me this fight does not fulfil this criteria. There were at least seven rounds where you could make an argument either way. Many came down to what you preferred, Kovalev trying to force the action but having little success or Ward holding and spoiling but landing a couple of clean, smart shots.

Think why opinions differ so greatly is that based on whichever of those you preferred you'd probably give nearly all of the close rounds to the same guy. Personally had no problem with Ward by a round, but would have similarly had no issue with Sergey by the same margin, it was close and hard to score, that doesn't constitute a robbery.

I get where you're coming from but there's absolutely no way Ward won seven rounds and so I get why people are saying the wrong guy won.

Kovalev definitely took rounds 1-4. I also had him winning 5 or 6 (can't recall which). Ward then fiddled rounds 7-9 and Kovalev responded in 10th (which wasn't hard to score). I also thought he closed better. If you gave Ward everything (which would have been bending over backwards) you could have given him 5-6 rounds.

Bottom line is that Kovalev looked the better light heavy last night. He deserved the decision.

You saw it the same as me haz

Fiddled Is the right word

Kovalev won his rounds far more convincingly

Agree with what you said

The hopkins comparison is pretty much spot on

Ward won more rounds and therefore was the better Light Heavyweight.

Hammersmith harrier wrote:Ward won more rounds and therefore was the better Light Heavyweight.

That doesn’t even make sense.

Why doesn't it make sense?

Hammersmith harrier wrote:Ward won more rounds and therefore was the better Light Heavyweight.

He was awarded more rounds but he didn't look the better fighter. Even the rounds he won were fiddled and faffed.

Kovalev outfoxed him at points but largely kept him in check with his power (thought he locked him up well inside, too, to cut out the elbow and head routine).

Ward won fair and square, it's about winning more rounds not winning less rounds wider.

Hammersmith harrier wrote:Ward won fair and square, it's about winning more rounds not winning less rounds wider.

I had it 8-3-1 Kovalev. You could maybe give Ward a share of one of those and switch one if you were actively looking to give him rounds.

AdamT wrote:Why doesn't it make sense?

If a fighter wins 7 rounds to his opponents 5 but in the 5 rounds he lost he was knocked down then he’d lose the fight despite winning more rounds. Like the Manny vs JMM fight. Manny put him down three times in one round and won the round 10-6 but lost more rounds overall.

Hammersmith harrier wrote:Ward won fair and square, it's about winning more rounds not winning less rounds wider.

Which is debate that’s being had, some people didn’t feel that Ward did win more rounds.

Some people did think he done enough.

This is what translates a close fight

AdamT wrote:Some people did think he done enough.

This is what translates a close fight

Not everyone can judge a fight. It wasn't close. The second half was close (and I split it 3-3). First half was all Kovalev (with a knockdown to boot).

Everyone who scored for Ward scored it 114-113 (and most, bizarrely, scored 10th for the American).

73% of media scored for Kovalev:

http://talkingboxing.co.uk/we-go-to-the-scorecards-kovalev-v-ward

That would suggest it wasn't the close coin flip fight Ward's fans are suggesting.

I scored it for Ward and so did the judges..

I couldn't give a crap how the media scored it..

Wow this might be the new Hagler Leonard in terms of dividing opinion this one could run and run with people never coming to agreement

The perceived better boxer gets the nod again but Ward seems to have got this for making Sergy miss without landing too many telling shots of his own

A close but clear Kovalev win for me or a draw if you are scoring very negatively against the Russian. I think you have to be very pro Ward to have raised his arm possibly even a touch biased

Fortunately there's a rematch hopefully with neutral judges

Looking forward to watching this one again with the sound down because any little thing Ward did got a cheer

I scored the fight to Ward by one round, some boxing fans amaze me with the robbery talk, it was a very close fight would not have complained with either fighter winning by a round to be honest. The real robbery was against Perez in the chief support bout.

Kovalev won the fight for me and was unfortunate not to get the verdict. To score it to ward i think requires giving him virtually every close round.

wheelchair1991 wrote:I scored the fight to Ward by one round, some boxing fans amaze me with the robbery talk, it was a very close fight would not have complained with either fighter winning by a round to be honest.  The real robbery was against Perez in the chief support bout.

Not easy for fans to view objectively.....When they like one fighter and dislike the other...

Some had Mcdonnell winning by robbery last week because he's Eddie's fighter....I had that close too..

Could have gone either way last night...If Kovo had won wouldn't have been an issue with me..

wheelchair1991 wrote:I scored the fight to Ward by one round, some boxing fans amaze me with the robbery talk, it was a very close fight would not have complained with either fighter winning by a round to be honest.  The real robbery was against Perez in the chief support bout.

Ward is marmite..

Bonafide great now..

In a close fight they were never going to let a Russian beat them in their own backyard