Kovalev v Ward Discussion thread

Diddley Squat

finding it hard to give Ward rounds ........

Morrison J

Have it 67-65 Krusher

walshb

How can you mute Paulie and Macklin?

walshb

Ward is not winning these rds...

Diddley Squat

No Way Ward is winning imo .... 2 to go

Morrison J

95-94 Kovalev

darced

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darced

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walshb

pac_man wrote: »

What score have you got it going into the 12th?

SK by 4-5... Ward was more surviving. SK looked the boss throughout.

selectamatic

Wow couldn't see that at all meself

Morrison J

Had it 114-113 Ward so that's bang on for me.

Gutted for Kovalev. Ward is something else. Figured out the range from round 4 on and got the better of it for me. Very tough fight to score.

walshb

pac_man wrote: »

Ive no problems with them scorecards, quite fair. Walsh I don't know what you were watching with Ward surviving.

More surviving than winning. He didn't at all look the winner. Not surviving in the desperation sense.

ThunderCat

Very close fight. Have to agree with Ward getting the nod. Got stronger as the fight wore on and seemed to have the measure of Kov as much as one can. Well done Andre

Dick phelan

Had Kovalev by 1 point myself but can't argue with the cards really, massive credit to Ward coming back after such an awful start

darced

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ThunderCat

walshb wrote: »

More surviving than winning. He didn't at all look the winner. Not surviving in the desperation sense.

Didnt see that at all. Had the measure of him in my opinion. Kovalev certainly wasnt winning the rounds. The rounds were close but Wards body shots and Kovalev misjudging the range were enough to edge it. Dunno how it seemed he was just surviving

ThunderCat

darced wrote: »

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I think it would be easier for Ward. Has him figured out. Ward is too smart

walshb

Neither looked all that convincing, and yes, many rds could have went either way depending on what one looks at. Me: SK looked like he was more in control, and landing better quality punches. Ward looked more controlled than in control. Overall SK deserved that win.

selectamatic

walshb wrote: »

Neither looked all that convincing, and yes, many rds could have went either way depending on what one looks at. Me: SK looked like he was more in control, and landing better quality punches. Ward looked more controlled than in control. Overall SK deserved that win.

This coupled with the fact Sergey had him on the deck and was far more dominant in the first 3 than warde was in any of the remaining rounds. From round 3 on it was a good bit tighter but really couldn't see warde winning the majority of them

Burial.

I actually thought the scorecards were incredibly generous towards Kovalev. Lampley's and Ledderman's bias towards Kovalev was hilarious. How Howard gave Kovalev round 9 is beyond me. Also noticed Jim ignoring Ward's body work but as soon as Kovalev lands one of his own he's shouting in admiration. I felt Max called the fight well. Close fight though but I felt Ward deserved his win. One of the best displays of body punching I have ever seen and his determination and character picking himself up off the canvas and coming back was unbelievable. I think watching back Kovalev will be disappointed. Seemed to think the KO would happen and I felt his wasn't near enough active, trying to steal rounds with a one two when Ward had been throwing solid jabs throughout. It was a terrific fight though, enjoyed it immensely and some rounds were absolute classics. Looking forward to the replay but I feel it'll be an easier Ward UD. Seemed to solve Kovalev after 5 rounds and with a body attack, and in particular one of the best body jabs I have ever seen, I think he wins a clearer decision.

walshb

selectamatic wrote: »

This coupled with the fact Sergey had him on the deck and was far more dominant in the first 3 than warde was in any of the remaining rounds. From round 3 on it was a good bit tighter but really couldn't see warde winning the majority of them

Agree. Ward did not fight or win like someone taking belts as the challenger.

walshb

Burial, I didn't see much good body work from Ward. Most of the inside exchanges were of no substance from either man.

Halloween Jack

walshb wrote: »

Burial, I didn't see much good body work from Ward. Most of the inside exchanges were of no substance from either man.

Thought wards body work won him the fight, constantly chipping away, took the zip out of kocalev's legs and punches, great stufffrim both men though, finally a big fight lives up to expectations

Your Face

Home cooking.

megadodge

Just watched it now and I scored it for Ward by 2. However, I can understand Kovalev being disappointed as it was definitely a close fight and a lot of rounds with very little between them.

Early on I was hugely impressed with Kovalev's jab, it was the dominant punch of the early stages and Ward couldn't seem to get out of the way of it, but like all great fighters he adapted and from the 5th or so, Kovalev's jab ceased to be a factor and that was the winning of the fight for me. Ward was able to get closer and his short hooks and excellent bodywork began to chip away at the lead.

Having heard of some wide margins in Kovalev's favour I can only surmise that it's the old "he's going forward" rubbish resurfacing. Kovalev found it very hard to land cleanly in the second half of the fight and was visibly frustrated at times.

I have to say it was a better spectacle than I expected. I thoroughly enjoyed the fight and knowing it was really close made every round so important. Bring on the rematch.

Burial.

Have to politely disagree walshy, Ward's body work was near flawless. I know you know your sh*t so I'm just gonna say watch the fight again and pay attention to the body work.

Agree 100% with you megadodge, and Paulie said it too...after the KD, Kovalev barely landed a clean power punch on Ward, he barely missed a few times but that was down to some stunning reflexes by Ward. I felt the body attack wore him down and he got a little wild with his punch choice as well as his footwork. The showboating too from Ward was straight out of the book of BHop and definitely p*ssed Kovalev off. I'll have to watch the fight again later on but I'd have it 115-112 Ward right now.

Finally, never thought I'd see the day but Eddie Hearn and I agree on something. Ward completely bossed the final 6, and Kovalev will be very disappointed watching the tape back.


Obviously they seem to work well together but I really don't rate Jackson highly as a trainer. On the other hand, Virgil Hunter was incredible for Ward between rounds. So much of Ward's edge is that his mental game is unparalleled and Hunter made sure to reinforce that inbetween rounds. In close fights, simply telling a guy "keep the jab going", "he's tiring", "move more" won't cut it. I recall one point where Hunter was telling Ward about greatness and this is when greatness comes out or something to that effect. You could really see Ward was in the zone then while Kovalev looked more desperate and frustrated. Little things like that swing big fights I feel.

walshb

Burial, I will watch again. I just felt the body work was't of real substance. I'll watch it again.

Henno30

It was very close. I had it 114-113 for Kovalev, with a few toss-up rounds I split evenly. Kovalev struggled to land with substance in the second half of the fight. Ward got the upper hand in the jab battle and that more or less took Sergey's right out of the fight.

What irritate's me however is how consistently American fighters get all the credit in fights like this one, where neither guy is really landing anything solid. As usual, all the close rounds went to Ward when just one of them would have tipped the fight Kovalev's way. And three American judges & an American ref is to way to officiate such a fight. Again, no other sport would allow such a situation. The legitimacy of the decision is wide open to challenge in such circumstances.

That said, Ward deserves enormous credit. His response in the 3rd round showed what a great champion he is.

Henno30

pac_man wrote: »

Judges more or less thought it was a fight of 2 halfs.

Only ONE of the eighteen scored rounds in the second half of the fight was given to Kovalev?

I'm sorry but that absolutely stinks.

titan18

Kovalev won that imo. I had him up by 2 and gave Ward some close rounds. Landed the cleaner heavier shots and dictated the fight imo. Ward didn't do anywhere near enough to win those belts, home decision imo